Thank you for helping make these connections! We certainly have our work cut out for us ... not the least of which is being ready to give meaningful opportunities to people who are just now looking to get engaged. I'm happy to be joining you in this work.
Indeed. I have to say I feel better than I did this time last year...I was still reeling and barely able to believe what we had just done to ourselves. Onward in resistance.
I've been thinking more and more about how the radical right freely expounds on how their religious convictions inform their political project, while liberals like me remain mum about ours. It's refreshing to see someone from the left unapologetically draw a line from their faith perspective to their social and political values.
I suspect that many left leaning people might experience liberal people of faith as thoughtful, wise and more deeply committed to a better world because of their spiritual grounding, not despite it. And people who currently consider themselves conservative might be more curious about liberal values, if we gave them a sense that their religious identity didn't appear to be excluded by what they might otherwise deem a spiritual void.
It would be a mistake for the left to bind itself to one or more religious traditions, as we've seen American Evangelicals adhere to MAGA. Atheists, agnostics and unaffiliated people should feel perfectly at home and attuned on the left, while conservatism may feel an uncomfortable fit for them. It would be healthy, though, for religious liberals to articulate how their spiritual vision informs their life and activism.
Christy, Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Indeed, those of us who have a theological perspective that is steeped in spirituality and not religiosity or doctrine should speak more openly about how that deep well of Love connects to every aspect of our lives. We are spiritual beings at our core, and that part of our humanity is connected to every aspect of our lives..including the political. Faith leaders need to step up as well; mission and ministry outreach is not the same as prophetic witnessing to Love and the Gospel as it relates to standing against the evil of this regime. i
Thank you! I've admired the writings of Teilhard for many years now, and our "contemplative" book group is currently reading an anthology of his works. Like you, whenever I read him, I feel nothing but positivity and hope as we evolve to something greater. We all have a part to play in this evolution. When I compare this expressed hope with the unhealthy brand of religion coming out of Washington and our own State House, I do feel sadness and anger, but know that the "moral arc of the universe bends towards justice." If we keep working, goodness will prevail. Thanks again.
I have been writing about the intersectionality of spirituality and prophetic movements for awhile in my professional work but usually not so much in my advocacy work. That said, this is totally about evolutionary consciousness....the MAGA anger against 'woke' is a regressive desire to devolve into former stages of consciousness. Teilhard was such a prophet...and his work is so much needed in this moment.
Your article refutes every stereotype others wish to paste onto Hoosiers.
We are a diverse bunch! Thanks for reading. We appreciate it and depend on our readers to help with this very important work.
Thank you for helping make these connections! We certainly have our work cut out for us ... not the least of which is being ready to give meaningful opportunities to people who are just now looking to get engaged. I'm happy to be joining you in this work.
Indeed. I have to say I feel better than I did this time last year...I was still reeling and barely able to believe what we had just done to ourselves. Onward in resistance.
I've been thinking more and more about how the radical right freely expounds on how their religious convictions inform their political project, while liberals like me remain mum about ours. It's refreshing to see someone from the left unapologetically draw a line from their faith perspective to their social and political values.
I suspect that many left leaning people might experience liberal people of faith as thoughtful, wise and more deeply committed to a better world because of their spiritual grounding, not despite it. And people who currently consider themselves conservative might be more curious about liberal values, if we gave them a sense that their religious identity didn't appear to be excluded by what they might otherwise deem a spiritual void.
It would be a mistake for the left to bind itself to one or more religious traditions, as we've seen American Evangelicals adhere to MAGA. Atheists, agnostics and unaffiliated people should feel perfectly at home and attuned on the left, while conservatism may feel an uncomfortable fit for them. It would be healthy, though, for religious liberals to articulate how their spiritual vision informs their life and activism.
Christy, Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Indeed, those of us who have a theological perspective that is steeped in spirituality and not religiosity or doctrine should speak more openly about how that deep well of Love connects to every aspect of our lives. We are spiritual beings at our core, and that part of our humanity is connected to every aspect of our lives..including the political. Faith leaders need to step up as well; mission and ministry outreach is not the same as prophetic witnessing to Love and the Gospel as it relates to standing against the evil of this regime. i
Thank you! I've admired the writings of Teilhard for many years now, and our "contemplative" book group is currently reading an anthology of his works. Like you, whenever I read him, I feel nothing but positivity and hope as we evolve to something greater. We all have a part to play in this evolution. When I compare this expressed hope with the unhealthy brand of religion coming out of Washington and our own State House, I do feel sadness and anger, but know that the "moral arc of the universe bends towards justice." If we keep working, goodness will prevail. Thanks again.
I have been writing about the intersectionality of spirituality and prophetic movements for awhile in my professional work but usually not so much in my advocacy work. That said, this is totally about evolutionary consciousness....the MAGA anger against 'woke' is a regressive desire to devolve into former stages of consciousness. Teilhard was such a prophet...and his work is so much needed in this moment.
Thanks for the connections and reminding us to continue forward to a better 2026 and be courageous in the journey! Blessings on 2026!
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. We are all in this together. Happy New Year and may we see a blue tsunami in November
Excellent article!
Thanks Susan. You and your writings have been such an inspiration for me.We have come a long way my sister!