Interesting article, and the new name rings true with me. I'd like to ask a question but first some info - I hear people call themselves Leftist, Progressive, Liberal - what is the difference in your mind? Also, are there books you might recommend that speak to how you feel? I am "on the Left" for sure, and am searching for a spirituality that resonates with me. Thank you.
Thanks for engaging! I think the difference between leftist, progressive, liberal are really subjective, and I don't want to push people away based on how they identify. That's usually why I use Left and progressive interchangeably. But I guess it is worth clarifying that I think the Left is fundamentally anticapitalist, and views other social and political issues through the lens of how the drive for profit and power that we live in creates the demand to exploit people systematically along other lines. Having that foundational understanding that our labor, economy, and means of producing goods and services are under the control of certain people, and used to exploit others really shapes the Left, I think. There's a real bone to pick on the Left with people who identify as liberals (or even progressives or leftists) who don't understand this, and people who don't understand how our economic system shapes other oppressions can often end up blaming other working people who have little power, or are also deeply exploited, for issues of oppression without grappling with the larger power structure of capital. Hope that's clarifying. As far as books - that's a tough one. I have a lot of books that I get my own sense of spirituality from, but that's pretty personal, not necessarily helpful to others. One of the reasons I wrote this piece is because I don't know of a lot of other resources on this topic. Someone like Cornel West might be a good place to look, his books. It really depends on how comfortable you are with a grounding in other traditions, like there's a lot of Christian resources i know of that deal with labor and economy and spirituality, etc. If you want to be a little more specific about what you're looking for I could probably leave more specific ideas!
Thank you! Yes. I agree that definitions of this sort are subjective, but I appreciate the clarification you gave. I gives me some starting points as I review my own understandings and beliefs. Thank you for the name of Cornel West, I'll check out his books. I think I'm more in a space of trying to find a spiritual "home" - I was raised Catholic but have not followed the practice for decades; I read a lot of Buddhism and Stoicism, but also from the Christian standpoint such as Kate Braestrup (UU) and James Martin. No single spiritual entity, if I may call them that, completely resonates...and that is something I must figure out in myself as to why not. It's a life long journey, for sure. Thank you again for your reply and insight.
Yes, I really relate on not having a spiritual home or single entity that does it. It's really tough, especially when you're looking for community around it. Something to stay in conversation about I think for those of us missing community but finding the official religious options or even many of the alternatives still not filling the void.
As someone who was raised Orthodox I liked this post! It made me think of a service called the Vespers of Forgiveness that ends with everyone in the church prostrating before each other and saying “Forgive me” and then responding “God forgives and I forgive.” That kind of direct moment doesn’t really seem to exist in society in a lot of ways but would probably be great for many people.
There’s also a side of the power of religious communities that can be undeniable. When I was young an older friend in my church had severe diabetes and was in the ICU for months and months. It was a really horrible situation but people visited him often and tried to be good to his family. I think some of this was because he was well liked in the church and community. But I think people felt compelled out of a sense of duty to keep helping and supporting. There’s a lot to be said for that in a culture that often wants you move on for more consumption.
Thanks so much, your points are really true - I was raised Roman Catholic and even though the Roman Catholicism of the US today is pretty milquetoast, having a community, a moral code, things like that that religion does generally provide people helped ground me and understand who I came from/what I came from. I really hope that some of the communal values of religion can be used for the good that they provide, instead of all thrown out.
I'm here for the name change, and even more so for imagining redemptive spirituality and a rejuvenated radical politics! Seems we have a lot in common – I'm glad so many others are taking on the mantle of engaging with faith spaces, as I've been burned right out of them for the past several years. (That might change in the future though, who knows; Christianity casts an awfully long shadow.) Very interested to know how I can be in solidarity with you all.
!!! So right on. These entries have been speaking to that part of me inside that knows, but doubts others understand. They've been giving me so much hope! Thank you.
