Works of Love

Scientific and Religious Perspectives on Altruism | May 31-June 5, 2003 | Philadelphia, PA, USA

Unselfish love for all humanity is the most important point of convergence shared by the world's great spiritual traditions. We marvel at the ways and power of love and find in it the best hope for a far better human future. People from all walks of life, often those disadvantaged themselves, excel in loving kindness, not just for their nearest and dearest, but also as volunteers and advocates on behalf of the stranger. How do our complex brains, unique imaginations, communicative abilities, reasoning powers, moral sense, and spiritual and religious promptings give rise to this remarkable yet not at all uncommon practice of unselfish love for our neighbors, or for those we do not even know? If we could answer this question and harness the extraordinary power of love, the world might well erupt into hope.

Sooner or later, all the peoples of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace, and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood... the foundation of such a method is love. -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Sponsored by Metanexus Institute on Religion and Science
and the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love

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