systems thinking

I think Merton is right about one of the main causes of our slipping into ideology, conspiracism, and other oversimplified visions of the world. The quote is taken from the introduction to a Thich Nhat Hanh book about Vietnam published in 1967, which was a polarized time with two visions of the world and America, split over both a real war in Vietnam and a domestic culture war. But Merton was also a big Jesus guy, whose “narrow road” teaching should temper our expectations of how many will join us in prioritizing compassion and nuance. In trying times of great complexity, those looking closely and carefully at both the public situation and at our own hearts should not be shocked to find ourselves fairly lonely. I hope the public spaces I help create can be a kind of virtual community center for those with similar values and goals, to tend to our wounds and encourage one another to keep going. I know the “narrow path” of Jesus’ teaching is often interpreted salvifically, as in “some are saved but most are not.” I don’t find that reading very plausible, and with every year as an American — and every year of additional psychological training and experience — I am more drawn to a this-worldly reading of that concept. Given the trajectory especially of the Right these days, plus often-unthinking liberal backlashes, where else is such activity headed but toward “destruction”? That doesn’t necessarily mean civil war, or anything like the Vietnam War, but it’s not good, and I won’t go down that wide path when I know there’s a better, more accurate, and more compassionate option.