I know it might seem like something out of science fiction, but the present debate about what poses the greatest danger to our world is very much like the old good and evil debate.
Some people highlight the threat of global terrorism (and, like it or not, religion and its convictions are never too far removed from this particular side of the debate). Others point to the fact that giant industries are polluting the planet to such an extent that climate change is already palpable and affecting many lives. A battle between prophets and profits is taking shape.
The Lenten campaigns to help the developing world highlight the fact that we live in a world of bitter contrasts. The victims of injustice in the developed world may expect compensation and vindication of their rights whereas the victims of even more appalling injustices in the developing world depend on what goodwill the rich might extend to them out of their surplus. It may not make sound economic sense for the poor to have access to the long-arm laws that the rich can use to seek redress. But does that make it wrong to propose that they should? It is a genuine challenge to people of faith to make a stand during this season of fasting for those who suffer in this world. Yet time and time again our voices are muted.
Would it not be better to see global terrorism and global warming as twin threats to our world, rather than arguing over which is the real one? Maybe it suits our interests to lose ourselves in a futile academic debate about which has killed more. It was Stalin who said, "One death is a tragedy and a million deaths is a statistic." All in all, our behaviour is simply shirking the true meaning of a Lenten fast.
In the days before refrigeration made food supplies secure, faith developed a springtime to ensure there was enough to see everybody through to the first fruits of summer. The idea of Lent as a time to tame the flesh is a spiritual one, but there is an anthropological and humanitarian element to the idea as well.
Lent is also a time when the needs and welfare of a society should be examined. It is an invitation to each of us, believer and non-believer alike, to consider the wider issues affecting our society and to work towards making them better. We crown that season with the joyful celebration of Easter and a declaration of victory. As living beings this should not be simply a victory over death - it must become a victory over that which kills us.
Maybe we could consider this Lent as a time to see how injustice can lead to terrorism and understand that it is our role to confront the wrongs that feed fundamentalism. It is also a time to question why we allow greed to dominate our economics. F. MacE.