Global Governance/One World Order/New World Order

[ironbark]

As the world lurches towards global warming and economic melt down there are many voices calling for greater international co operation and global governance.
G-20 participants are calling for global financial regulation, the Chinese have floated the notion of a global currency, Green groups simultaneously oppose the globalization of multinational corporations while calling for global action on climate change. International trade, travel and exchange student groups look to the implementation of a universal language. Various National Agencies, Non Government Agencies, the UN and religious groups call for greater international cooperation and integration.
Previous diasporas created citizens who identified as ‘Irish American’, ‘Italian American’ or ‘Greek Australian’… More recent population movements (for employment, education, immigration or refugees) have seen the evolution of a generation who identify less with their country of birth or (often numerous) countries of childhood and have come to see themselves as ‘Global Citizens’.

At the same time there a range of groups, religious and secular, that vehemently oppose these developments as political conspiracy or the advent of the antichrist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Order_(conspiracy_theory)

I’m curious as to how others on DUR&T see global governance and how their religious (or non) beliefs effect their view.
I'm not much interested in conspiracy theories (but go ahead if you feel the need ;-) …I’m more interested in the religious/spiritual/philosophical/humanist perspective on
the potential emergence of One World and its implications.

[OHdem10]

1. If you really want to have a broader understanding and get Religious

Programming (Cable), watch for a minister VanIMPe. From time
to time he spends time and is considered among RR a guru on
the End TIMES. He very vividly ties in the End Times with
the UN, One World Governance, the Anti-Christ. The Anti-Christ
will rule the world until Christ arrives.

I have watched this from time to time, not because I agree with
his theories but I believe it is important to understand where
RR is coming from.

Laced into this, I would say is the over concern about Guns.
There are those who believe the Government will be trying to
take their guns (Anti-Christ Reign is when they will really
need them.

It is amazing how things make sense when you understand others
beliefs.

[ironbark]

2. I’m old enough to remember

when evangelists had the Vatican or the Soviet Union pegged as the antichrist (doubtless some still do ;-). After the fall of the Soviet a number of new contenders emerged for the role…including Michael Jackson and young prince Harry (or his dad)…go figure.
Point is…the evangelical certainty about who the antichrist is keeps changing every decade. Currently it’s the advocates of Global Governance/NWO.
Which is problematic for many of us who see greater global governance/cooperation as essential.
To openly advocate global environmental, economic or legal measure can leave you with the clear and distinct impression that you are now in the cross hairs as a spawn of satan.

Bring on gun control!

[OHdem10]

3. The latest of their ideas on the Anti-Christ----Ahmadinajahd, Obama

Only about 3-4 years ago, the Pope was their poster child for
Anti-Christ.

Most of their stuff stays the same--Candidates for AntiChrist
changes.

[ironbark]

4. So…..nutjobs aside

How do you (anyone else) feel about the prospect of increased global governance?

Concerned about potential loss of national sovereignty?
Motivated by recognition of more equitable distribution of worlds recourses?
Will relinquish your gun only from your cold dead hand? ;-)

I used to have a lot of contact with members of the Baha’i faith (prime ‘One World’ candidates for antichrist status)…One of the things that intrigued/appealed was the notion of the ‘peace dividend’. Establish a global treaty/covenant that should any nation/s violently infringe upon another then the rest of the world would respond against the aggressor/s. It is utopian and probably a long way off. But the appeal for me was in the ‘dividend’…if a workable collective/global security pact is achieved then the current huge national expenditures on armaments is drastically reduced. Vast intellectual capital would also be released. The figures I heard a while back indicated that the majority (80%?) of science graduates in the US end up in the military/industrial complex.

The notion of releasing/redirecting the money, materials and human recourses that currently go into armaments appeals to me. If it takes a global covenant or greater global governance I’m interested in the brochure to see who’s on the board of directors.

[spin]

5. If we continue on the same path...

eventually a number of countries will develop deliverable nuclear weapons and other means of mass destruction.

Differences in religious beliefs can easily lead to an exchange of these weapons with disastrous consequences at ether a regional or international level.

