Reconciliation Basic Seminar: the Gandhian Edition: The Gandhian Edition

By Brian Cox

Written by an experienced practitioner in the field
of faith-based diplomacy who has worked in some
of the worlds roughest neighborhoods, this book
provides the presentation outlines for the eight
core values of a faith-based reconciliation seminar
which is a religious framework for peacemaking and
conflict resolution.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 11, 2009
• ISBN: 9781465315144

Brian Cox

Brian Cox, Ph.D., is Professor of Particle Physics at the University of Manchester. Dr. Cox is also a Royal Society research fellow and a researcher on the ATLAS experiment on the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland. He is perhaps best known as a science broadcaster and host of the BBC’s hugely popular Wonders series. He is the coauthor of three companion books to these series, which have become #1 Sunday Times bestsellers, as well as two narrative works of popular science, The Quantum Universe and Why Does E = mc2? In the 1990s he played keyboards for the UK pop band D:Ream.

Book preview

Reconciliation Basic Seminar

THE GANDHIAN EDITION

An experience of imparting a vision

of faith-based reconciliation

that transforms people and societies

Brian Cox

Copyright © 2009 by Brian Cox.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

INTRODUCTION

MORAL VISION

RECONCILIATION

AS A MORAL VISION

BUILDING BRIDGES

THE PRINCIPLE OF PLURALISM

DEMOLISHING WALLS

OF HOSTILITY THE PRINCIPLE OF INCLUSION

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

THE PRINCIPLE OF PEACEMAKING

SEEKING THE COMMON GOOD

THE PRINCIPLE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

HEALING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES

THE PRINCIPLE OF FORGIVENESS

FACING THE TRUTH ABOUT HISTORY

THE PRINCIPLE OF HEALING COLLECTIVE WOUNDS

SUBMISSION TO GOD

THE PRINCIPLE OF SOVEREIGNTY

FINDING PEACE WITH GOD

THE PRINCIPLE OF ATONEMENT

BECOMING AN INSTRUMENT

OF RECONCILIATION

INTRODUCTION

THE JOURNEY OF RECONCILIATION

Theme

This Reconciliation Basic Seminar begins with an invitation to people of faith to embark on a journey of reconciliation. Secondly, it introduces the concept of the Gandhian Moral Vision which embodies the sacred mission of faith-based reconciliation. Finally, it explains the characteristics and components of the seminar.

I.     Introduction

A.      Opening remarks

1.     John Paul Lederach wrote in his book The Journey Toward Reconciliation in 1999:

The journey through conflict toward reconciliation always involves turning to face oneself. Jacob has to face his fear. To turn toward his brother, his enemy, he first has to deal with himself, his own fears, and his past actions.

2.     Scott Appleby wrote in his book The Ambivalence of the Sacred in 2000:

Just as insights drawn from the field of social psychology have strengthened the field of conflict mediation, the psychology of religion bears on conflicts in which appeals to religion and spirituality have a place. Faith can form a powerful connection between adversaries or between mediators and one or more parties they seek to reconcile.

3.     Thomas Merton, a Roman Catholic monastic and mystic wrote in his book The Nonviolent Alternative in 1972:

For Gandhi, strange as it may seem to us, political action had to be by its very nature ‘religious’ in the sense that it had to be formed by principles of religious and philosophical wisdom. To separate religion and politics was in Gandhi’s eyes ‘madness’ because his politics rested on a thoroughly religious interpretation of reality, of life and of man’s place in the world.

4.     Rajmohan Gandhi wrote in his book Revenge and Reconciliation in 1999:

Gandhi’s guidelines: The conclusions he came up with were as follows: One, Indians had to be reconciled with one another if they were to free themselves. Not only across religion—Hindus, Muslims and the smaller minorities, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Parsis and Jews—but also across caste and class.

