Spirituality and Beliefs On the transcendence of religious ideas

From the Friedensmal, one can gaze upon the "Jerusalem on the Rhine." Here began the complex interplay of German-Jewish relations. During the Crusades, the flourishing Jewish culture along the Rhine was decimated. A thorough exploration of these early, tragic events and their extensive repercussions largely remains undone, continuing as a crucial task for society.

This connection, however, arose serendipitously during the construction of the Friedensmal; it was also coincidental that the "Jerusalem on the Rhine," or the SchUM cities of Speyer, Worms, and Mainz, were recently designated as World Heritage Sites due to their Jewish heritage. This designation occurred only after the completion of the Jerusalem Friedensmal. The monument had already been named "Jerusalem Friedensmal" before the story of the "Jerusalem on the Rhine" became publicly known.

Currently, the name "Jerusalem" specifically refers to the 'Stone of Encounter' at the Friedensmal. It became apparent that naming the entire monument 'Jerusalem Friedensmal' was overly audacious, despite the historical connection to the 'Jerusalem on the Rhine.' Yet, this idea found little support within the community, especially among political and religious circles. Thus, 'Jerusalem' remains a part of the monument's history and is also echoed in the 'Yerushalayim' on the 'Stone of Encounter.'

The artist originally chose the name 'Jerusalem' for reasons other than its historical link to the former 'Jerusalem on the Rhine': Jerusalem means 'place of peace.' For peace to manifest in the external Jerusalem of the world, it necessitates finding Jerusalem within ourselves—the place of peace in our own souls. This transcends any specific religion and signifies the transcendence of religious ideology. Only then can peace also enter Jerusalem; both the internal and external realms. Yet, this is not a novel concept. Mystics from all religions concur on this principle. Pertaining to our own cultural religion, it means: "The Christian of the future will be a mystic—or he will not be" (Karl Rahner).

The Friedensmal fosters a space for encounters among people who hold their own beliefs, belong to various religions, or may adhere to none at all.

The "bright area" within the Peace Monument symbolizes the "space of encounter," imbued with 22 values of togetherness. Yet, this "area" exists within oneself and through interaction with others, reflecting essential aspects of ourselves, aiding us in liberating from entrenched beliefs, ideologies, and our "patterns" (the dark ring in the monument). The "tree of life" at the heart of the monument, which pierces through the "dark ring" from within, represents the nexus of "heaven" and "earth": humanity evolves as a step in expanding consciousness, impossible without a foundational set of values about how we interact with one another. The internal and external are intricately intertwined.

Faith can provide support during difficult times, especially when illusions shatter. Consciousness shapes our world. From this world, reflective consciousness attempts to discern its source. This sets humans apart from animals. Yet, is this pursuit not more an eternal "falling into God" rather than a fixed religious ideology? How can we find explanations for a level that human consciousness cannot comprehend?

I respect religions as paths to approach a higher plane. They offer support and a foundation of values for personal and collective development. Nonetheless, everyone should be granted the freedom to find their own path, whether within or outside of an established religion: the freedom to continually make new choices, to expand and deepen their faith—up to the numinous.

In Christianity, the name "Jesus" derives from the Aramaic name Yeshua, meaning "God saves." The mystic can agree with this statement. "Christ" is a title, signifying having attained divine knowledge. It could mean that salvation or healing is no longer projected onto something external or someone else, not even onto a religious ideology, but rather an understanding that it is oneself who is meant, that it is a process occurring within oneself.