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|  mollybrogan | Feb 18, 3:33pm | Race is one of the inescapable aspects of who we are. We are born into a race and it influences who we are always. Even if we manage to mature beyond an ethnocentric world view, we will eventually see it in our societal relationships. There are those who believe that some races are superior to others. Can we live without "racism" in our lives? Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
According to the philosophy of Ken Wilbur's Integral Psychology, "Worldcentric is better than ethnocentric which is better than egocentric. Each may be appropriate in certain circumstances, but there is no question as to the hierarchical ranking of increasing capacity for consciousness, care, and compassion." The author Nikos Kazantzakis suggests the following spiritual exercise: "Your first duty, in completing your service to your race, is to feel within you all our ancestors. Your second duty is to throw light on their onrush and to continue their work. Your third duty is to pass on to your son the great mandate to surpass you." What do YOU think? |
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Sponsor |  seekerpat | Feb 26, 7:37pm | How about "Service to your Species" instead? I feel we are very gradually moving beyond using race as a major definition of our identities(Barak Obama's race has been a minor issue so far). Our tribal and cultural baggage is proving much, much harder to let go of. Look at how few (if any) recent wars have been between races or nations. Most are bitter ethnic/tribal conflicts within a state.
If we as a race(I prefer the word species, its less divisive) decide to do something meaningful about climate change, a lot of the old racial/ethnic/tribal crap will disapear. A greater awareness of the interconnectedness of everything will produce a more healthy worldcentric view.
The quote from Kazantzakis is dangerous bullshit. That kind of reasoning is part of the thinking behind the genocides in Rwanda, Armenia, the Balklans, the Sudan, Germany, right on down the list. |
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| | mollybrogan | Feb 27, 4:33am | | I suppose that if you though "throw light on their onrush and to continue their work" as continuing racist beliefs, then I would agree with you. But having read several of his works, I know that his big belief is that our purpose as a species is to transubstantiate body to spirit, by always seeking what is sacred. I think what he meant by throwing "light on the onrush" is dispelling racist belief, and all other negative force compelling our race into separatism. |
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Sponsor | | seekerpat | Feb 29, 10:15am | You know, whenever I post late at night when I'm cranky and punchy I usually regret it ;-). Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I read "Last Temptation" years ago, really enjoyed it-many miss the point of it, I felt it showed the human side of Jesus brilliantly.
I worked in the Congo for a couple of years with the Peace Corps and saw first hand the dangers of using the past to determine a large part your identity-too much tribalism and separation from others groups. But I feel humanity as a whole is moving beyond such definitions and into one thats more inclusive. The internet is helping this process, I stumbled a great site that illustrates this. |
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| | mollybrogan | Feb 29, 3:51pm | | How wonderful. Thanks for sharing this. I look at it thoroughly when I have a moment this weekend. |
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Spirituality → Discussion