In some of the more celebrated of these actions, he has publicly confronted such notorious anti-Semites as David Duke and Louis Farrakhan, climbed over a fence and led supporters in a sit-in to protest the presence of a Carmelite convent at the Auschwitz death camp, and carried a coffin to the official residence of New York City Mayor David Dinkins to decry his allowing police to stand back while Jews were being viciously attacked during the 1991 Crown Heights riots."
Over the past half century the issues facing activists have changed, as has our understanding and awareness of spirituality. For activists, spiritual philosophy is rising up the agenda because it offers distinct, tried and tested approaches to deep questions: Where did it all go wrong? What does it mean to be human? What is the place of leadership? What is the nature of power? The book begins by defining spirituality for a modern audience of all faiths and beliefs, and goes on to consider the problems and necessities of true leadership. Drawing on a rich history of spirituality and activism, from The Bhagavad Gita, to the Hebrew prophets, to Carl Jung, it is both guide and inspiration for people involved in activism for social or environmental justice. The text is enriched with tales from the authors' own experiences. It contains case studies of inspirational spiritual activists (including Mama Efua, Desmond Tutu, Gerrard Winstanley, Sojourner Truth and Julia Butterfly Hill), which demonstrate the transformative power of spiritual principles in action.
Avi (Avraham) Weiss is senior rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale and national president of the Coalition for Jewish Concerns-Amcha a grassroots activist organization.
"Avi doesn't only talk the talk, or even walk the walk. He writes the instruction manual. This book shows a way, perhaps not the only way but one indispensable way, of being an activist on behalf of the Jewish people. Read it and learn." —from the Foreword by Alan M. Dershowitz I n this age of perpetual strife and conflict, we need now more than ever to find out how to be proactive in repairing our broken world. Rabbi Avraham Weiss's provocative and challenging guidebook will show you just that—and so much more. With easy-to-follow steps, accessible explanations of the principles of spiritual activism and an exploration into the foundations of spiritual activism as rooted in the Torah, Weiss offers more than simply a user manual—he provides an in-depth approach to changing your role in the world. Topics include: • Why, How and When Do We Engage in Spiritual Activism? • Choosing the Cause • Making Partners • Designing the Strategy • Leading Other People • Seeing the Big Picture • And more ...
In his work as a spiritual teacher interacting with seekers and activists from around the world, Chris Saade has witnessed a remarkable recent phenomenon: an emerging wave of spirituality that is socially and globally engaged in the pursuit of justice, earth care, and solidarity. Saade calls this movement "second wave spirituality," and in this book he maps out the cutting-edge ideas that are fueling this burgeoning wave of engaged spirituality. He challenges us to rise to our spiritual task and join the millions of all faiths who are awakening to the suffering and social struggles of all living beings. According to Saade, second wave spirituality holds a vision of the intrinsic values of love: justice, global peace, solidarity, inclusion, democratic freedom, compassion, and reconciliation. Saade explores current trends of thought that are shaking the foundations of our belief systems and propelling us toward an evolutionary leap. We are in the midst of a spiritual renaissance, Saade asserts, a universal reawakening that will steer us away from the abysmal global dangers we are facing. The book also includes a collection of quotations as a resource for those working for peace, justice, and inclusion. By dividing the selections into theme-specific chapters, Saade helps us easily access the wisdom and companionship of other souls committed to our diversity, our oneness, and our pursuit of justice. Contents Foreword by Andrew Harvey Introduction 1. The Emergence of Second Wave Spirituality 2. A Brief Historical Overview of "First Wave" Spirituality 3. Crossing the Threshold 4. The Flowering of the Feminine in Theological and Spiritual Thinking 5. The Great Convergence of Spiritual Development and Action for Peace and Justice 6. The Six Crucial Ideas that Converged and Generated the Global Awakening of Second Wave Spirituality 7. Fourteen Additional Characteristics Essential to Second Wave Spirituality 8. A Response to the Escalating Global Crisis: Love in Action 9. Implications of Second Wave Spirituality for the Individual 10. Practical Suggestions for Spiritual Activism 11. Summary and A Blessing for the Reader 12. Engaged Spirituality and Sacred Activism: Writings and Quotes
In the tradition of Octavia Butler, here is radical self-help, society-help, and planet-help to shape the futures we want. Change is constant. The world, our bodies, and our minds are in a constant state of flux. They are a stream of ever-mutating, emergent patterns. Rather than steel ourselves against such change, Emergent Strategy teaches us to map and assess the swirling structures and to read them as they happen, all the better to shape that which ultimately shapes us, personally and politically. A resolutely materialist spirituality based equally on science and science fiction: a wild feminist and afro-futurist ride! adrienne maree brown, co-editor of Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction from Social Justice Movements, is a social justice facilitator, healer, and doula living in Detroit.