B.     Subject: Introduction: The Journey of Reconciliation

C.     Presentation Objectives

     Through this presentation you will learn

     the following principles and skills:

1.      Identify two basic characteristics of faith-based reconciliation.

2.     Explain the Gandhian Moral Vision which embodies the sacred mission of faith-based reconciliation.

3.     Understand the characteristics, components, objectives and logistics of the Reconciliation Basic Seminar.

D.     Background

1.     Reconciliation is not a strategy to be learned and mastered, but a spirituality that must become a part of the core or essence of our personhood.

2.      Reconciliation is a dynamic process that must occur both in us and through us.

E.     Key Points

1.     The Power of Ideas

2.     The Gandhian Moral Vision

3.     Characteristics and Components of the Reconciliation Basic Seminar

4.     Seminar Objectives

5.     Seminar Logistics

II.     Introduction: The Journey of Reconciliation

A.     The Power of Ideas

The French author Victor Hugo wrote that there is nothing quite so powerful as an idea whose time has come. Faith-based reconciliation is an idea whose time has come.

1.      The world is not only shaped by people, events and interests, but also by ideas; soaring ideas that are not simply a reaction to the tectonic shifts of the geopolitical landscape, but in themselves create new realities, new paradigms by providing the spiritual, social and political foundation for new societies and a new international order.

2.      These soaring ideas are known as moral vision.

B.     The Gandhian Moral Vision

1.     Mohandas K. Gandhi emerged in the early part of the twentieth century as a faith-based reconciler and social movement leader in South Asia.

2.     The focus of his life’s work was two-fold:

a.     Reconciliation across religious communities, castes and classes of India

b.     Freedom from British colonial rule and empowerment of the masses.

3.     Gandhi’s strategy for accomplishing this twofold strategic goal was nonviolent non-cooperation

4.     From the life, writings and work of Mahatma Gandhi we derive the Gandhian Moral Vision which sought to establish common ground among diverse people groups.

5.     The Gandhian Moral Vision is based on a fivefold worldview:

a.     Submission to God’s sovereignty which changes a person’s worldview to a faith-based perspective of acknowledging God’s authority, living in the shadow of God’s providence and seeking God’s unity.

b.     Seeking the common good: society based on respect for the dignity of every human being, the economics of compassion, the politics of love, the power of truth and stewardship embodied in voluntary sacrifice.

c.     Faith-based reconciliation as a spirituality in individuals that takes the form of personal transformation: changed hearts, minds and relationships.

d.     Faith-based reconciliation as an integrating moral vision that draws from the deep wellsprings of the faith traditions to define the common good and inspire individuals and identity-based groups toward that end.

e.     Rooted in the lives and teachings of the prophets: Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammed, Buddha and Guru Nanak Dev. However, Jesus of Nazareth plays a unique role in all of human history. Reconciliation was in a sense, his unique legacy to the human race.

6.     Mahatma Gandhi, although a devout Hindu, was drawn to the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

7.     Mahatma Gandhi loved Jesus and attempted to model his life and work on the Sermon on the Mount.

8.     Martin Luther King Jr., who was profoundly influenced by the model of Gandhi, wrote: Jesus is eternally right. History is littered with the bleached bones of nations that refused to listen to him.

9.     Perhaps Jesus of Nazareth has something to say to our time and our situation to which we need to listen.

C.     Characteristics and Components of the Reconciliation Basic Seminar

1.     We teach eight basic principles or core values which are designed to be kept in dynamic tension with each other.

2.     Our approach is faith-based in that it assumes a dynamic integration of faith and politics.

3.     Our approach assumes that religion has the potential to be both a source of conflict and an asset for peacemaking.

4.     Reconciliation is not merely a response to a crisis or conflict. It is intended to be a permanent moral vision and the foundation of the political order and civil society.

5.     We provide a macro view of faith-based reconciliation as a moral vision for society as well as a micro view of its application to our personal lives.

