What If the Jesus You Follow Weeps When We Divide?

Introduction by Jesus: 

My beloved, 

You were not called to win arguments or to wear rejection like a crown.

I asked you to be the light of the world, not a flame that scorches, but one that warms, reveals, and heals.

Some believe that being hated proves their faith is strong. But I tell you—when your heart grows proud in the name of righteousness, and you rejoice in being unliked while others are wounded by your words, I am not in that victory.

I weep when My name is used to divide. I grieve when love is replaced with superiority.

Look again. Did I not touch the untouchable? Listen to the unlistened? Eat with the rejected? Even as I carried truth, I carried it gently.

To be liked—when it is born of kindness, respect, and thoughtfulness—is not weakness. It is the fragrance of love.

Let your light shine in a way that others say, “There is peace near them.” That is when I smile.

 (Note: This is an imaginary conversation, a creative exploration of an idea, and not a real speech or event.)

Topic 1: The Difference Between Sincerity and Truth

“When belief is sincere but still wrong—how can we tell?”

Participants: Søren Kierkegaard, Imam Ali, Karen Armstrong, Blaise Pascal, St. Teresa of Ávila
Moderator: Søren Kierkegaard

Søren Kierkegaard:
There is a tragic nobility in sincerity. A person may leap with pure intent—but into the abyss, not the light. I’ve long believed that truth is subjectivity, yes—but subjectivity must be grounded in an eternal relationship with the divine. Without that, it becomes a self-deception. So I ask: How do we distinguish between a passionate error and a holy conviction?

Imam Ali:
A beautiful question. I once said, “People are either your brothers in faith or your equals in humanity.” Truth does not fear examination. Sincerity is not enough—many of those who opposed me believed themselves righteous. True belief must be paired with wisdom, humility, and the capacity to see God's mercy in those who disagree.

Karen Armstrong:
Historically, the great tragedies of religion arise not from lack of sincerity but from unexamined sincerity. The Crusaders truly believed they were serving Christ. The inquisitors believed they were defending truth. What they lacked was compassion, nuance, and reflection. Sacred texts must be read with the heart as much as the mind.

Blaise Pascal:
Ah, but even reason fails us. The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know. Yet the heart must be taught to discern. True faith acknowledges mystery and resists arrogance. When one feels certain that their belief justifies harm, they should tremble, not boast.

St. Teresa of Ávila:
Indeed. In prayer, one learns how easily the devil can mimic light. I have experienced moments where I thought I was walking toward God, only to realize I was following my pride. True spiritual life is self-emptying—so if your certainty enlarges your ego, beware. God’s truth humbles and liberates.

Søren Kierkegaard:
Then let us press deeper. What happens when someone sincerely believes they must act—even violently—for the sake of truth? Is sincerity still a virtue?

Karen Armstrong:
Only if it is tethered to suffering love. A sincere person who refuses to see the suffering they cause is no longer on a divine path but on a path of projection. God’s presence is known by its fruits. Compassion. Patience. Listening. If those are absent, so is God.

Imam Ali:
In the Battle of Siffin, we faced brothers who believed we were heretics. They prayed, fasted, and bled for God. But their sincerity led to fanaticism. When belief becomes blind to justice and kindness, it must be re-examined. As I said, “Two kinds of people will destroy Islam: the ignorant worshiper and the corrupt scholar.”

Blaise Pascal:
This is the tragedy of human nature—we cling more to being right than being kind. But the fear of being wrong should not paralyze us. It should refine us. When one’s belief is accompanied by cruelty, it has already betrayed its source.

St. Teresa of Ávila:
Let us not forget: those who crucified Jesus were convinced they were serving God. Sincerity cannot be the compass. Only love can be. Even in the deepest visions, if there is no love, it is not from God.

Søren Kierkegaard:
Let me ask one final thing: How do we walk humbly with our beliefs, while remaining open to correction?

St. Teresa of Ávila:
By remembering that we are always beginners in the spiritual life. The soul’s greatest maturity is to say, “Lord, I do not know. Teach me.” That keeps the heart soft.

Karen Armstrong:
By listening. Truly listening to those we find difficult. When we treat our enemies as teachers of our blind spots, we protect ourselves from dogmatism.

Blaise Pascal:
By doubting, we may come to faith. The God of Abraham is not a concept to be possessed but a mystery to be revered. Openness to correction is not a weakness—it’s worship.

