Why not Agape Love?
This blog post is intended for those with a sentiment toward the spiritual, religious, and the idea of agape love. Those who find such ideas as naïveté are not those for whom this post is intended. This post is intended for those souls who find value in the spiritual, religious, and agape love to explore an argument that our current legal and economic systems do not prioritize the human condition of love and spirituality. I argue for a liberation interpretation of sacred texts, and an egalitarian interpretation of international human rights law, for a vibrancy on agape love, religion, and spirituality. I am inclined towards liberation theology. I am also inclined towards egalitarianism and ecofeminism. I advocate for the International Bill of Human Rights, from moral conviction, with ideas from these “schools” in mind as an assuage to the dilemma.
Our current economic system by prioritizing production and cash exploits the poor, using the law to do so, and by doing so our dignity as moral creatures is in peril. I understand our economic system, and legal system to be capitalist and patriarchal. Evidence of our capitalist and patriarchal system are the values enshrined in law, values that codify irresponsibility by endowing rights to those who exploit nature, the poor and minorities for profit and power while doing so in the name of progress. This exploitation is done by scientists, law makers, and corporations. Scientists, legal institutions, and corporations mostly devoid of women, LGBTQ, persons of color, and the poor class have made seed and food -in agriculture- a commodity separated from natural processes which allow access by the many. In the book ECOFEMINISM, prominent ecofeminist writer and scientist Vandana Shiva argues extensively that the basic human need of food has been coopted by corporations in our capitalist and patriarchal economic system. She argues that lawmakers have bestowed intellectual property rights on “life forms, living resources, and living processes.” This cooperation of law and science, in the market economy, separates human systemic action from compassion, empathy and agape love.
Sacred texts are authoritative in regard to human empathy. Our sacred texts should be interpreted in such a manner that basic human needs, like food for example, are provided for all as a priority of human moral development. In the Christian Bible, the book of Exodus provides an example of a benevolent God sustaining his people with food and rest after freeing them from slavery. Importantly, this is done after hearing the cries ( the moaning) of his people. The Islamic work of sacred poetry by Attar describes a benevolent source which is a source of compassion for all. In Hinduism and Buddhism compassion for all is a sign of enlightenment and is the highest achievement of humanity. Sacred texts from these separate religious traditions illuminate for us, in this current economic crisis, the need to hear and anticipate the meanings of the poor and dispossessed.
Neoliberalism has created a climate in which some who have power have gone so far as to call the poor classes of the world excess and dispensable. This disposition has made its way into policy decisions and a general attitude and disdain among the powerful for the dignity of the poor in the world. Environmental crises are an example of how corporate interests are placed in priority, even when made environmental hazards have caused serious injury including birth defect. Economic policy has yet, though “progress” is decried, to provide even food, shelter, healthcare, and clothing for all humanity despite our ability to do so if we collectively make the priority. International Human Rights Law bestows all global citizens with the right to healthcare, housing, food, and clothing at bare minimum. Yet the will to provide such sustenance has been lacking. Our interpretation of International Human Rights law needs to be equality based using a Rawlsian perspective on just distribution of resources. This perspective provides that equality is achieved when no one is envious of another-this lack of envy being achieved by the liberty to pursue an individual interpretation of happiness which cannot be achieved while so many lack basic sustenance. Housing, food, shelter, clothing, and healthcare are guaranteed human rights we the people need to demand. By demanding are rights, we are engaging in a moral endeavor of human conscience and dignity.
