Van, I'm so impressed (but not surprised) that you've devoted yourself to peace studies as you have. I was especially interested to hear your analysis of why peace studies have failed to be accepted by policy makers. My wife Peggy and I were so greatly influenced by the American Catholic Bishops' 1983 "Challenge of Peace"— and by the writings of Thomas Merton—, that we were baptized as Catholics shortly after! Peace studies do require a spiritual grounding of an intelligent, imaginative, courageous, inspired kind. But how do people in government (and anywhere in society) receive such a thing today, amid the mad racket of our culture wars and the enthronement of the very embodiment of toxic egoism?
Thanks, George! I agree that projects of peace have to be grounded in at least a humanist spirituality. I did my PhD at Catholic University of America which although very right wing now, put me in touch with a small mix of folks who were more or less Christian socialists—something I gravitate to even as I’m no longer religious!
Van, I'm so impressed (but not surprised) that you've devoted yourself to peace studies as you have. I was especially interested to hear your analysis of why peace studies have failed to be accepted by policy makers. My wife Peggy and I were so greatly influenced by the American Catholic Bishops' 1983 "Challenge of Peace"— and by the writings of Thomas Merton—, that we were baptized as Catholics shortly after! Peace studies do require a spiritual grounding of an intelligent, imaginative, courageous, inspired kind. But how do people in government (and anywhere in society) receive such a thing today, amid the mad racket of our culture wars and the enthronement of the very embodiment of toxic egoism?
Thanks, George! I agree that projects of peace have to be grounded in at least a humanist spirituality. I did my PhD at Catholic University of America which although very right wing now, put me in touch with a small mix of folks who were more or less Christian socialists—something I gravitate to even as I’m no longer religious!