RELIGIOUS
Although World Unity does not mean unity of religion, the value that unifying principles have had within some particular religions have been demonstrated on occasions in the past.
An ancient example lies in the theory that tells us that the victory of the Turks over India in 1202 may have been attributed to the fact that the Turks were all devoted to, and motivated by, a "common creed"--as contrasted with the divisiveness associated with the caste system that pervaded Indian society--which rendered the Indian forces less united, and therefore less effective.
The success of the Catholic Church has likewise been attributed to its unity--a unity secured by an important ruling set forth at the Council of Trent, which took place between 1545 and 1563. Per this ruling, it was established that nothing arrived at or proclaimed at that Council would be valid unless it received the unifying approval of the Holy Father. Thus, by insisting on a single unifying detail, the Catholic Church became a single, united, worldwide organization, evidenced by its basic ancient credo, which persists until today, that it is "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic."
A further instance of advantage to the Catholic Church via the adoption of a unifying principle can be observed in the ruling at the ecumenical council held at the Vatican in 1870, which proclaimed the dogma of papal infallibility in matters of faith of morals. Theological considerations aside, it seems that this concept, wherein a declaration or decision by the Holy See has applicability for Catholics throughout the world, increased the establishment of the Catholic Church as a single united worldwide entity, and thus a truly international religion.
Geneva is the site of the headquarters of the World Council of Churches, a unifying organization for numerous denominations. It speaks for its worldwide membership, and has done so on recent occasions. For example, in 1966, it urged an end to the warfare in Vietnam. This was a lofty ideal, and obviously incapable of fulfillment at that time; but it demonstrates an instance of unity of opinion among a large group of religious organizations in the name of world peace.
Generally, realization that most, if not all, religions stand for basically the same principles has led to a number of instances of contact and joint activity among different religious sects or members thereof. This would include the call to Roman Catholics issued by Pope John Paul II in 1980, to strive to strengthen ties between the Catholic Church and the various Protestant organizations throughout the world.
On the other hand, it should be stressed that people's individual religious beliefs and practices are personal to their respective selves--and no form of unity, in government, or in any other branch or facet of society, should ever dare to attempt to affect or change them. Is it likely, or even reasonable to imagine that a single world government would eventually lead to a homogenization of the world's religions into a single worldwide sect? I think not. And I see no advantage in, nor reason to hope for, anything like this happening.
However, another aspect of the world's religious practices deserves mention. It is a matter of common knowledge that many evil and violent acts have been commited in the name of religion--and that this continues to take place to the present day. It seems reasonable to state that persons who commit acts that result in injury or other harm to the participants or others are not practicing any form of religion--but are merely perpetrating criminal acts. Thus, while freedom of religion is something that should be safeguarded, murder and mayhem in the name of God is not. It is hoped that the arrangement wiithin our society that these paragraphs espouse, containing neither national borders nor factionalist subdivisions, will defuse the violence that is today resorted to, utilizing religious principles or zeal as a motivation of justification.
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