The Empathic Civilization

I listened to Bob Edwards program this afternoon on National Public Radio. He interviewed Jeremy Rifkin, the author of The Empathic Civilization: The Race to Global Consciousness in a World in Crisis. I thought it was a fascinating conversation.

Basically, he says that we are, by nature, empathic creatures. Babies are born, trying to make connections. Research says that we are wired to be empathic with others' actions and suffering. Further, our empathy for others is based on our lines of relationship. Throughout history, as our civilization has extended its reach of knowledge of and interaction with others, our ability to act in sympathy with others has increased.

Mr. Rifkin says that we are now at a turning point. Old institutions support connections that are regional, while our knowledge of and interaction with others has gone global. Our empathy is being restrained by these institutions; instead, we need to create new institutions that will facilitate a blossoming new level of empathy.

This basic description comes only from the interview, and I'm sure is quite simplistic. I have also found one blog that is critical of Rifkin's work, saying that he limits his own scope to the Euro-American sphere, excluding more indigenous sources of wisdom.

However, I find the ideas intriguing. What do you think?

Economic Justice

The Old Testament describes a pattern called Jubilee, which returned land - that had been sold to pay debts - to the family after several generations. This would ensure that no family would be trapped in poverty and destitution without any hope of basic resources for the future.

As I listen to the news of January 21, 2010, especially the decision of the Supreme Court regarding campaign contributions and corporations, I grieve that the drive to create profit has increased its control on our social, cultural, political, economic, and justice process.

This will put even more responsibility on us, the people, to be vigilant and active in educating ourselves, thinking for ourselves, choosing what is truly valuable to us, making decisions carefully, and acting courageously to influence our world. Compassion, a universal religious goal, is not usually present in the drive for profit. Compassion must be at the heart of our influence.

What do you think?

Compassion, Christmas, and the Prince of Peace

I recently went to a sea life museum/zoo. It was a very interesting experience for me. Among the many thoughts and questions that came to my mind as I wandered through, was the reminder that most life inhabits a world of eating and being eaten, of protecting turf, of intimidating others in order to survive. At one point, I found myself asking (out loud), if this is our hereditary, how in the world can we ever expect or hope to have "peace on earth".

Later in the day, I remembered that the whole creature world - including mammals - does have stories of compassion between creatures. Perhaps it is this cultivation of compassion that contains our hope. (Thank you, Karen Armstrong.) When we can hear of a stranger's suffering, and have the same concern for the stranger, that we would have if the suffering belonged to us or to someone we knew and cared about - and have the will to act - I truly believe that we could change the world.

It means changing the hearts and minds of people, including those who are addicted to their own wealth and power. This sometimes seems so impossible; but I believe the impossible is possible - with God's help.

This Christmas, in the coming year and in the years ahead, I will continue to pray, hope and work for the coming of the Prince of Peace. I hope you will join me in that journey.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Prayer for the Prince of Peace

Okay, God, we need to talk. Have you been listening to the news lately? I believe in your goodness. I believe that you want goodness for us and for all your creation - that means everybody and everything - no exceptions. So what's a Christian to do?

We need so much. We need good health care for everyone. We need clean water and respect for the earth. We need people who can hear, really hear, different points of view. We need a world-wide compassion that reaches everyone. We need all people to consider the desperation of others as if it was their own, and then to do something to transform the desperation.

Okay, I'm a dreamer. I know it; but don't you call us to dream these dreams? Don't you call us to think about our lives, our gifts, and find something to do that will help make this a better world? Isn't the Golden Rule a part of every major world religion as we think about You? Am I really asking too much?

Please God, transform each of us into Creators of Peace, so that the Prince of Peace may be embodied in us for the world. So be it. Amen. Blessed be.

Isaiah, chapters 46 and 47

We read chapters 46 and 47 in our Isaiah Bible study class yesterday. We ended up in a very interesting conversation about the nature of God.

Some talked about contrasting views of God: angry God vs. loving God, Old Testament God vs. New Testament God.

Others saw the descriptions of God as being just the normal language of biblical times, connecting their views and experiences of God with the natural world. Life and death happens to everyone and everything. In our times, most of us no longer live on farms, so we are quite insulated from the experience and the reality of death. People of biblical times were always, somehow, close to death, and so the language of life and death was a natural way to talk about God.

Others talked about the political situation. In biblical times, Israel was a tiny country surrounded by other countries that were giants. As these giants fought with each other they inevitably crossed through Israel's territory, fighting as they went. Israel was like the little kid who was always getting beaten up by the bigger bullies and losing his lunch money. When someone constantly finds herself / himself on the bottom of a fight, always getting their lights punched out, it's human nature - self-preservation - to ask for a larger power to come help and give back some of what they've been dishing out.

So read some of Isaiah, find the places that describe God differently, think about your life, and add a comment. What do you think? What is God like in your thinking?

Worship for Dec.13th

You'll find our "Order of Worship" for December 13th at www.santabarbarafirst.org. On the side bar, find "prayers" under "faith and spirituality". Check it out!

Lester Brown's book, Plan B 4.0.

Dear Friends:

I have this week placed in the church library a copy of Lester Brown's book, Plan B 4.0., published by The Earth Policy Institute. The book describes what is being done globally to stabilize climate, stabilize population, eradicate poverty, and restore the economy's natural support systems. The Plan states that to accomplish these things will require a budget of 187 billion dollars, which is one-third of the annual current military budget of the USA, or 13% of global military budgets. As of mid-2009, direct U.S. appropriations for the Iraq war...have totaled some 642 billion dollars. Implementing Plan B 4.0. is not a matter of scarce resources, but of national and international priorities as to how available resources should be used.

If you are someone who has faint hope that these things can be done, I recommend you begin by reading Chapter 10 of Plan B 4.0, titled, "Mobilizing to Save Civilization." Things are being done that give us reasons to hope and inspiration to act.

You may also want to put the Earth Policy Institute's website - www.earthpolicy.org - into your bookmarks on your computer and to check it regularly. You will find updates on what is being done globally to address these four interrelated challenges: stabilize climate, stabilize population, eradicate poverty, and restore the economy's natural support systems.

If you are involved with education in any way - schools, churches, service clubs, or book clubs, the Earth Policy Institute provides free, downloadable resources for your use in PDF and PowerPoint formats, including chapters of Plan B 4.0.

I heard Lester Brown speak at UCSB about four years ago on Plan B 4.0. He is worth hearing, worth reading. Plan B has changed as the planet has changed over the past four years. Keep informed and stay involved!

Grace and peace, Wes