“I have been thinking about what you have said regarding altruism. I find it very strange that with so much diversity in our cultural, economic, educational, religious and socio-political backgrounds; so much difference in our nurturing; so many variations in our concerns, desires, and aspirations, we all feel good inside when we act in altruistic ways. If this is really so, what is the source of this common trait?” I asked.
He quietly looked away. His eyes were staring blankly into the open space outside the window. It seemed an extraordinarily long time before he looked back at me and said, “Those who search for a cause for every effect would say that it is a gene that survived in humans in their evolutionary process. Societies that were more altruistic survived and flourished and dominated those which were not. Thus, the altruistic gene dominated and got transmitted to later generations.” He stopped and once again looked out of the window into the open space, before continuing, “those who believe that we are all a creation of God – a moral Creator – would say that this universality of feeling elated at performing altruistic acts is because of the goodness that the Creator made inherent in every human being.”
“I see,” I said and then with a mischievous smile added, “but which one of these two explanations do you prefer?”
This time, he immediately replied, “I believe that we are a creation of God – a moral Creator.”
January 3, 2020
(Dubai, UAE)