(Draft)Section #7A marginalization of the treasured wisdomassociated with religious, spiritual, and moral traditions
(“Statistics and Observations” piece)Part of a larger project“The IPCR Critical Challenges Assessment 2011”which will be
a list ranking ten critical challenges which aredestabilizing efforts for quality of life and basic human needs worldwideand organized so that there are two sections for each critical challenge identified“Statistics and Observations” and “Commentary”[Note: current Table of Contents included in this paper as Appendix]by Stefan Pasti, Founder and Outreach CoordinatorThe Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization (IPCR) Initiative(www.ipcri.net)(July--October, 2011)Contact Information:Stefan Pasti, Founder and Outreach CoordinatorThe Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization (IPCR) InitiativeP. O Box 163 Leesburg, VA 20178 (USA)stefanpasti@ipcri.net(703) 209-2093
Table of Contents (of this Section #7 draft)
(with active bookmarks to those subsections)
I. What is the treasured wisdom that is being marginalized?II. Starting Point DefinitionsII. Cultures Colliding, Decaying, and DisintegratingIV. Entertainment and AdvertisingV. Conflict ResolutionVI. EducationVII. A Challenge to Adherents of Religious, Spiritual, and Moral Traditions
Brief Introductory Notes to this Draft Paper
Most of the content in this paper is excerpts from books, articles, and other commentary (fromwebsites, etc) which are offered as indicators of significant cultural currents in modern AmericanCulture—and in other cultures which have followed similar models of economic, cultural, and socialdevelopment. Most of these statistics and observations are viewed by this writer as indicators that themarginalization of treasured wisdom should be considered a critical challenge now, and in months andyears ahead. In addition, since this critical challenge is occurring at the same time as many other criticalchallenges, there should be that much more urgency to bring this issue forward in public discourse, andbuild consensus towards pathways for overcoming this challenge, or minimizing the risks associatedwith it. Especially in the beginning section of this paper, and in a few other places, there are alsoobservations which are indicators of what might be pathways for overcoming this challenge—which maybe regarded as pieces which can be compared and contrasted with the other indicators.Many of the observations and indicators here are generalized observations, as this writer feels that a“word to the wise is sufficient” [perceptive readers can look around in their own personalcircumstances, and see (or not see) many specific instances of these indicators]; this writer does notwish to add to the already overflowing supply of what he sees as unfortunate, distasteful, vulgar, andeven horrifying conduct—and this writer is hoping to encourage building efforts towards the positiveand constructive rather than create further conflict. There are many difficult challenges ahead. We willneed the good efforts of as many people as possible to overcome them.On the subject of building efforts towards the positive and constructive, readers who are of a similarmind are encouraged to visit the new IPCR website Discussion Forum athttp://ipcrdiscussionforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?(or from the IPCR homepage atwww.ipcri.net).
There is a section of the IPCR Discussion Forum for the “IPCR Critical Challenges Assessment 2011”, andfor each specific part of this open, collaborative effort—and those who would like to help the buildingprocess with questions, comments, suggestions, recommendations, etc are invited to do so.There is an introduction to the “IPCR Critical Challenges Assessment 2011” project on the IPCRhomepage (near the bottom of the homepage)—and additional introductory comments on the IPCRwebpage which provides access to pdf files of drafts of sections which are currently accessible (seehttp://www.ipcri.net/Critical-Challenges-Assessment.html).
Section #7
A marginalization of the treasured wisdom associated with religious, spiritual, andmoral traditionsStatistics and Observations
I. What is the treasured wisdom that is being marginalized?
Here is a brief summary of what this writer is characterizing as treasured wisdom which is beingmarginalized. (Note: These passages are part of the current “Commentary” part of Section #7.)The challenges of our times are such that it is now critical for us to access the storehouses of wisdomand compassion which have accumulated over the many centuries of human experience, and whichhave been confirmed again and again as essential to individual well-being and social harmony by thesaints, sages, spiritual leaders, and sincere practitioners of all religious, spiritual, and moral traditions.Many people may think it is naïve to imagine that people from so many diverse religious, spiritual,moral, and cultural traditions can decide to come together in such a way as to not only encourage, butparticipate in, a high percentage of constructive thinking and constructive action in response to thedifficult challenges ahead (as in the high levels of participation encouraged by comprehensiveCommunity Visioning Initiatives). From this writer’s point of view, such skepticism and cynicism dependfor their existence on doubts as to whether it is possible for people to achieve highly advanced forms of wisdom and compassion through genuine instruction and sincere effort.
Thus it is that there is a great responsibility on those people who are in any way representatives of religious, spiritual, and/or moral traditions—to demonstrate what is possible along the lines of wisdom and compassion, to providegenuine instruction when sincere efforts are being made, to contribute to the greater good of the whole,and to help restore confidence in the higher values of life.
And what is possible along the lines of wisdom and compassion? How many of us would say that weare fully aware of what is possible along the lines of wisdom and compassion? What would theeveryday circumstances of our community life be like if many of us
were
fully aware of what is possiblealong the lines of wisdom and compassion? Many of us
could be
much more familiar with what ispossible… unfortunately, much of the real treasured wisdom of religious, spiritual, and moral traditionsnow seems to be hidden—and thus in need of being re-discovered. These “hidden” resources includeteachings which inspire and encourage people toa) place a high priority on the development of truth, virtue, love, and peace—and live disciplined livesfor the purpose of adhering to truth, cultivating virtue and love, and maintaining the pathways toenduring peaceb) sacrifice personal desires for the greater good of the wholec) find contentment and quality of life while consuming less material goods and ecological servicesd) prefer peacebuilding which supports and actualizes mutually beneficial understandings, forgiveness,and reconciliation—
and which abstains from violent conflict resolution
—as a way of bringing cycles of violence to an ende) use resources carefully, so that there is surplus available for emergency assistance
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Draft Section #7 Observations Marginalization of Wisdom
Most of the content in this 65 page paper is excerpts from books, articles, and other commentary (from websites, etc) which are offered as indicators of significant cultural currents in modern American Culture—and in other cultures…
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