Imam Ali:
By seeking knowledge until the end of our days. And by loving those who believe differently, not despite their difference, but because they too carry God’s breath.

Søren Kierkegaard:
Then we agree: sincerity is sacred—but only when married to truth, humility, and love. The truest belief is one that transforms us to see others as sacred, too.

Topic 2: Violence in the Name of God

“What if God grieves when we kill or harm in His name?”

Participants: Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Malala Yousafzai, Thich Nhat Hanh
Moderator: Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks:
Let’s begin with what we all fear: the use of God to justify harm. History is stained with blood spilled by those who believed they were obeying Him. My question is this: Can violence ever be of God—or is it always a distortion of sacred truth?

Jesus Christ:
Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. My kingdom is not of this world, and if it were, my followers would fight. But they did not. The true test of divine alignment is love—especially love for one’s enemy. When we kill in God's name, we no longer walk in His Spirit but in our own shadow.

Mahatma Gandhi:
Amen to that. I have read all scriptures, and none justify hatred. When a man slaps you and you offer the other cheek, it is not weakness—it is soul-force. Violence only creates more victims. God is not glorified when a temple is built atop a corpse.

Thich Nhat Hanh:
Anger disguises itself as righteousness. But it is still a fire that burns us first. Mindfulness reveals: there is no separate “enemy.” When we kill another, we kill ourselves. Even holy war is illusion. God has no sides—only oneness.

Malala Yousafzai:
I have seen what happens when men with guns claim God is on their side. I was 15 when they tried to silence me in the name of religion. But I forgive them—not because I forget, but because I believe God weeps when we hurt each other. Education, not violence, brings peace.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks:
Some claim their faith compels them to fight. “God commands justice,” they say. “He hates evil.” What, then, do we say to the one who sees violence as a duty?

Jesus Christ:
The zealot may believe he serves righteousness, but if he has no mercy, he knows not my Father. I did not tell Peter to draw his sword—I told him to put it away. True justice is not revenge—it is restoration.

Mahatma Gandhi:
Violence may remove a tyrant, but it cannot remove tyranny from the heart. If you wish to destroy evil, start with the hatred inside yourself. God resides in the conscience, not in conquest.

Malala Yousafzai:
Justice does not grow from gunpowder. It grows from dialogue, equality, and education. My faith teaches that one life is as sacred as all of humanity. If you kill one unjustly, it’s as if you’ve killed the whole world.

Thich Nhat Hanh:
Compassion is the only force that transforms. When we see our enemy’s suffering as our own, the desire to harm dissolves. Peace is not passive—it is the active courage to choose love where violence feels easier.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks:
Final question. What should a person of faith do when they are provoked, attacked, or oppressed? Is peace still the answer?

Jesus Christ:
Blessed are the peacemakers. Not the passive—but those who stand with truth while refusing to return hate. I forgave even as I bled. That is divine power.

Malala Yousafzai:
Yes. We raise our voices, not our fists. We defend without dehumanizing. We protest, we write, we learn—and we love louder than the hatred around us.

Mahatma Gandhi:
We resist with truth-force—satyagraha. Let your suffering speak, but let your love shout louder. Peace is not escape. It is the highest act of resistance.

Thich Nhat Hanh:
Even in the face of war, we breathe. We offer tea. We listen. If we do not cultivate peace within, we will export war outward. Each moment of peace is a prayer to the true God.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks:
Then let the world hear us: God does not need defenders who kill. He needs witnesses who love. Let us be those witnesses.

Topic 3: God’s True Heart for Humanity

“Is God really pleased when we divide over beliefs, or does He long for unity?”

Participants: Martin Luther King Jr., Pope Francis, Rumi, Rev. Sun Myung Moon, Etty Hillesum
Moderator: Pope Francis

Pope Francis:
My dear friends, we gather across centuries and traditions to answer a question many fear to ask: Does God rejoice in our divisions? I say no. A house divided cannot reflect the image of our Creator. So let me begin with this: What is God's truest desire for humanity?

Martin Luther King Jr.:
Unity in love. I’ve said it before—we must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. God made us from one blood. Division is not divine; it is the echo of our fears. The Beloved Community is not a dream. It is God’s blueprint.

