The stated object of writing The Duel is that it may play a part in the great desire of Christ to see the world united as one.

To be One is the same as wholeness and implies to be at peace.  If the world wishes peace (and it does) then it must comply with the desire of Christ that all people, everywhere, learn to live as One.  What could be simpler?  Where is the problem to such a simple solution?  A little experiment should show where the problem lies.

Psychologists are known to conduct the word/phrase association game to uncover root causes of problems in a patient’s psyche.  The psychologist says a word or phrase and the patient answers with the first thought that comes to mind.  The idea is to bypass the reasoning mind and tease out the real natural hidden response.

So if you are feeling up to it and want to do this little experiment honestly then…
‘Lets play, find the weakest link’.  The weak spot that prevents the world being One.

Q1. What is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the phrase?

“I so much want everyone in the world to live as one”

Q2. What is the second thought that comes to mind when you hear the phrase?

“I so much want everyone in the world to live as one”

Ask this question until it becomes difficult to think of something spontaneously.  Now look at your responses.

Somewhere in your answers, possibly towards the end you may well have responded with a sentiment that reflects the following:

            ‘This is going to be hard because people do not see things the same way.’

Bingo!  That’s the problem.

If you class yourself as a Christian or religious person with a practicing faith your first few responses may have been warm and positive however, your following answers probably begin to see the need for everyone to embrace your faith understanding for this to become a reality.

If you class yourself as an atheist most of your answers would probably reflect that religion is the problem.

Either which way your starting point to this question, your conclusions will probably be to see that we would all have to be the same to achieve this unity, Oneness and peace.

What is required is a ‘waking up’ to the truth and reality that no two people are the same anywhere in the world!  Although similar we are all totally unique.

The phrase ‘waking up’ may seem insulting.  It is not meant to be, but while we fail to grasp this need, we sleepwalk the continuing cycle that takes us away from peace.

So what do I mean by ‘waking up’?

Observing children is a great method of seeing ourselves in a new light.  One fascinating insight happened to me when I first noticed the response of two babies crying next to each other.  One stopped and was curious about the crying of the other. I was witnessing the reaction to a child hearing for the first time what they sound like.  The understanding registered for a short while.  One baby became a mirror for the other.  Self-awareness is the art of waking up.

The Greeks have a saying ‘know thyself’

Jesus says you cannot really help someone else until you know yourself.  Matthew 7v3-5

‘The Duel’ is a challenge, primarily to the individuals in the Christian Church, to question what it is they believe.  It is not an attempt to undermine faith or practice but rather a challenge to know how awake we really are.  It is a challenge to see how much you know yourself.

At the end of the day spirituality is about true Self-awareness.  When we mature in this we become one with God and instantly one with our neighbours.

Although the book is primarily aimed at the Christian Church the principles apply to all faith and non-faith schools of thinking.