Interesting article, and the new name rings true with me. I'd like to ask a question but first some info - I hear people call themselves Leftist, Progressive, Liberal - what is the difference in your mind? Also, are there books you might recommend that speak to how you feel? I am "on the Left" for sure, and am searching for a spirituality that resonates with me. Thank you.
Thanks for engaging! I think the difference between leftist, progressive, liberal are really subjective, and I don't want to push people away based on how they identify. That's usually why I use Left and progressive interchangeably. But I guess it is worth clarifying that I think the Left is fundamentally anticapitalist, and views other social and political issues through the lens of how the drive for profit and power that we live in creates the demand to exploit people systematically along other lines. Having that foundational understanding that our labor, economy, and means of producing goods and services are under the control of certain people, and used to exploit others really shapes the Left, I think. There's a real bone to pick on the Left with people who identify as liberals (or even progressives or leftists) who don't understand this, and people who don't understand how our economic system shapes other oppressions can often end up blaming other working people who have little power, or are also deeply exploited, for issues of oppression without grappling with the larger power structure of capital. Hope that's clarifying. As far as books - that's a tough one. I have a lot of books that I get my own sense of spirituality from, but that's pretty personal, not necessarily helpful to others. One of the reasons I wrote this piece is because I don't know of a lot of other resources on this topic. Someone like Cornel West might be a good place to look, his books. It really depends on how comfortable you are with a grounding in other traditions, like there's a lot of Christian resources i know of that deal with labor and economy and spirituality, etc. If you want to be a little more specific about what you're looking for I could probably leave more specific ideas!
https://www.jphilll.com/p/does-your-life-have-meaning Here's a good piece that gets at similar topics!
Thank you! Yes. I agree that definitions of this sort are subjective, but I appreciate the clarification you gave. I gives me some starting points as I review my own understandings and beliefs. Thank you for the name of Cornel West, I'll check out his books. I think I'm more in a space of trying to find a spiritual "home" - I was raised Catholic but have not followed the practice for decades; I read a lot of Buddhism and Stoicism, but also from the Christian standpoint such as Kate Braestrup (UU) and James Martin. No single spiritual entity, if I may call them that, completely resonates...and that is something I must figure out in myself as to why not. It's a life long journey, for sure. Thank you again for your reply and insight.
Yes, I really relate on not having a spiritual home or single entity that does it. It's really tough, especially when you're looking for community around it. Something to stay in conversation about I think for those of us missing community but finding the official religious options or even many of the alternatives still not filling the void.
As someone who was raised Orthodox I liked this post! It made me think of a service called the Vespers of Forgiveness that ends with everyone in the church prostrating before each other and saying “Forgive me” and then responding “God forgives and I forgive.” That kind of direct moment doesn’t really seem to exist in society in a lot of ways but would probably be great for many people.
There’s also a side of the power of religious communities that can be undeniable. When I was young an older friend in my church had severe diabetes and was in the ICU for months and months. It was a really horrible situation but people visited him often and tried to be good to his family. I think some of this was because he was well liked in the church and community. But I think people felt compelled out of a sense of duty to keep helping and supporting. There’s a lot to be said for that in a culture that often wants you move on for more consumption.
Thanks so much, your points are really true - I was raised Roman Catholic and even though the Roman Catholicism of the US today is pretty milquetoast, having a community, a moral code, things like that that religion does generally provide people helped ground me and understand who I came from/what I came from. I really hope that some of the communal values of religion can be used for the good that they provide, instead of all thrown out.
Thank you; you’ve articulated lots of things very helpfully 💛
I'm here for the name change, and even more so for imagining redemptive spirituality and a rejuvenated radical politics! Seems we have a lot in common – I'm glad so many others are taking on the mantle of engaging with faith spaces, as I've been burned right out of them for the past several years. (That might change in the future though, who knows; Christianity casts an awfully long shadow.) Very interested to know how I can be in solidarity with you all.
!!! So right on. These entries have been speaking to that part of me inside that knows, but doubts others understand. They've been giving me so much hope! Thank you.
So glad to be in conversation with you!