Integrative Explorations Journal
DEMOCRACY, SPIRITUALITY AND TRANSFORMATIVE POSSIBILITIES 2 Arthur Stein University of Rhode Island Overview In the West in general and the United States in particular there is need for discussion of how we can learn to live together more harmoniously, and how the potential inherent in the democratic ideal can be more fully realized in practice. This article posits that it will take a major breakthrough at the level of the human spirit before people are able and willing to relate in ways conducive to the well–being of all. In the 20th century humankind has attained a capability of altering global processes and destroying our life–support system. Negative impacts of human civilization on our planet such as CO2 production, ozone layer depletion, and the degradation of ecosystems can no longer be ignored. In addition, existing political systems have often proved inadequate to insure peaceful conflict resolution and social equity. Thoughtful people from many backgrounds have suggested ways to attain a more inclusive, and sustainable society. Unfortunately, intellectual articulation of our goals and even of the methods to attain them is not enough to bring about substantive change. What is required additionally is a change of heart, a re–visioning of our values. By what process can this "change of heart" leading to the ability to recognize and incorporate new behaviors and paradigms take place? This approach focuses on a new concept, spiritual democracy, which plays a central part in this process. Global change begins with personal transformation, that which we most value in our lives. What we value for individual happiness must be expanded to include the welfare of all. This transformation of the human heart has been experienced and spoken of in many of the world's religious and spiritual traditions and it is generally attributed to an experience of universal affinity that is discovered by "turning within." The process by which a person recognizes and accepts spiritual values and then transfers these values into action throughout human organizational systems (families, communities, nations, and the community of nations) leads to the development of spiritual democracy. The potential to develop spiritual democracy has been facilitated by the great increase in information flow throughout the world in recent decades. Thus, for the first time the means to personally recognize the unity of humankind is more available globally. It is only through a process of personal and societal transformation based on values which promote fairness, inclusiveness, and sustainability that we can insure our common future in the coming millennium. People working in many disciplines are coming forward with ideas for building a more just and sustainable world. Unfortunately, intellectual knowledge of our goals or even of the
1. Some of the ideas in this article appeared in earlier form in Arthur Stein and Daniel Campbell "Personal Transformation, Spiritual Democracy and Global Change," in General Systems: Approaches to Alternative Economics and Values, 1992. Proceedings of the 36th Annual Conference of the International society for the Systems Sciences, II, 818-828.
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