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Michael Lerner

Michael Lerner Biography

Political activist

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“This focus on money and power may do wonders in the marketplace, but it creates a tremendous crisis in our society. People who have spent all day learning how to sell themselves and to manipulate others are in no position to form lasting friendships or intimate relationships... Many Americans hunger for a different kind of society - one based on principles of caring, ethical and spiritual sensitivity, and communal solidarity. Their need for meaning is just as intense as their need for economic security.”

PeopleNeedsKindMayDifferentSpiritualFormWonderPrinciplesEconomyFocusEconomicSecurityPositionCrisisSellsHungerCaringTyrannyIntenseIntimateOur SocietyLastingEthicalTyrantsDifferent KindsSolidaritySensitivityManipulateMarketplaceIntimate RelationshipsMoney And PowerLasting FriendshipEconomic Security
Author:Michael Lerner
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“Instead of a bottom-line based on money and power, we need a new bottom-line that defines productivity and creativity as where corporations, governments, schools, public institutions, and social practices are judged as efficient, rational and productive not only to the extent they maximize money and power, but to the extent they maximize love and caring, ethical and ecological sensitivity, and our capacities to respond with awe and wonder at the grandeur of creation.”

NeedsGovernmentSchoolSocialLinesWonderCreativityPracticeCreationCapacityInstitutionsBottomCaringProductivityRationalCorporationsAweProductiveEthicalJudgedEfficientSensitivityBottom LineGrandeurEcologicalMoney And PowerAwe And WonderEmo Love
Author:Michael Lerner
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“Reality is much more complex than any judgment of right and wrong encourages you to believe. When you really understand the ethical, spiritual, social, economic, and psychological forces that shape individuals, you will see that people's choices are not based on a desire to hurt. Instead, they are in accord with what they know and what world views are available to them. Most are doing the best they can, given what information they've received and what problems they are facing.”

PeopleKnowsWorldBelieveProblemRealitySpiritualDesireChoicesIndividualGivenForceSocialHurtViewsEconomicInformationShapesJudgmentComplexesAvailablePsychologicalEthicalAccordWorld View
Author:Michael Lerner
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“A spiritual sensibility encourages us to see ourselves as part of the fundamental unity of all being. If the thrust of the market ethos has been to foster a competitive individualism, a major thrust of many traditional religious and spiritual sensibilities has been to help us see our connection with all other human beings.”

IfsHumansHas BeensHelpingSpiritualReligiousHuman BeingsMajorsConnectionsFundamentalsUnityTraditionalIndividualismSensibilityThrustInterdependenceEthosInterconnectionWeb Of Life
Book:The Politics of Meaning: Restoring Hope and Possibility in an Age of Cynicism
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“...in place of the Old Bottom Line of money and power, a New Bottom Line of Love and Generosity is possible. People of all faiths need to shape a political and social movement that reaffirms the most generous, peace-oriented, social justice-committed, and loving truths of the spiritual heritage of the human race.”

PeopleLoveNeedsHumansGodTruthSpiritualPoliticalFaithSpiritualityPoliticsSocialLinesJusticeRaceMovementShapesSocial JusticeBottomCommittedGenerosityHuman RaceGenerousHeritageBottom LineInterfaithSocial MovementsMoney And Power
Author:Michael Lerner
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“Ultimately, one of the best ways to take care of our souls is to build a society that supports rather than undermines our highest moral and spiritual intuitions and inclinations. Yet, building that society can never be divided from the daily practices through which we live out our ethical and spiritual lives, both in the way we treat others around us, and in the way we nourish the God within us.”

WaySoulGodCareSpiritualSpiritualityMoralPracticeSupportSocietyBuildingMoralityHighestTreatsIntuitionTake CareBest WayEthicalDividedSpiritual LifeInclinationGod Within Us
Book:The Politics of Meaning: Restoring Hope and Possibility in an Age of Cynicism
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“We need to build millions of little moments of caring on an individual level. Indeed, as talk of a politics of meaning becomes more widespread, many people will feel it easier to publicly acknowledge their own spiritual and ethical aspirations and will allow themselves to give more space to their highest vision in their personal interactions with others. A politics of meaning is as much about these millions of small acts as it is about any larger change. The two necessarily go hand in hand.”

PeopleNeedsGivingFeelsLittlesTwoMomentsGodHandsSpiritualSpiritualityIndividualSpaceLevelsVisionMillionsEasierHighestCaringAcknowledgeAspirationEthicalInteractionHand In HandSmall ActsLittle MomentsInteraction With Others
Author:Michael Lerner
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“. . . the upsurge of Spirit is the only plausible way to stop the ecological destruction of our planet. Even people who have no interest in a communal solution to the distortions in our lives will have to face up [to] this ecological reality. Unless we transform our relationship with nature, we will destroy the preconditions for human life on this planet.”

PeopleWayHumansRealityFacesSpiritInterestOur LivesPlanetsSolutionsDestructionHuman LifeContemplationOur RelationshipOur PlanetDistortionEcologicalPlausible
Book:Spirit Matters
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