The logical solution would be a world government with sufficient force (including nuclear weapons) to curtail this threat. Local government would have limited military resources. This government would have to be far more powerful than the existing United Nations organization. The world would be set up with a governmental system similar to the United States with a powerful Federal government and state and local governments with limited power.

The concept of this world government would be almost impossible to achieve. A disaster like a nuclear war between Pakistan and India would have to occur to allow this idea to have even a small chance.

But religious beliefs will in all probability doom this idea. Current religions would have to be replaced by a new world wide religion. The Baha’i faith is one strong candidate.

The Faith’s Founder was Bahá’u’lláh, a Persian nobleman from Tehran who, in the mid-nineteenth century, left a life of princely comfort and security and, in the face of intense persecution and deprivation, brought to humanity a stirring new message of peace and unity.

Bahá’u’lláh claimed to be nothing less than a new and independent Messenger from God. His life, work, and influence parallel that of Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Christ, and Muhammad. Bahá’ís view Bahá’u’lláh as the most recent in this succession of divine Messengers.

The essential message of Bahá’u’lláh is that of unity. He taught that there is only one God, that there is only one human race, and that all the world’s religions represent stages in the revelation of God’s will and purpose for humanity. In this day, Bahá’u’lláh said, humanity has collectively come of age. As foretold in all of the world’s scriptures, the time has arrived for the uniting of all peoples into a peaceful and integrated global society. “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens,” He wrote.
http://www.bahai.org/faq/facts/bahai_faith

But considering the apocalyptic world view of Christianity and the Muslim faith, it would be extremely difficult to convince devotees of these faiths to convert to a new world wide religion. And while many people simply don't believe in religion, it seems to be deeply ingrained in human personality. It's possible that religion will lead us to our destruction, but most people would refuse to give religion up.

I believe we are going through a test phase for humankind. We are close to developing the technology to travel to the stars, but to do that we have to learn to live with each other. If we can accomplish this, we may encounter other alien civilizations who have passed the test.

[ironbark]

6. Global community/unity through disaster?

“The concept of this world government would be almost impossible to achieve. A disaster like a nuclear war between Pakistan and India would have to occur to allow this idea to have even a small chance.”

This is one of the core principles of M Scott Peck in the process of ‘Community Building’- that we can achieve community by design or have community by disaster. In fire, flood or war people of extremely diverse backgrounds and beliefs will go out of their way to assist (or even sacrifice) in aid of others… even total strangers. The sense of community during and following a disaster or conflict is palpable and powerful but often soon dissipates. The longer/deeper the disaster the more protracted the sense of comradeship/community- ie war veterans.
Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and the psych disabled can often manifest this sense of community because the ‘disaster’ (relapse) is always pending. Likewise religions with the 'apocalyptic world view' you mentioned.
Peck proposed that if the right environment/process was established that community could be created without the disaster. The key seemed to be getting people to sit and talk together long enough (3-4) days to get them past talking ideas from the head and start expressing feelings from the heart.

This community building process reveals people who- beyond their ideas/beliefs about being Christian/Moslem/Atheist/American/Arab/Republican/Democrat- are united in that they share core feeling of love and fear, joy and brokenness. These latter emotions, if given time and space for expression, can transcend all the former beliefs/ideologies.

My fear is that you are probably right…it will take a disaster.

The Baha’is? Yes, they are certainly contenders in the global unification stakes. Lovely people, warm, gentle and friendly… a few fruitloops in their midst but mostly the harmless type. From what I have seen they couldn’t organise a chook raffle in a pub (hope that translates).
There is much within the Baha’i writings that appeals or is of interest…the notion of Progressive Revelation is worthy of examination.
If only there was an enquiring liberal open minded discussion forum in which such a theological discussion could take place ;-)
From a marketing perspective I’m not sure how the Baha’is are going to fly the notion of the messiah returned to establish One World when the Muslims say Mohammed was the last prophet and the Christian (right) is looking for the One World antichrist. That’s a hard sell.
Then again…Christian ideology captured Rome and Mohammed beat the Meccans…..anything can happen, if it's not the last days then it's early days.

Appreciated your post…agree about the ‘test phase’…hope we are both wrong about it probably involving disaster…many thanks.
Meeting aliens?...I’ve heard it speculated that the first aliens we will encounter will be us coming back;-)