The difference with a concrete community of moral calling is that it, at the very least, forces us out of our own individuality in order to learn how to reckon with others. At its best, it calls us to be better than we are.
Understanding this distinction helps us recognize that self-acceptance, self-worth, and the common good depend not on indulging our proclivities or tastes but on growing together with our neighbours into better people.
Nearly every kind of organization I’ve looked at deeply has been a voluntary community. Brand communities, crypto governance groups, moral ecosystems, and new kinds of school are all opt-in organizations. That’s not to say they’re not important; people make life-changing money in crypto and make life-changing self-discoveries in spiritual groups.... See more
The club model teaches us something: organizations that endure don’t try to include everyone. They’re clear about their identity, even as that identity evolves. Some clubs that were men-only for centuries now welcome women. They haven’t survived by being vague, they’ve survived by being clear, then changing what that clarity meant over time.