A few DM’s ago, we posed the question of whether the idea of democracy is a “sacred” term.
What I think we can agree on is that justice and compassion are certainly sacred actions, for they respect the sacredness of individuals and, hopefully, efforts to bring about the common good.
In an election time when hundreds of candidates refuse to say they will honor the election results, democracy is clearly on the ballot.
One of the signs of our times is that democracy is in peril, but we also see many courageous people stepping up to defend it and even die for it. We see Ukrainian citizens by the thousands fighting and resisting a megalomaniac wannabe czar’s effort to invade and destroy their sovereign European country, a budding democracy.
We remember the millions who died resisting Hitler and fascism in WWII. And the hundreds of thousands who died in the Civil War for the sake of government “of, by and for the people.”
In recent DMs we have recalled the story of Albert Nolan, one of numerous persons such as Nelson Mandela, Bishop Tutu and others, who resisted courageously the forces of apartheid and who lived to see the official end of that regime of hatred and racism in South Africa. Many were those who did not live to see the end of apartheid.
We recognize the martyrdoms of MLK, Jr, Malcolm X, Archbishop Romero and Sister Dorothy Stang who also worked to create justice.
Albert Nolan’s theology culminates with this promise:
The beginning of faith in Jesus, then, is the attempt to read the signs of our times as Jesus read the signs of his times…..We would have to begin, as Jesus did, with compassion—compassion for the starving millions for those who are humiliated and rejected and for the billions of the future who will suffer because of the way we live today.
It is only when, like the good Samaritan, we discover our common humanity, that we shall begin to experience what Jesus experienced.
Faith in Jesus without respect and compassion for humans is a lie. To identify with Jesus is to identify with all people.
Searching for the signs of the times in the spirit will mean recognizing all the forces that are working against humanity as the forces of evil….In the last analysis, it is we who must decide and act.
This is what elections are: A time for decisions and acting.
See Albert Nolan, Jesus before Christianity, pp. 140f.
Adapted also from Matthew Fox, Original Blessing.
And Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion.
And Fox, Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth.
To read the transcript of Matthew Fox’s video teaching, click HERE.
Banner Image: KKK members beat Freedom Rider James Peck and others upon their arrival in Birmingham, AL, 1964. FBI archive photo by a local journalist who was also beaten; from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Queries for Contemplation
Do you agree with Nolan that everything begins with compassion and with discovering and rediscovering our common humanity? Can elections be a time for that to rise to the front of our minds and actions?
Recommended Reading
Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
Matthew Fox lays out a whole new direction for Christianity—a direction that is in fact very ancient and very grounded in Jewish thinking (the fact that Jesus was a Jew is often neglected by Christian theology): the Four Paths of Creation Spirituality, the Vias Positiva, Negativa, Creativa and Transformativa in an extended and deeply developed way.
“Original Blessing makes available to the Christian world and to the human community a radical cure for all dark and derogatory views of the natural world wherever these may have originated.” –Thomas Berry, author, The Dream of the Earth; The Great Work; co-author, The Universe Story
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice
In A Spirituality Named Compassion, Matthew Fox delivers a profound exploration of the meaning and practice of compassion. Establishing a spirituality for the future that promises personal, social, and global healing, Fox marries mysticism with social justice, leading the way toward a gentler and more ecological spirituality and an acceptance of our interdependence which is the substratum of all compassionate activity.
“Well worth our deepest consideration…Puts compassion into its proper focus after centuries of neglect.” –The Catholic Register
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth
Fox’s spirituality weds the healing and liberation found in North American Creation Spirituality and in South American Liberation Theology. Creation Spirituality challenges readers of every religious and political persuasion to unite in a new vision through which we learn to honor the earth and the people who inhabit it as the gift of a good and just Creator.
“A watershed theological work that offers a common ground for religious seekers and activists of all stripes.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice.
5 thoughts on “<strong>The Price of Democracy and the Price of Compassion</strong>”
Matthew, Today you remind us of a question you asked us in and earlier DM. And that was: “whether the idea of democracy is a ‘sacred’ term?” Whether democracy is sacred or not; justice and compassion are certainly sacred actions, for they respect the sacredness of individuals and, hopefully, efforts to bring about the common good. Then you share a sad but courageous litany of the people who have died fighting against slavery and for the preservation of our nation in the Civil War, and the millions who died resisting Hitler and fascism in WWII. In Ukrainian citizens by the thousands are fighting and resisting Putin. Albert Nolan, Nelson Mandela, Bishop Tutu and others, resisted courageously the forces of apartheid and lived to see the official end of it. We recognize the martyrdoms of MLK, Jr, Malcolm X, Archbishop Romero and Sister Dorothy Stang who also worked to create just communities. In closing Nolan tells us this: “The beginning of faith in Jesus, then, is the attempt to read the signs of our times as Jesus read the signs of his times…..We would have to begin, as Jesus did, with compassion—compassion for the starving millions, for those who are humiliated and rejected and for the billions of the future who will suffer because of the way we live today.” All of this will be at the front of my mind this election !!!
Democracy is seldom mentioned in the Bible and in other religious texts. Compassion is often mentioned, but organized religion has frequently moved towards elitism and paternalism. It may happen again. This month (October) marks the 100th anniversary of Mussolini’s march on Rome and the rise of modern fascism. Extreme right-wing governments are again developing in several nations in the 21st century. Many of today’s “semi-fascists” combine authoritarian government with authoritarian religion. Democracy is threatened, and, frequently, it’s threatened by religious leaders who don’t like democracy.
Sometimes these DM’s is like riding on an emotional rollercoaster. In one moment I am so deeply moved to tears by the courageous compassionate acts of women like Sister Dorothy Stang and the other brothers mentioned. In the next moment I am deeply angered by the injustice of those whom lack compassion and the lengths these ones will go to for their personal agenda to progress, denying any conscious concern for the common good of all people and the Earth; which then causes my anger to turn to more tears. Then I find myself lifted up by the compassionate words of Nancy Pelosi, speaking to the needs that must be met for the common good of the people and the Earth, which inspires a little spark of hope, that Americans might vote from their heart of compassion for the common good of all people and the Earth. Sometimes I find it difficult to remain centered, with an open heart of faith, hope and trust in the transforming power of active compassion within such emotional tensions. This makes me understand much more deeply what the meaning of the Cross really is. Julian’s words come to mind. “Know well the meaning of the Cross, for its meaning is Love.”
Yes Matthew!!! — “Everything begins with compassion and discovering and rediscovering our common humanity”. God’s Living Spirit of Divine Love~Wisdom~Truth~Peace~Justice~Healing~Strength~Joy~Creativity~Compassion Present in our hearts, with one another, with Mother Nature/Earth, and with-in All ongoing co-Creation~Evolution is our daily guide, inspiration, and responsibility as unique evolving souls and children of our Creator in our Loving Diverse Oneness….
🔥💜🌎🙏
I agree that compassion is the key and that faith is how we live our lives. In my UCC tradition, love is a verb, not a noun. You mention cost–democracy is a messy business that tries, at its best, to be inclusive and representative of all. As you point out, so many have died to protect democracy. World War II, ironically, was understood at the time to be the big war that preserved it. I am afraid that not enough people are interested in discovering our commonalities and voting with compassion and a sense of community–unless it’s for their small tribe or a larger one-issue tribe. Crises like the pandemic and more destructive storms could be the opportunities to come together with a common goal, but look how quickly certain politicians succeeded in weaponizing science and worked hard to increase the divisiveness in every possible way so that they could remain in power–or regain it. At least in the U.S. All we can do is work for the candidates and issues that we value, and vote, and pray.