D.     Seminar Objectives

1.     To impart a vision of faith-based reconciliation that takes root in the heart.

2.     To teach the eight core values of faith-based reconciliation.

3.     To train you in the skills of faith-based reconciliation.

4.     To provide an atmosphere for God’s intervention for the transformation of hearts, lives and relationships.

E.     Seminar Logistics

1.     Teaching Manual/Packets: principles are embodied in the teaching materials

2.     Presentations: principles are highlighted and illustrated

3.     Small group participation: experiencing relationship and trust building

4.     Small group exercises: skills are embodied in the exercises and plenary reporting

5.     Reconciliation Circle: an opportunity for God’s transformation of hearts, lives, relationships and communities

6.     Closing Circle: an opportunity for reflection and commitment

III.     Conclusion

A.     Reconciliation is not a strategy but a spirituality that beckons people of faith to embark on a lifelong journey.

B.     The Gandhian Moral Vision is based on the life, writings and work of Mahatma Gandhi who sought to establish common ground between diverse people groups.

C.     The Reconciliation Basic Seminar teaches the eight core values and skills of faith-based reconciliation. It seeks to impart vision, teach and train and to be a vehicle for transformation.

MORAL VISION

THEME

This Reconciliation Basic Seminar assumes the need for an essential moral vision for societies and nations that is based on the common good, that serves as a foundation for the political order and civil society and that defines the core values.

I.      Introduction

A.      Opening Remarks

1.     Psalm 67:2, The Holy Bible, the psalmist wrote:

Let your ways be known upon earth, your saving health among all nations.

2.     Surah 3:3, The Holy Quran, it is written,

It is He who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to humanity, and He sent down the criterion (of judgement between right and wrong).

3.     Mohandas K. Gandhi, wrote in Harijan in 1940:

Indeed religion should pervade every one of our actions. Here religion does not mean sectarianism. It means a belief in ordered moral government of the universe.

4.     Bryan T. Hamlin, a Boston-based associate of Moral Rearmament wrote in a paper entitled Moral Re-Armament and Forgiveness in International Affairs:

Hostility piles up between nation and nation, labor and capital, class and class. The cost of bitterness and fear mounts daily. This crisis is fundamentally a moral one. The nations must re-arm morally. Moral recovery is essentially the forerunner of economic recovery. How can we precipitate this moral recovery throughout the nations?

B.      Subject: Moral Vision

C.     Presentation Objectives

     Through this presentation you will learn

     the following principles and skills:

1.     Define the concept of moral vision.

2.     Understand the importance of moral vision in relationship to the common good, political order and civil society and core values.

3.     How to identify personal and communal core values.

D.      Background

1.     As any builder knows, the most important part of a structure is the foundation. Without the proper foundation a structure will weaken, crack and, finally, collapse.

2.     Such is also true of a community or nation. Without the proper foundation it will collapse.

3.     As any leader knows, the most important part of leadership is providing direction and purpose.

4.     When we speak about foundation, direction and purpose for a community or nation, we are speaking about the concept of a moral vision.

5.     This Reconciliation Basic Seminar assumes the need for an essential moral vision for societies and nations that is based on the common good, that serves as a foundation for the political order and civil society and that defines the core values.

E.      Key Points

1.     Basic Premise

2.     The Definition of A Moral Vision

3.     Moral Vision and the Common Good

4.     Moral Vision As the Foundation of Political Order and Civil Society

5.     Moral Vision Defines the Core Values of a Community or Nation

6.     The Qualities and Purpose of A Moral Vision

II.      Moral Vision

A.      Basic Premise

1.     We begin with the premise that every individual, community or nation has some form of a moral vision that guides decision making and actions.

2.     Moral vision can be based on historical experience, self interest, family or communal cohesiveness, humanitarian altruism, political ideology or religious revelation.

3.     People of faith approach it as a total way of life, based on a unified world view from their sacred texts. However, there are frequently discrepancies in moral vision due to core values that derive from other sources than the faith tradition such as: family, culture, ethnic group or nation/state.

4.     During this seminar we encourage you to consider the various competing influences that shape your life and the life of your community or nation.

5.     During this seminar we will share with you a moral vision that is based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. We call this moral vision Faith-Based Reconciliation because, we believe, it reflects God’s heart and vision for the political order and civil society.

6.     Our hope