Rumi:
God is not concerned with labels. Jew, Christian, Muslim—these are shells. God sees the soul’s longing, the heart’s motion. Beyond right and wrong, there is a field. I will meet you there. God’s desire is reunion, not doctrine.

Rev. Sun Myung Moon:
I believe that all religions are like rivers leading to the same ocean. God weeps when His children fight in His name. He sent prophets not to compete, but to complete the human family. The time has come not for superiority, but for reconciliation. That is the divine will.

Etty Hillesum:
In the depths of a concentration camp, I heard God's heart—not as fury, but as sorrow. I prayed not for safety, but that I might help heal His wounded world. God longs not for our survival alone, but for our awakening—to love, even when it's hardest.

Pope Francis:
If unity is God’s longing, why then do religions divide us so deeply? Can devotion ever justify exclusion?

Martin Luther King Jr.:
When religion becomes tribal, it ceases to be spiritual. True faith breaks barriers. False faith builds them. The church, the mosque, the temple—they should be hospitals for the soul, not fortresses of fear.

Rev. Sun Myung Moon:
It is immaturity that causes religion to divide. Like children arguing over who father loves most. But the Parent’s heart is broken, not proud. Mature faith honors all paths that uplift, serve, and unite. That is the essence of a God-centered life.

Rumi:
Do not be satisfied with stories passed down. Seek your own burning. God’s fire is not in competition but in communion. When the soul burns for love, it cannot bear to exclude. The flame is for all.

Etty Hillesum:
It is fear that divides us. And fear breeds judgment. But I have found that the more we suffer with others, the more we see God in them. The God I met in the camp was not angry. He was grieving—and calling us to remember we are one body.

Pope Francis:
So, how do we return to this heart of unity? What must we do, as believers, to reflect God’s dream?

Rumi:
Let silence be your first prayer. From silence, love will bloom. Love is the bridge between you and everything.

Martin Luther King Jr.:
Be bold in truth, but soft in heart. March not against people, but toward peace. Challenge injustice without hating the unjust. That’s the difference between hate and holy fire.

Rev. Sun Myung Moon:
Live for the sake of others. Begin in your home, expand to your nation, and then embrace the world. If you do this, you build the Kingdom of God—not in theory, but in reality.

Etty Hillesum:
Start small. Listen more. Judge less. Smile at someone you once feared. That is where God begins—in the trembling hands that reach across division.

Pope Francis:
Then let it be said: The true heart of God is not found in who is right, but in who chooses love. May we become bridges where walls once stood.

Topic 4: Thoughtfulness as Light — Being Liked as a Sign of Divine Respect

“Could being liked reflect God’s heart when it flows from kindness and consideration?”

Participants: Fred Rogers, Jesus Christ, the Dalai Lama, Saito Hitori, Mother Teresa
Moderator: Fred Rogers

Fred Rogers:
Welcome again, dear friends. We’ve just spoken of God’s desire for unity. But how do we carry that into daily life? In Japan, there’s a beautiful phrase: meiwaku o kakenai—don’t trouble others. It’s more than politeness; it’s a spiritual posture of consideration. So I ask you: Could being liked, when rooted in thoughtfulness, reflect God’s very nature?

Saito Hitori:
Absolutely. In Japan, we believe causing trouble to others—even in the name of “being right”—is immature. True strength is in saying words that bless, not burden. When people like you, it’s often because you make them feel safe, seen, respected. That’s divine light, not ego.

Mother Teresa:
Thoughtfulness is love in action. When you notice someone’s pain before they speak, when you do small things with great love—people feel it. They may say, “I like her,” but what they mean is: “She made me feel valued.”

Jesus Christ:
I came to serve, not to be served. Those who felt burdened by judgment were drawn to Me because I saw them with compassion. To be liked for that reason—not for show, but for sincerity—that is sacred.

Dalai Lama:
In Tibetan culture, we also value harmony. If your presence brings calm, if people feel peaceful near you, that is not manipulation. That is mindfulness. Thoughtfulness is a spiritual practice—one that brings natural affection, and yes, even liking.

Fred Rogers:
Yet some people say, “I don’t care what others think,” as if that’s strength. What’s the danger in that mindset?

Saito Hitori:
It sounds bold, but it often hides fear or pride. If you stop caring how others feel, you start hurting people without realizing it. And once that happens, you stop receiving life’s blessings. Life is a mirror. Be kind, and it reflects kindness.

