Beloved Community Paradigm

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Beloved Community: Faith, meet Politics. Politics, Faith.

Transcript of Beloved Community Paradigm

Beloved Community: Faith, meet Politics. Politics, Faith.

SOMETIMES, Unitarian Universalist congregations act like

POLITICAL CLUBS for activists or

social clubs for the liberal like-minded.

Increasingly, however, our congregations are acting

on a longing to connect social change

and spiritual integrity.

THIS IS A PARADIGM SHIFT

WHAT IS A PARADIGM

?

Remember when

Europeans thought the

Earth was the center

of the universe?

And along came Copernicus with

Nope. Not really.

A PARADIGM

is a framework – a way of

organizing information and

experience based on what we think is true.

Until another PARADIGM

shows up

we don’t even know we’re in one.

Many Unitarian Universalists have

been operating from a

DOMINANT PARADIGM

when it comes to engaging

social justice.

DOMINANT PARADIGM

Limits itself to political views and realities

Divides the world into US and THEM…

…and the purpose of power is to control THEM.

DOMINANT PARADIGM

Understands human and

civil rights as the basis for

social justice.

DOMINANT PARADIGM

Puts things at the center. resources

tasks analysis plans

time

DOMINANT PARADIGM

Sees issues as problems to be solved.

DOMINANT PARADIGM

Reduces identity to status or role.

VICTIMS  

OPPRESSORS  

ALLIES  

DOMINANT PARADIGM

Tends to be REACTIVE: that is, motivated by and motivating through anger or fear.

DOMINANT PARADIGM

Engages on behalf of other* people.

* Read: poor, needy, wounded, broken, victimized people.

DOMINANT PARADIGM

Focuses on changing the world out there.

DOMINANT PARADIGM

Sees justice as a system

of reward and

punishment.

DOMINANT PARADIGM

There’s nothing wrong with this paradigm per se.

It’s just…well, limiting.

Why settle for paint by number…

when there’s a full color masterpiece?

Many already know: another paradigm exists.

And with a nod to Josiah Royce who coined the term…

and gratitude to Dr. King who popularized it by word and deed

we call this alternative the

 BELOVED COMMUNITY

PARADIGM

For Dr. King, the goal of the Freedom Movement was not civil rights, but BELOVED COMMUNITY.

Of course civil rights matter – but they are not the goal.

The goal is

…a  radical  redefini8on  of  our  rela8onships.  (MLK)  

“ “

Increasingly, the BELOVED COMMUNITY

PARADIGM is emerging as a framework

for activists – even those who are “not religious.”

Grace Lee Boggs, a lifelong activist writes: “…it has become increasingly clear to me that King’s prophetic vision [of Beloved Community] is now the indispensable starting point for 21st-century revolutionaries.”

Author of The Next American Revolution:

Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century

Roots  itself  in  a  religious  /  spiritual  view  that  recognizes  poli8cal  reali8es  

BELOVED COMMUNITY PARADIGM

There is only us – ALL of us

…and the purpose of power is to restore right relationship.

BELOVED COMMUNITY PARADIGM

Right relationship

- not rights - form the basis for

social justice.

BELOVED COMMUNITY PARADIGM

Focuses more on relationships than on things.

BELOVED COMMUNITY PARADIGM

See issues as a way of life to be transformed.

BELOVED COMMUNITY PARADIGM

Recognizes that social identity shapes, but does not limit, who we are. We are more than our social status, rank or role.

BELOVED COMMUNITY PARADIGM

Is proactive: motivated by hope.

BELOVED COMMUNITY PARADIGM

Engages us for our own sake, too.

"  If  you  have  come  here  to  help  me  you  are  was8ng  your  8me,  but  if  you  have  come  here  because  your  libera8on  is  bound  up  with  mine,  then  let  us  work  together."      Lilla  Watson,  Aboriginal  educator,  Brisbane,  Australia  

BELOVED COMMUNITY PARADIGM

Focuses on being the change we want to see.

BELOVED COMMUNITY PARADIGM

BELOVED COMMUNITY PARADIGM

Understands justice as “love correcting everything that stands against love.” (MLK)

•  Limits itself to political views and realities

•  Divides the world into “us” and “them” and the purpose of power is to control “them”

•  “Rights” as the basis for social justice

•  Puts things at the center •  Issues are seen as problems to be

solved •  Reduces identity to status or role

•  Reactive: driven by anger or fear •  Often understands this as for “other” people

•  Focuses on changing the world out there

•  Justice = a system of rewards and punishments

•  Rooted in a religious or spiritual view that recognizes political realities

•  There is only us – all of us and the purpose of power is to restore right relationship

•  “Right relationships” as the basis

•  Puts relationships at the center •  Issues reflect a way of life to be

transformed •  Identity shapes us, but does not limit

who we are

•  Proactive: motivated by hope •  Engages for one’s own sake, too

•  Focuses on being the change we want

to see •  Justice = “Love correcting everything

that stands against love.” (MLK)

BELOVED COMMUNITY DOMINANT PARADIGM

DOMINANT PARADIGM

BELOVED COMMUNITY

CONVERSATION WITH SELF

• What in what I’ve read here is most important to me personally?

• What new questions do I have now?

• What actions might I take in my congregation or community based on this?

This is a

Production

Developed and created by Hilary Allen, Meck Groot and Deborah Holder. We encourage you to share this presentation. We give permission for you to use it toward

shifting activism toward a Beloved Community paradigm.