Universal brotherhood

Universal brotherhood is a philosophical, spiritual, and sociopolitical concept that emphasizes the unity of all human beings beyond distinctions of race, nationality, religion, or class. The idea has been explored in various religious traditions, philosophical systems, and political movements throughout history.

Historical and religious context

The concept of universal brotherhood appears in multiple religious and philosophical traditions. In Hinduism, the phrase vasudhaiva kutumbakam ("the world is one family") expresses the belief in a universal kinship among all people. ^[1] Similarly, Christianity promotes the idea through teachings such as "love thy neighbor" (Luke 10 ) and the unity of humanity in Christ (Galatians 3 ). Islam upholds a form of universal brotherhood within the Ummah, or global Muslim community, which transcends ethnic and national boundaries. ^[2]

In Western esotericism, Theosophy considers universal brotherhood a core principle. The Theosophical Society, founded by Helena Blavatsky in 1875, promoted the idea that all humans share a common spiritual origin and destiny. ^[3] Freemasonry also embraces the notion of brotherhood, teaching that all men are equal under the "fatherhood of God." ^[4]

Modern perspectives

In contemporary discussions, universal brotherhood is linked to human rights, globalization, and international cooperation. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) reflects elements of this idea by affirming the equality and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their background. ^[5]

See also

• Cosmopolitanism
• Humanism
• Interfaith dialogue
• Internationalism
• Transnationalism

References

1. Sharma, Arvind (2004). Hinduism and Human Rights: A Conceptual Approach. Oxford University Press.
2. Esposito, John L. (2016). Islam: The Straight Path. Oxford University Press.
3. Blavatsky, Helena P. (1889). The Key to Theosophy. Theosophical Publishing Society.
4. Coil, Henry Wilson (1996). Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia. Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co.
5. Lauren, Paul Gordon (2011). The Evolution of International Human Rights: Visions Seen. University of Pennsylvania Press.

Further reading

• Chopra, D.; Chopra, S. (2013). Brotherhood: Dharma, Destiny, and the American Dream. New Harvest/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN   978-0-544-03210-1.
• Guénon, R. (2004). Theosophy: History of a Pseudo-religion. Sophia Perennis. ISBN   978-0-900588-80-8.
• Gierycz, Michał (2025). "Universal brotherhood". Fraternity as an Overlooked Element in Global Politics. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-003-62243-7.
• Harland-Jacobs, J. L. (2012). Builders of Empire: Freemasons and British Imperialism, 1717-1927. University of North Carolina Press. ISBN   978-1-4696-0665-1.
• Hoffmann, S. (2007). The Politics of Sociability: Freemasonry and German Civil Society, 1840-1918. University of Michigan Press. ISBN   978-0-472-11573-0.
• Lachman, G. (2012). Madame Blavatsky: The Mother of Modern Spirituality. Penguin Publishing Group. ISBN   978-1-58542-863-2.
• Lingan, E. (2014). The Theatre of the Occult Revival: Alternative Spiritual Performance from 1875 to the Present. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN   978-1-137-44861-3.
• Mahmud, L. (2014). The Brotherhood of Freemason Sisters: Gender, Secrecy, and Fraternity in Italian Masonic Lodges. University of Chicago Press. ISBN   978-0-226-09605-6.
• Shapiro, A. R. (1916). The Birth of Universal Brotherhood. Burton Publishing Company.