MoveOn co-founder: Seeing the divinity in everyone might give our politics a new start

[guillaumeb]

From the article:

I’m a secular person. As a co-founder of MoveOn, the political organizing group, I’ve talked for years about how most people want to do good and aim to be kind. I’ve spoken of the need to respect and honor the dignity of all people.
This year I’ve learned an even deeper way to talk about this work, using language from faith communities that are embracing this movement to love our neighbors, even those we don’t agree with...…

Wherever I go, I now talk about seeing the divinity in every person. Words like respect, dignity, kindness are core values that speak deeply to others and me, but they don’t go to the heart as directly as “love thy neighbor.” I may not be a member of any faith community, but seeing the divinity in everyone speaks to me too.

Seeing every person as divine means not dismissing “those people” as racist, elitist, mean-spirited or deluded — a reaction that has become common among people who are passionate about politics. People who see things differently are increasingly identified as bad people. “Why would I talk to them?” I worry that it has become dangerous to be friends with people on the other side: It can lead to having our loyalty to our own team questioned.

To read more:

https://religionnews.com/2019/04/24/moveon-founder-seeing-the-divinity-in-everyone-might-give-our-politics-a-new-start/

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. An admirable approach, but I'm having a tough time seeing the divinity in Trump.

He's more like a portal into Hell.

[guillaumeb]

2. I understand, but, in my personal view,

Trump's entire persona suggests to me an abused child who never moved past the abuse. While he is tremendously dysfunctional, and abusive to himself and others, he is still a human being, with a spark of the divine in him.

And the same applies to Trump voters. Each of us has that spark.

[delisen]

4. I agree. nt

[MineralMan]

3. I prefer considering the humanity in every person.

Since the concept of divinity makes no sense to me, I find humanity to be a more universal common ground.

[guillaumeb]

6. Understood, eom

[trotsky]

8. This would be far more inclusive. n/t

[guillaumeb]

11. Inclusive? We are all human, so what point is being made?

[MineralMan]

12. Bring human and considering people's humanity

are not the same thing. I know of no evidence for divinity, but humanity is self-evident. Do you have evidence for divinity? Like gods, it is a term with no evidence to support it. It is an imaginary thing.

[guillaumeb]

13. So are you arguing that we should respect our fellow humans? eom

[trotsky]

14. Some people need a reminder.

People who judge others and dispense "eye for an eye" justice as they see fit, for instance.

[guillaumeb]

15. Do you judge others?

And if so, did this serve as a reminder for you? If it did, I am happy that you found it to be of use.

[trotsky]

17. Remove the beam from thine own eye, g.

Then you can criticize the mote in others'.

[shanny]

5. Namaste.

[guillaumeb]

7. Namaste.

[Jim__]

9. It's good advice for individuals.

I'm not sure it will have any overall effect on our politics, but it can't hurt.

[guillaumeb]

10. I agree.

And this is only one way.

[Bretton Garcia]

16. Or? Seeing divinity in no one, and finding it nowhere,

...could be the beginning of human humility and responsibility.

[guillaumeb]

18. Your wish.

But the scientific method of observation and analysis shows a far different picture.