Jesus Christ:
I was not controlled by people’s opinions, but I never dismissed them. I wept with them. I asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The Kingdom of Heaven is not built on cold correctness, but on compassionate presence.

Dalai Lama:
Caring what others think isn’t weakness—it’s awareness. Just don’t let their opinion define your soul. But if they feel loved in your presence, that’s a very good thing.

Mother Teresa:
There is no conflict between being faithful to God and being tender to people. If others feel loved around you, it may be because your heart has grown closer to God’s.

Fred Rogers:
Let’s end here: How can we live in a way where being liked is not performance, but a reflection of divine respect?

Saito Hitori:
Start every day by saying, “I hope today, someone feels lucky because they met me.” That’s my prayer. And when people smile at you or say thank you, that’s not flattery—it’s a sign your light is warming others.

Jesus Christ:
Let your light shine before others—not to show off, but so they may see goodness and give glory to God. Be gentle, truthful, forgiving. Then if people like you, it is because they taste heaven in your kindness.

Dalai Lama:
Listen deeply. Speak slowly. Smile often. When we are thoughtful, we don’t cause waves—we create ripples of peace. And people feel that. They like that. It’s a blessing for both.

Mother Teresa:
Be a little kinder than necessary. You never know what burden someone is carrying. When they say, “I like being near you,” they’re really saying, “You helped me carry my cross today.”

Fred Rogers:
Then we affirm this: Being liked is not vanity—it’s often a fruit of thoughtful love. It is possible to shine with God’s light and bring comfort, not confusion. And that, too, is holiness.

Topic 5: Correcting Belief with Humility

“How can we re-examine our faith without fear or shame?”

Participants: John Henry Newman, Carl Jung, Confucius, Thomas Merton, Maryam al-Ijliya
Moderator: Thomas Merton

Thomas Merton:
We’re taught to cling to what we believe, as if letting go means defeat. But I’ve learned that true faith evolves—it listens, questions, and surrenders pride. So let’s begin here: How can we correct our beliefs without falling into guilt or spiritual collapse?

John Henry Newman:
To grow is not to betray. I moved from Anglicanism to Catholicism not out of rebellion, but reverence. Truth is not static. We are pilgrims. The conscience is the voice of God within—and it must be obeyed, even when it leads us beyond old certainties.

Carl Jung:
The shadow is not evil—it is unknown. What we repress in ourselves becomes dangerous. So too with belief. Faith must include doubt, or it becomes possession. To revise belief is not to lose God—it is to find Him anew, in wholeness.

Confucius:
The noble person is not afraid to admit error. To recognize fault and correct it is the essence of virtue. Shame arises not from imperfection, but from refusing to grow. A crooked tree does not become straight by pretending—it straightens by bending.

Maryam al-Ijliya:
As a scientist and a believer, I corrected my instruments often. Why should faith be any different? We adjust not because we are broken, but because we seek precision. God is vast. We must not fear recalibration—we must welcome it.

Thomas Merton:
Some say revising belief shows weakness, or disloyalty to God. What do you say to those who are afraid to rethink?

John Henry Newman:
Faithfulness to God requires faithfulness to truth. If I remain loyal to an error out of fear, I am no longer loyal to God. Courage is needed not just for martyrdom, but for metamorphosis.

Maryam al-Ijliya:
No engineer keeps a broken compass. Why should a believer cling to one? Updating belief is an act of reverence, not rebellion. If we truly trust God, we trust that He is bigger than our current understanding.

Confucius:
Stubbornness is not strength—it is pride disguised as loyalty. A wise person listens more than they speak, especially to the inner voice that says, “Maybe it’s time to change.”

Carl Jung:
If your God cannot survive your questions, perhaps it is your image of God that must die—not God Himself. Real faith can withstand fire. Sometimes it requires it.

Thomas Merton:
Last question. How do we remain open, humble, and faithful in a world that demands certainty?

John Henry Newman:
By walking, not sprinting. By trusting that truth unfolds like dawn—bit by bit, not all at once. We don’t need all the answers. Just the courage to follow light as it appears.

Confucius:
By practicing stillness. Let the ego fall quiet. Wisdom enters when we no longer seek to defend, but to understand.

Carl Jung:
By loving mystery. The soul thrives not in clarity, but in the dance between known and unknown. God does not need us to be sure—He needs us to be sincere.

