NURTURING SPIRIT: FAMILIES SHAPE BELIEFS

Akhil Gupta, Founder UEF

In most religions, the family is the primary unit for spiritual education and moral upbringing. For instance, in Christianity, the family is often called the “domestic church,” where parents are seen as the first teachers of faith. The family unit is where we first learn what it means to love and to be loved. If we do not know how to love and be loved, it is doubtful that we will be able to love our neighbours, much less those who look and think differently. This link is made rather explicit in the scriptures and doctrines of many religions, which is why we see God described as ‘The Father’ or ‘The Mother’ and strangers described as our brothers and sisters.

But what is your family? Is it just your mother, father, or grandparents? Does it not include the person who cooks for you every day? Or your classmate who sat next to you for ten years? Today, in a world where structures and norms are changing faster than the seasons and the world is becoming a global village, the very idea of family has morphed and extended to include surrogates.

Even before globalisation, the concept of family in many religions extended well beyond those we can see and know. The Hindu Rishis practised and propagated the “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” philosophy, meaning “the whole world is your family.” This philosophy has so seeped into Indian culture that it is common for a stranger to address you as brother, uncle, aunt, sister, son, or daughter.

Beyond the immediate family, religious communities offer a broader sense of belonging and support. These communities provide a safe space for shared experiences, fostering a sense of solidarity and shared purpose. Religious gatherings often involve communal prayers, singing, and ceremonies, strengthening individual bonds. Faith-based organisations provide social services, education, and emotional support, creating a network of care and compassion.

In Judaism, the ‘Kehillah’ (community) concept is vital, with communal worship, festivals, and mutual support being integral aspects of religious life. The Talmud teaches, “All Israel is responsible for one another” (Shavuot 39a), highlighting the collective responsibility within the community. In Buddhism, the Sangha, or community of monks and laypeople, plays a crucial role in the spiritual journey, offering a framework for mutual support and shared practice. Likewise, in Sikhism, the concept of ‘Sangat’ emphasises the importance of congregational worship and community service, fostering a sense of unity and collective responsibility. Confucianism greatly emphasises filial piety. In Japan, Okinawans live by the principle of Ichariba Chode, a local expression that means “treat everyone like a brother, even if you’ve never met them before.”

All religions essentially state that the ultimate expression of love is to see the entire world as your family and to treat the most remote stranger — including a crow, a monkey, a tree, or even a piece of earth — as your closest kin.

Insightful Quotes on Family and Community

Judaism

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

– Hebrew Bible (2 Proverbs 22:6)

Confucianism

“Being good as a son and obedient as a young man is, perhaps, the root of a man’s character.”

– The Analects (1:2)

Islam

“Hold fast to God’s rope all together; do not split into factions. Remember God’s favor to you: you were enemies and then He brought your hearts together and you became brothers by His grace […] Be a community that calls for what is good, urges what is right, and forbids what is wrong: those who do this are the successful ones.”

– Qur’an (3:103–04)

Christianity

“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

– ‘The New Testament (2 Corinthians 6:18), Christian text

Hinduism

“When a family declines, ancient traditions are destroyed. With them are lost the spiritual foundations for life, and the family loses its sense of unity […] Social chaos is hell for the family and for those who have destroyed the family as well. It disrupts the process of spiritual evolution begun by our ancestors. The timeless spiritual foundations of family and society would be destroyed by these terrible deeds, which violate the unity of life.”

– The Bhagavad Gita

Baha’i

“A family is a nation in miniature. Simply enlarge the circle of the household, and you have the nation. Enlarge the circle of nations, and you have all humanity. The conditions surrounding the family surround the nation. The happenings in the family are the happenings in the life of the nation […] So it is in the great family of nations, for nations are but an aggregate of families. Therefore, as strife and dissension destroy a family and prevent its progress, so nations are destroyed and advancement hindered.”

– ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha’i leader

Buddhism

“The sangha is a community where there should be harmony and peace and understanding. That is something created by our daily life together. If love is there in the community, if we’ve been nourished by the harmony in the community, then we will never move away from love.”

– Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk and author

Modern Philosophy and Theology

“Religion creates community, community creates altruism, and altruism turns us away from self and toward the common good.”

– Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, British Rabbi and philosopher

Taoism

“Cultivated in yourself virtue becomes real
Cultivated in your family virtue grows
Cultivated in your village virtue multiplies
Cultivated in your state virtue abounds
Cultivated in your world virtue is everywhere
Thus view others through yourself
View families through your family
View villages through your village
View states through your state
View other worlds through your world
How do you know what other worlds are like
Through this one”

– Tao Te Ching (ch 54), Taoist text