PEACE AND HARMONY IN 2007 AND BEYOND: PART 2

THE FIRST PATHWAY

Common concepts appear among the writings of the three authors previously cited, and my goal is to summarize these for you, a formidable task, to put it mildly. My intention, however, is not to do the impossible – to tell their stories in a few words – but to tantalize you to study their works. More importantly, my hope is to point toward new directions for human thought that are essential and vital if human societies are to find bases to join forces in working toward a productive prognosis rather than the destructive future that seems all too likely to befall all of us if we continue on our present course.

No single concept has permeated world history so frequently and decisively as “I’m right, you’re wrong,” the ultimate statement of EXCLUSIVITY. This proclamation has caused many attempts for a few people to dominate a group, society, company, country or culture. (I’m living now in a microcosm of community warfare – the reason I’ve not posted anything for over three months.) During world conquest, untold cases of genocide, and many-fold more cases of suffering, destruction, and this waste has permeated history. This human tendency has been so significant that it even constitutes one of the most effective methods of human population control, a chilling thought. An example of the scope of such travesties, only one of countless possibilities, is a century in which the greatest numbers of people were killed by warfare than any other century. Estimates are that 300 million people were killed, half of them non-combatant women and children. Perspective comes from comparing this number to the recently achieved population of the United States – the same nine-digit number. Many, many more were injured, raped, and psychologically scarred permanently.

If people want to believe that human beings are getting better and better, it would be comforting if this was a long-past century, but the stark fact is it was the 20th century; and to make matters worse, the 21st has not started any better. The word, EXCLUSIVITY, haunts us. A person, country or culture may even proclaim that it is commanded by God to eliminate inferior people and, as conquerors, to enlarge their own wealth, territory, and power. Painfully clear, however, is that the getting power only leads to passion for more.

The opposite word is found in one wording or another in our troika authors’ books is INCLUSIVITY, the first of our three “I” words. One the surprising features of vigorously growing cities and regions cited by Florida is inclusive of bohemian, gays and lesbians, and artists because this population style is one of the magnets that attracts creative people. He even refers to PROACTIVELY INCLUSIVE efforts by economic development organizations.

Taussig also lists inclusive environments as found typically in the progressive churches he visited and studied to the extent that quotations of more than one holy writ may be used in worship services, multi-faith discussions are common, and sessions on scientific topics may be a part of their programs.

Wilbur inclusively recognizes and actively incorporates leaders from all world religions into his organizations and activities.

If a cursory comparison of the number of progressive churches listed in Taussig’s 1000 is made with Florida’s list of American high-creativity, economically strong cities, a correlation begins to appear. Although this correlation needs more study to be conclusive, the likelihood of this hypothesis being valid is high enough to warrant testing; we can at least begin thinking along those lines since they could be quite significant. That is, if religious groups are going to minister in the most highly productive cities, if creative people are going to be attracted to cities, churches, and jobs, all parts of our society will likely need to also address the style issues of tolerance, talent, and technology. And let it be clearly understood; these people will do much to set the pace and direction for America’s future. We need more of them and will want them to be in this country rather than running off elsewhere in the world, the latter concept being Florida’s important idea.

Similarly, we will need to attract these people with another pathway discussed in my next posting.

PEACE AND HARMONY IN 2007 AND BEYOND: PART 1

A TROIKA AND THREE I’S

“Troika” is a Russian word with two pregnant meanings. The oldest is both real and mythological and refers to a means of transportation – typically a multi-passenger sleigh drawn by three strong horses. Thus it refers to a winter activity, and the image is of a cold, cold Russian day, passengers bundled in fur-lined parkas and heavy coats, and three powerful horses galloping across the snow.

The second is newer, less exhilarating, and unpleasant. The Soviet Union used triumvirates, NKVD troikas, to mete out extrajudicial punishments of anti-Soviet elements beginning in 1918 but more particularly in trials during the Great Purge. (Consult Wikipedia and “troika” for more.) Nothing that follows has this negative meaning! The number “three” was said to be the minimum for voting and decision-making.

However, I do invoke a triumvirate of people who have differing specializations, three writers of recent books. Those differences lead, surprisingly, to convergent meanings and are therefore worth our attention. That troika-style convergence is what I want you to realize.

Finally, I will conclude with a new troika – one vital for charting paths into the future – and the above title refers to A FUTURE-ORIENTED TROIKA THAT CAN LEAD US TO PEACE AND HARMONY in our conflict-ridden world.

THE AUTHORS AND THEIR BOOKS

The first is another in the well-known series by Richard Florida, this one titled THE FLIGHT OF THE CREATIVE CLASS: THE NEW GLOBAL COMPETITION FOR TALENT (HarperCollins, New York, 2005, 326 p.). His book is catalogued in three areas, all relating to the United States: intellectual capital, creative ability, and technological innovations. Florida discusses the features that typify cities and regions that draw creative talent so magnetically that economic growth results far more effectively than other places. Post-materialistic attitudes of yearning for job satisfaction, intellectual development, and personal sense of worth become the factors that drive choices of the most talented about where and how to live – anywhere in the world. One feature of these high growth areas is a surprise to many people. He encapsulates the importance of the features found in vigorous regions in his three “T’s:” Technology, Tolerance, and Talent.

The second is Hal Taussig’s, A NEW PLACE TO LIVE: PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY AT THE GRASS ROOTS (Polebridge Press, Santa Rosa, CA, 2006, 203 p.) He is a less recognized author of three previous books who is a theologian, minister, and lecturer and writes from a scholarly devotion to a developing movement in the United States. From traveling nationwide and a year of researching, he found, describes, and lists a growing number of these progressive churches (His incomplete list is of 1,000 spread among most mainline denominations including Roman Catholic ones and independent churches.) He characterizes this group with a clear set of features that belie the diversity of their origins.

The third is by a prolific writer for the past 25 years, Ken Wilbur: INTEGRAL SPIRITUALITY: A STARTLING NEW ROLE FOR RELIGION IN THE MDOERN AND POSTMODERN WORLD (Integral Books, Boston, 2006, 313 p.) His beginnings were in biochemistry, but he soon turned to philosophy, publishing his first and important book, The Spectrum of Consciousness, in his mid-twenties. It was followed by more than twenty volumes. His 2006 volume summaries and extends his concepts that are based on an extraordinary knowledge of world religions, an ability to integrate the world of science and theology, and a grasp of philosophy, all applied to the present and also projected into the future with its need for a practical perception of spirituality and a pragmatic philosophy of hope, broadly applied.

In summary, this is the Troika of authors, one a theologian, another studying economic development, and the third a philosopher. In my next two postings, it is the “I” words that will be discussed, each of which leads to a pathway for human progress. We will find valuable similarities in their thinking, findings, and conclusions.