[Springboard] Fw: preliminary report

[nancy]

Jim, thanks for your message which certainly deals with one part of my concern re our work in history. I am sending you our initial reading list, but much more can be added. 
    The facts seem to be that civilizations are formed and destroyed by "orders".  We are at a stage where university graduates can no longer spell (tho' when I graduated 3 spelling errors in a paper meant the professor need not read it! or an exam paper.  Spel;ling is a small think until you go to the hospital and are told you don't need to eat after midnight. "Don't need to or should not?"  "Same difference!"
    Much could be commented on the summary you enclosed.  Thank you very much for it.  I think given the huge numbers in known history of collapsed civilizations, one has to consider both the small groups that collapsed it and the small groups that saved many from collapse.  We don't want to be arguing against alcohol when the Titanic goes down. In  the west, Benedictines saved culture and medicine while the Albigensians were destroyed completely.  
    I think we need  a worldwide study, not a judgment based on a few hundred years or less.Anyway, we're starting and will include your input. Thanks!
    And merry Christmas!!
        Nan 
Original Message ----- 
From: nancy 
To: byrnecarole at charter.net 
Cc: icabombay at igc.org 
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2007 10:19 AM
Subject: preliminary report


Dear Carole and Judy,
    It was a pleasure working with both of you.  I am sending a preliominary reading list on our subject of the effect of Orders on the creation, reformation and destruction of civilizations.  We suggested goiing back to 10,000 BC, but at the moment 5000BC will have to do for starters.
    Here is a list of books we suggested plus a number I have in the house, in the middle of this snow storm. Please add, correct, subtract, whatever, and let's share it together before we submit it.  Obviously it will be an on-going work. 
    The Xn stuff is not hard to find, but we need to interpret the effects on civilization and the dynamic interaction. M<y dear husband insists Europe was saved after the fall of the Roman Empire because the Benedictines were already up in the mountains, inaccessible, thinking, writing, copying.

Non-Christian:
    The Druids, by Peter Berresford Ellis
    Gods and Men, by Henry Bamford Parkes
    The History of Israel, by Noth
    The World'sGreat Religions   (Life)
    Hinges of History, Thos. K. Hill
    Who Will Tell the People? by Wm Griener
    Hope Against Darkness, by Rohr
    The Story of Buddha and Buddhism,  by David McKay

Christian
    The Next Christendom, by Philip Jenkins
    The History of Christianity, by Latourette
    Warriors of God,  by Nigg
    Born from Silence, by Ackley
    Journey to the East
    Monks of the West, by Conte de Montalembert    

Other Names and Authors
    Leonard Boff
    Auel - Clan of the Cave Bear series
    YES
    Progressive Christianity
    Jack Nelson and Paul Moyer(?)
    Crossan
    Thicht Nat Hahn
    Ken Wilbur
    Thomas Keeling

Preliminary study shows many, many different kinds of orders, not just religious or secular or mendicants or students or servants or hospitalers, etc. 
1. Are we looking for support-givers rather than initiators?
2. Does an "order" precede or follow a radical change in histpory?
3. What % of orders are lay, monastic, teachers, healers, servants of govt, and what would be most helpful to concentrate on?
4. What has occurred in the last century since Taize, Pope John the 23rd, etc.?
5. Why do orders persist after the initial need is met?  How many transist helpfully , how many degenerate or disappear? Was it indeed time for the O:E to pass out of history before it became more degenerate and less useful?

Immediate or longterm answers are needed, but please send back your thoughts so we can report as requested.
    
Thanks,
    Nancy Grow
   
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