Maryam al-Ijliya:
By keeping our instruments polished: our hearts, our minds, our humility. The moment we stop learning is the moment we stop worshipping.

Thomas Merton:
Then let us leave this place not as defenders of what we know, but as seekers of what is real. Let us unlearn where needed—and grow without fear. For God does not shame those who change. He welcomes them.

Final Thoughts by Jesus

If they like you because you see them—good.
If they like you because you uplift them—very good.
If they feel loved by you and still disagree with you—that is when you’re closest to My heart.

Remember this: The Father delights when His children walk in harmony, not in triumph over each other.

So yes, speak truth. But wrap it in mercy.
Be bold. But walk humbly.
And above all, let your light not burn—but bless.

That is the way of Heaven.

Short Bios:

Jesus Christ
Founder of Christianity, known for His teachings on love, humility, and forgiveness. Emphasized compassion for the marginalized and unity among all people.

Fred Rogers
American television host and Presbyterian minister, known for his gentle presence and deep emotional intelligence. Advocated for kindness and emotional safety.

Martin Luther King Jr.
Civil rights leader and Baptist minister who championed nonviolence, justice, and the dream of a united human family under God.

Rumi
13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic. Celebrated for his spiritual writings on divine love, unity, and the soul's longing for God.

Pope Francis
Current leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Known for his humility, advocacy for the poor, and emphasis on interfaith dialogue and mercy.

Rev. Sun Myung Moon
Korean spiritual leader and founder of the Unification Movement. Promoted global peace and religious unity centered on God’s parental heart.

Etty Hillesum
Jewish writer and Holocaust victim whose wartime diaries revealed profound spiritual growth, inner peace, and unwavering compassion in the face of evil.

Saito Hitori
Japanese self-made millionaire and philosopher. Known for spreading joy, gratitude, and the concept of blessing others through thoughtful words and actions.

Dalai Lama
Spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. Advocates for compassion, nonviolence, and inner peace as universal values beyond religious boundaries.

Mother Teresa
Catholic nun and missionary who served the poorest of the poor. Revered for her acts of mercy and embodiment of God’s love through service.

Simone Weil
French philosopher and mystic. Explored themes of suffering, justice, and the search for truth through radical empathy and simplicity.

Nelson Mandela
South African anti-apartheid leader and president. Embraced forgiveness and reconciliation after decades of political imprisonment.

St. Francis of Assisi
Italian Catholic friar who renounced wealth to live in poverty and service. Known for his deep love of nature, peace, and humility.

Imam Ali
Cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad. Revered for his wisdom, justice, and teachings on humility and unity within the Islamic tradition.

Søren Kierkegaard
Danish philosopher and Christian theologian. Pioneered existential thought and emphasized the importance of personal faith over social conformity.

Karen Armstrong
British author and former nun. Renowned for her work on comparative religion and advocacy for compassion as a universal moral principle.

Blaise Pascal
French mathematician, physicist, and Christian thinker. Known for integrating faith and reason, and for his reflections on the heart’s spiritual logic.

St. Teresa of Ávila
Spanish mystic and Carmelite nun. Wrote extensively on prayer, divine union, and inner transformation through humility and love.

Mahatma Gandhi
Indian lawyer and spiritual leader who led nonviolent resistance against British rule. His faith-based activism inspired global movements for peace.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
British Chief Rabbi and scholar. Promoted interfaith respect and warned against religious extremism that distorts God's intent.

Malala Yousafzai
Pakistani education activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Survived an assassination attempt for advocating girls’ education against extremism.

Thich Nhat Hanh
Vietnamese Zen master, poet, and peace activist. Taught mindfulness and compassion as paths to inner and global peace.

John Henry Newman
British theologian who converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism. Emphasized the role of conscience and the development of doctrine.

Carl Jung
Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology. Explored religious symbolism, the unconscious, and spiritual individuation.

Confucius
Ancient Chinese philosopher. Taught ethics, self-cultivation, and harmony in relationships as the basis for social and spiritual order.

Thomas Merton
American Trappist monk and writer. Bridged Christian mysticism with interfaith dialogue, emphasizing contemplation and inner transformation.

Maryam al-Ijliya
10th-century Syrian Muslim scientist and astrolabe maker. Symbol of faith and intellect working together in the Islamic Golden Age.