Speaking very broadly, it is possible, I think, to discern periods when popular concern is focussed on inner matters, like personal happiness and reduction of stress, and other periods when concern is focussed on outer questions - political, economic and cultural. As I say, this is a very broad categorisation. In both periods there are questions of identity. In the former, identity is understood as more related to how one feels individually whereas in the latter period it is more a matter of taking positions and aligning with this or that group or party.
I say this because it feels to me as if we are on the cusp of a change. Since the UK referendum, membership of all the main political parties has risen. In France and Germany, issues of security are prominent. Everywhere there is concern about migration. American politics seems more polarised. I suspect that we are moving into a period when the answer to the world's problems will be sought less in mindfulness and more in social action. Spiritually minded people will need to adapt.
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Both. Some more one, some more the other. I do not think that this 'turn' is all good nor all bad. It is a change of orientation and within that orientation the mentalities of different people will shape things differently. However, it may well affect a wide range of cultural fashions and opinions about what is 'serious' and what is 'trivial' and it is important, therefore, that people with a spiritual orientation not be left high and dry but consider the wider relevance of their teachings. The vogue for mindfulness has brought some (often slight, but more than nothing) interest in things spiritual to a huge number of people, but it is now important that it not be left as just 'airy fairy' or 'self-preoccupied'.
From 'inner' to 'outer' is also, in a certain way, from 'mindfulness' to 'heartfulness'... from concern with inner peace and absence of stress to compassion and concern for others.
People's belief/confidence that they can or cannot change things is certainly a big factor, and, as Andrew says, the ways in which they want to change them are not always the one's that we might be happy with. Some of the worst butchers in history have risen to power by popular vote. So I think there is more than one issue here. The primary question is whether there has been a shift from 'inner' to 'outer' concern. Then there are sub-issues like how/when/if this is a good thing or not; and how it might work out in practice. then there are the tangential issues of how we feel about particular issues (treatment of Muslims, housing allocation, Brexit, you name it).
If I am right that there is a shift, then certainly the question of how and why this has happened is interesting. Why has politics suddenly become more interesting? dangerous? inspiring? dreadful? or whatever? What has suddenly galvanised people? It does not seem to be just one issue.
When I was a councillor I was outraged at being asked the question by a conservative member "why do Muslims get priority on the council housing register ". This of course was not true then and is not true now. The difference being that ten years on from being outraged and shocked that anyone could make such a statement it is now far more common. I don't think the question would now shock me, I believe it's what I would hear on a daily basis.
This needs to be addressed, people in positions of responsibility need to clarify what's true and what's not. UKIP and its ilk do little to quel this type of bigoted belief and the divide between Islam and other faiths grows as social unrest increases.
As people grow in confidence especially when they realise that they can change things in big and small ways through democracy and being a part of a community they need guidance and spirituality becomes all the more important.
A NEW FASHION IN THOUGHT
If study of Confucius is now suddenly most popular at Harvard, then I take this to be a real confirmation of my point.
The things you mention - Brexit, Trump, migration, terror - are both causes and results, I think. The pendulum is swinging. In these things there is usually no simple single cause to single effect. Numerous factors conspire to change the way we all start viewing the world and deciding what is and what is not important. A new fashion in though is happening.
There will be good and bad consequences. There will be more concern with creating a better world and more fighting.
It does mean that those of us who are concerned with spirituality will have to look more at the social relevance of our teachings.
CONFUCIUS COMING BACK – IS THIS AN OMEN?
Well I hope so. I would be quite nice if the interest of our society would change from personal happiness to the hapiness of our society and the world around us. Today I read an interesting article about the philosophy of Confucius. Chinese philosophy seems to be one of the most populair courses at Havard University at the moment. I hope this is a sign that you are right, that people are indeed more interested in the world around them than only their little selves.
The article I read seems to say the opposite of modern thinking: stop trying to find your self, stop trying to be authentic, be weak instead of strong, don't be ambitious or try to achieve great goals, let rituals help you to transform, give up chasing inner peace by mindfulness, but engage with the world to become a better person!
To read the whole article you can follow this link: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/09/forget-mindfulness-st...
Do you think that events like Brexit, the presidental candidacy of Trump, the imigrations problems, and the terrorist attacks are triggers for change?
Thanks, Andrew. Yes, I think my main point here is that it suddenly seems as though 'politics matters' to people who not long ago would have said there was no point in thinking about it because 'it makes no difference' and 'who cares?'
I think this is, however, not just about politics. It will affect culture too. The vogue for mindfulness may decline. Concern with outward things grow.
Regarding the Labour Party specifically, yes, more ideological, more real sharp differences, but also, of course, a good deal of confusion who is responsible for what. Was the leadership half-hearted about 'Remain'? Is a genuine socialist really 'unelectable'? What is the real heritage from Tony Blair? These are all important questions. In relation to the second one it is interesting that a socialist nearly got selected as Democratic candidate in the USA which is unprecedented, I think.
Regarding the British Conservative Party, they are currently enjoying a period of rare unity. This will no doubt start to come apart when real Brexit negotiations begin, but it gives the new prime minister six months of 'honeymoon' in which to get the measure of things.
In the news this morning - long queues at Dover due to French security. This supposedly has nothing to do with Brexit, but it could still be a sign of things to come. Until now, the French have not imposed much in the way of checks on Brits crossing to France but that is changing now. Boris think 'we shall not become less European' but I think that the French think that we already have done.
An interesting period.
For the first time in a very long time a left wing socialist leader has won the hearts and minds of the British public, people are agreeing with policies that would normally be dispelled as looney left.
I agree we are going through a change and political parties need to catch up quickly with the mood of the people. I do believe we will go through something of a social revolution in the UK. My hope is that the right people will be there to take advantage, because I guarantee the extremists will be.