How do you see the world?

Two physical gestures embody two foundational views of the world. Try out the gestures. First - stand up, clench your fists, and fold your arms in front of you. Does your whole body tighten?  Do you feel ready for a fight, perhaps with a sense that some threat is coming? Then – open your hands with palms up, and hold your arms out in front of you. Does your body feel less tense? Do you feel more open to the world, anticipating something good?  

These simple gestures suggest two ways of seeing the world, two very different ways in how people experience life. Many people live closed off to a world that to them feels threatening. Other people live with an openness to a world that offers hope. The foundation upon which we build our lives comes primarily from one worldview or the other. How do you see the world?

As a place where someone has to be in control, to exercise authority, to have power over other people? A place where rules are necessary, and if they are broken, someone bears blame and suffers punishment? A place where individual people are less important than enforcing the rules that govern our lives? Or …….

As a place where power can be shared, decisions are made together, rules are shaped by what is good for everyone? A place where when someone causes harm, they do what is necessary for rehabilitation and reconciliation? A place where the well-being of individuals is most important?

The world is not that simple, of course – not either/or – not binary. Sometimes we emphasize authority and rules for the sake of order. Sometimes we understand that empathy, freedom, and the needs of the individual are more important. We could think of it as a continuum, and we are somewhere along the line from one end to the other, often moving our position. Perhaps, though, our view and experience of life can be understood as a web, weaving together disparate parts of life and creating connections that help us find meaning in it all.

We know the divisions between people run deep in this world, but why are we so divided? Are we divided by religion, politics, cultural values? Yes, but we are also divided within the same religion, the same political party, the same culture. Why?

This post begins a series where I will answer this question in a variety of ways, but one key word is power. Given our two worldviews, power can be authoritarian or compassionate.

When we exercise and enforce power over people, we are authoritarian. That way of life sees authority as necessary and this use of power over people as essential to enforcing order, whether in a family, city, or nation. We need order in courts, families, society, but authoritarian power ignores the needs of the people. Authoritarians talk a lot about law and order – not just police or military, but in religion, politics, and culture. Fear of breaking the law or fear of authority drives this power. Any conflict between what people need and what this “law and order” requires is resolved in favor of the law to keep order. Justice, for authoritarians, leads to punishment, retribution, even revenge.

Compassionate power is shared and exercised for the common good. A commitment to empathy, equity, and equality – and the hope that comes from that – drives this shared power. Concern for the needs of people and a desire to make life better for them is essential.  Restorative justice, committed to healing of relationships – to rehabilitation and reconciliation – is at the heart of compassionate power. Empathy, compassion, love – this power drives out fear and brings hope to people.

Two worldviews, no. 1 in a series