Hearts of the City / Exploring attitudes and issues behind the news

A rotating panel of experts from the worlds of philosophy, psychology and religion offer their perspectives on the dilemmas that come with living in Southern California.

Today’s question: “Only four days remain before the end of the year. What are the most relevant New Year’s resolutions we can make for the world in 1996? What can we do individually to help make them come true?”

The Rev. Ron Benefiel, senior pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene, Los Angeles.

No doubt the world would be a better place if we all tried harder. However, in my faith’s tradition, the call is not for us to make promises to “do better,” but rather, in humility before God, to be “different.” It is the language of “transformation” by the grace of God more than the language of “resolutions.” The result is a list of questions to ponder in prayer as we enter the new year. Who are the oppressed, discouraged, lonely, dispossessed in the world? What would it mean for the passions of God to be my own? How can I be an instrument of God’s peace, love and righteousness?

Rabbi Donald Goor, Temple Judea, Tarzana

1995 was a year of extremes, of zealous pursuit of ideals, without respect for life and for justice. The tragic results were felt in the continued carnage in Bosnia, in the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, in the stalemate in our nation’s capital. Justice in Judaism need not be absolute; compromise is a form of justice as well. In 1996 the leaders of our world, and each of us, should resolve to avoid the pitfall of extremism. We must truly listen to and respect those around us while continuing to pursue our ideals. Resolving to end extremism will allow us to envision a 1996 in which we achieve justice in our lives and in our world.

Shabbir Mansuri, director, Council on Islamic Education, Fountain Valley

One of the most important concepts in Islam is accountability to God. As a Muslim, I would urge my fellow human beings, individually as well as represented by the nations of the world, to resolve to conduct themselves with dignity, compassion and love. I’d ask the United States to evaluate how its policies affect the rest of the world, keeping accountability to the citizens of America in mind. I’d also encourage my fellow Americans to individually continue striving to educate themselves to avoid stereotypes and misconceptions about the diverse people of the world, and I’d remind them to cherish the flexibility and freedom of American society in enabling people to achieve their goals and aspirations.