A new, inspirational book from the world’s first millennial motivational speaker—TEDx star and motivational coach Jake Ducey! The Purpose Principles draws on the stories of success, failure, and the common threads among some of today’s most successful and influential people, inspiring you to see yourself in the same light as the world’s biggest difference-makers. Jake Ducey offers a humorous, action-oriented approach for getting more meaning out of life, teaching you how to live with more excitement, productivity, clarity, and confidence. This can help you tackle daily challenges, inspire others, live with passion and purpose, and realize all your goals more efficiently, and reach them even faster! With “WOW-ing” and unfamiliar stories of how familiar celebrities like Brad Pitt, Will Smith, Taylor Swift, Stephen King, Dave Matthews, Jim Carrey, and many others came to be, TEDx speaker and inspirational role model Ducey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living your best life in a changing world . His principles and exercises give the know-how to take advantage of the opportunities all around you. The Purpose Principles spells out the timeless wisdom used by the greatest contributors to human history, and shows how you can integrate them into your life immediately to live your wildest dreams and become a world-changer!
Every age has its teachers, who keep the eternal truths alive for all of us, writes Marianne Williamson, the best-selling author of The Age of Miracles. In the case of Andrew Harvey, the light he sheds is like a meteor burst across the inner sky. In The Hope, Andrew Harvey offers not only a guide to discovering your divine purpose but also...
Steve Jobs and others like him teach us about a higher or inner knowledge and about the use of spiritual keys for success. These keys work because they are linked to universal laws that govern our universe regardless of whether we choose to learn and live by them or not. Our actions all have consequences. People who choose to recognize the consequence of success use keys governed by basic physics. They consciously choose actions according to notions of principles. Wanda Krause calls people who have learned these keys or principles, and actively use them, spiritual activists. In her book, Spiritual Activism: Keys for Personal and Political Success, Krause provides 12 keys for success that include principles taught by mystics and are grounded in physical laws of the universe. Through observations, interviews, and direct participation with hundreds of activists over a 12-year period, she has found their challenges are becoming more and more complex, yet they are still able to discover keys to success no matter what country they are in, the various aspects of the culture around them, or the particular challenges they face. Krause presents ten activists’ stories to show how they achieve real success. Themes include overcoming personal challenges, such as substance abuse or cancer, creating true miracles, entrepreneurship, service after a life of abandonment, post-war peace, politics around new environmental threats, terrorism, politics around nuclear programs, lessons from the Arab Spring, compassionate justice and a new world economic system. The activists provide awareness of their concerns while they provide guidance and examples using spiritual keys. For Krause, whether struggles are considered personal or political they are all embedded in power dynamics that must be transformed, and it is her belief that spiritual activism is the only sustainable way forward. It is important to note not all of those she identifies in her book as spiritual activists affirm a religious belief – some are atheists, some are agnostic – the important message here is these are imperfect beings that truly align their goals with conscious duty and purpose with a strong inner calling and principled action. Spiritual Activism offers the essential keys to success, with success defined as achieving all that is going to help readers live with purpose. These 12 keys include: Living Your Purpose Spiritual Intelligence Energy Vibrations Interdependence The Law of Attraction Purification Developing Your Whole Self Beliefs of the Mind The Law of Love Intention for Manifestation Prayer Faith in the Divine Readers will easily identify with the spiritual activists in Krause’s book; there is nothing otherworldly or extraordinary about them other than their chosen commitment to lead a life filled with meaning and, as a result, they are helping to change the world for the betterment of everyone.
For decades, the non-profit organization, Children of the Earth, has organized workshops around the world to develop and deliver practical programs that empower young people with spiritual leadership skills to advance lasting world peace. This handbook shares the unique focus of this work with the world's next generation of leaders -- children and young adults-- and offers readers and leaders the necessary skill-building tools for mature, reflective, connected, global thinking and action.
