[Oe List ...] a new religious mode

Thu Sep 17 19:29:58 CDT 2009

G'day Jim, Jean et al:

I've also been reflecting on the NRM triangle below the NSV triangle in that old diagram.  A lot of this comes from discussions with people who are in ecumenical (Christian) chaplaincy in hospitals and similar places, and people who are in interfaith chaplaincy in a university.  

We've been talking about the categories of "faith" (as in "communities of faith", and "faith-based organisations"), "spirituality" ("it's about your relationships and what you see yourself related to"), "religion", and so on.  The language of the NRM, the OW, The Local Religious Institution (JWM paper), and "secular language".

----------------------------------------------------

Sitting alongside this came a comment that quoted Pastor Niemoller, one of Bonhoeffer's colleagues, and Niemollermight have been quoting someone else.  I read it at the time of a tense industrial issue in a school where  was the union branch secretary.  "You build a staircase from the bottom, but you clean it from the top."  We were having troubles with "the top".  As one of my teaching colleagues of the time said "Scum rises to the top"!

I don't know how this sits with the current US climate.  I know it wouldn't sit well with the old O:E/EI/ICA culture, for which "the union revolution is over", like "the women's revolution is over" (ha!), and so on.  Whether this stance was unconsciously right-wing, or fawning over swaggering management people in blue suits, or a reflection of US culture that was part of the O:E/EI/ICA culture that spread world-wide uncritically at times, or an attempt to get people into our movement, I don't know.

I do know that the industrial democracy "movement" in Australia has had to persevere - two steps forward, one step back, etc.  Occupational health, safety and welfare issues become part of legislation, then get cut back when a conservative government (Labor or Coalition) gets into power - we must "maintain incentives, motivation and initiative" and so on - to the benefit of the already affluent and powerful.  Look at the "prestige" advertising in The Australian Financial Review and The Australian - "prestige motoring", $200 shirts, and Tag-Hauer watches etc - "conspicuous consumption" is still alive - "What, me worry?" - "What global financial crisis?"  I won't go on - you get my drift.  

And the "industrial democracy" movement never had much in the way of good methods, apart from sitting around tables bargaining in traditional ways, and keeping governments on their toes.  There was too little of the win/win processes, and sharing concerns/insights, that we are used to.  I am grateful to Brian Stanfield's The Courage to Lead for some theoretical/ideological/ philosophical underpinning to ToP methods, because I can now discuss these ideas with friends in ways that do mesh with current structural (organisational/political) realities.

So I hope we don't forget the "justice" and "welfare" parts of the NSV as we reinforce the NRM.

Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:19:22 -0700
From: jfwiegel at yahoo.com
To: oe at wedgeblade.net
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] a new religious mode

Not sure if this answers your question, Jean, 

I find myself, as I work with this core group re:  the Israeli - Palestinian conflict and methods to use . . .
When the conversation gets deep and heats up and people are getting ready to walk out of the room, songs come up in my head . . .

Psalm 13
The Prayer Song ("When I see my life ever is torn . . ")  I recalled all 16 verses during the session
The Chastity Song
That poem by Hammerskjold:  "Tired and lonely . . ."

Jim

Coincidence is the spiritual equivalent of a pun. G. K. Chesterton

Jim Wiegel
401 North Beverly Way, Tolleson, Arizona 85353-2401
+1 623-936-8671 +1 623-363-3277
jfwiegel at yahoo.com www.partnersinparticipation.com

--- On Thu, 9/17/09, Jean Watts <jeanwatts at cox.net> wrote:

From: Jean Watts <jeanwatts at cox.net>
Subject: [Oe List ...] a new religious mode
To: oe at wedgeblade.net
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009, 12:05 PM

Jack Gillis wrote: 
"Why aren't we remembering our own deep and profound insight that there will
be no New Social Vehicle without a New Religious Mode?"

Been thinking the same thing.... and another colleague just sent me these
quotes today:

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood
and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the
endless immensity of the sea."   
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

"Remember, we are all affecting the world every moment, whether we mean to
or not. Our actions and states of mind matter, because we are so deeply
interconnected with one another.  Working on our own consciousness is the
most important thing that we are doing at any moment, and being love is a
supreme creative act."
- Ram Dass

I wonder, just what is the 'New Religious Mode' today? And where do we see
it emerging in ourselves or others?
Jean

Message: 2
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:22:15 -0500
From: Jack Gilles <icabombay at igc.org>
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] An excellent article on Health Care costs
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at wedgeblade.net>
Message-ID: <970E70B2-836E-4189-A0E3-943B7A464474 at igc.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; Format="flowed";
    DelSp="yes"

Herman,

This article is fantastic!  It's if for the first time the  
contradiction is named (for me) and we can see what needs to really  
happen.  No longer am I distraught over the loss of the "public  
option".   It is not addressing the contradiction.  What it does  
clarify for me is something that I have brooding about throughout all  
these emails zinging back and forth.  Why aren't we remembering our  
own deep and profound insight that there will be no New Social Vehicle  
without a New Religious Mode?  I find this article not only says that,  
but points out what areas we need to work in to make it happen.  And  
his words that as of now, that possibility is becoming less not more  
prevalent is sobering.  I personally feel that this thinking and  
action is what we need to focus on, not just our method for coming up  
with an analysis and plan (ToPs Methods).  Anyway, thanks for bringing  
this to our attention and I hope everyone will read it.

Grace & Peace,

Jack

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