Camp: Ancient idea in a modern world

"Ubuntu" is an African concept meaning that we are only as we are related to others. In our society, we focus on the individual person to such a degree we forget the importance of relationships.

Ubuntu is not just "family values" or sentimental feelings. It evokes, from our religious heritage, such phrases as "love others as you love yourself" and "do unto others what you would have them do to you."

But ubuntu goes even further. It means that we are only who we are in relationship. Our true nature, regardless of our creeds, is exhibited in how we relate to others, and our true nature is formed in our relationship with others.

A lot of American religion has become focused on debate about right beliefs, disagreements over details of religious beliefs and the promotion of the idea that some peoples' beliefs are more correct than others. This tendency to debate beliefs has taken us away from the core belief that God is present in each and every being, and that the way we treat each person is the way we treat God. And, the way we treat others is the way we treat ourselves.

Our differences also often divide us. Instead of understanding each others' perspectives and learning from them, we demonize people on the other side and misinterpret statements out of fear of different perspectives. Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians and Independents share values of country, fair government and freedom, even when we differ on how to actualize these values. People who differ in sexual orientation and preference, in ethnic cultures, in gender