Talking and Listening

Fundamentalism cannot listen. And if you cannot listen you cannot speak. If you cannot listen you only speak about you, you cannot speak to someone else. You only speak at them. You leave no space inside yourself for them to exist and be considered. Fundamentalists derive their enemies of their humanity. So much for fundamentalist “humanists”.

It has become apparent to me over the last few years of writing this blog that the critical conversation is between the fundamentalists and the rest. It is the fundamentalist mindset that presents the greatest challenge, in my opinion, to open dialog between all parties
Naked Pastor

The preceding quote mentions polarization. Groups that only talk to themselves become further polarized. This is a sociological fact. Fundamentalists often define themselves by a small number of essential truths. The ultimate question is not whether these truths are “correct” or “true” – but rather to discover why it is these truths and not others which orient the group.

If someone cannot tell you why they have not performed the necessary self-reflection that is required. Such reflection is required in order to actually positively participate in a dialogue.

Responsible Thinking

One of the things that really gets on my tits is irresponsible thinking. And this is why I love Jon Stewart. He has made a living off everyone’s irresponsible thinking. Then again, watching the Daily Show regularly really puts me in a funk. It eats me inside. It bothers me to imagine a world in which people say these things. I am beside myself once I realize that I actually live in that world. What a horror.

Come to think of it, this phenomenon is what drives both my work like and my hobby of theology. This is why I wake up every day.

Stop Following the Rules

My disillusionment with the status-quo is growing. I cannot be bothered to play by their rules anymore. Time to make some of my own rules.

Nothing New Under the Sun with Foucault

For NT we’ve been reading some of Glancy’s Slavery in Early Christianity along with Howard Thurman’s Disinherited. You might imagine, and you’d be correct, that this produces a good platform for discussing the topic. I have to admit the topic of slavery does not stir me, yet I have a lot of thoughts about it. For one, I am surprised by those who fall into the trap by thinking that our society has transcended the injustices present in ancient slavery. And that statement is going to need some qualification.

In the ancient world slavery was not racial. In our country’s history it unfortunately was and its emanations are still being worked out today. The institution of slavery itself is over. Yet slavery in the ancient world was merely the solution to a number of systematic problems; the system being worked on was the social, cultural, and economic order of the entire empire (be it Persia, Greece, Rome, or what-have-you). What were these problems? How to check power holders without destroying them? Power-vacuums are bad, see Middle East wars over the last twenty years. You would punish or imprison the slave, the master lost those abilities and service. Another problem, how to protect myself from consequences? Have the slaves do it, they take the fall.

My point is this: all these social contracts still exist today. Sure they might under different names and slightly different structures. Yet the same de-humanizing effects occur in the name of power. If you don’t think limited liability, shareholders, boards, NDA contracts, negotiating tactics, and employer-pressuring are all contemporary “solutions” to the same eternal problems, what do you think they are? I swear Foucault got something right – ok I think he was close. Really close. Let’s not bash on Paul “Why couldn’t he just see the light and fight against slavery?” Let’s not proclaim that our time is inherently better than his. If you want to do one better than St. Paul see our situation for what it is and fight that dehumanization.

A Space Inside Myself

A couple of weeks ago the dean invited some students to talk with her about the department and where things ought to be heading. It was a great time to get to know the dean and her plans for the department. Yet one thing kept creeping back in, the inability to actually host a true dialogue. Honest listening does not happen, even in a theology department. I was struck by this interview where Jacob Needleman talks about the failure of contemporary public space to accommodate any discussion let alone one on religious lines

And people cannot listen to each other. When we’re talking, you and I, mostly when I’m talking and trying to listen to someone I maybe hear—if I’m lucky—one-third of what they say. Mostly I hear my own thoughts, and when I try to write down what they’ve said I mix it with my own thoughts. But there is a discipline which one can obtain. It’s not that hard. It’s to step back from one’s own opinions, make a space in myself and let you in. I don’t have to agree with you but I have to let you in, so that you are heard. I hear you. And you let me in. And that way something very beautiful can appear; I can still disagree completely with you, but I don’t deny your humanity. found here

This is something I have failed to accomplish time and time again. The more and more it happens it has become easier to recognize and correct. You have to be looking for it of course, but it can be done. We all need to learn to listen and to give everyone the humanity they already possess. This is the only way we are going to learn anything.

Education, Ignorance

This is why I love history. As time goes on I am more and more convinced of two facts. First, our world is entirely formed and constructed in narratives – overlapping, contradictory, and non-linear to be sure, but narratives nonetheless. Second the power inherent in such a narrative is seized upon by revisionists and the origin is hid from view. For sometime now I hated Dewey for the education system he brought in; moving away from the formation of a culturally literate individual. It is a result of the present education system that I am not as literate as I ought to be (I’m working on it, Masters in a humanities field, thank you very much). I could cite some evidence as early as St. Augustine (thank you Bruce Bubacz) pointing to what is now know as revisionist history.

Noam doing some history shows that all our contemporary concepts of democracy, liberalism, even a free market and education are hopelessly untethered from their origins. When you wonder why the next generation doesn’t know anything about anything, remember it is because the purpose of mass education is to create obedient people that can follow simple rules.

Brainwashed

It is amazing, yet true: “The rest have allowed themselves to be brainwashed into compliance.” We believe that we “communicate well” on a piece of paper, a resume. We believe that our resume actually tells the story of our work. Godin tells us “You are not your resume, you are your work”.

The key lies in making that work extremely visible in many different ways. Not just one static piece of paper. Don’t play the game that everyone else is playing – the odds are stacked against you. Make your own game, your own space, where no one could ever best you. Then people will see your work. The principle is simple, executing on it is very hard.

Busy

Sorry for the lack of updates. I have been very busy, including a whole weekend at a monastery – fantastic. Reading will keep me away for another week as well. Expect more then!