Great Turning? Earth Community? What are they, and what is my role?
“The Great Turning is a name for the essential adventure of our time: the shift from the industrial growth society to a life sustaining civilization.
A revolution is underway because people are realizing that our needs can be met without destroying our world. We have the technical knowledge, the communication tools, and material resources to grow enough food, ensure clean air and water, and meet rational energy needs. Future generations, if there is a livable world for them, will look back at the epochal transition we are making to a life-sustaining society. And they may well call this the time of the Great Turning.
It is happening now.... And it is gaining momentum, through the actions of countless individuals and groups around the world. To see this as the larger context of our lives clears our vision and summons our courage.”
— Joanna MacyThe idea of “The Great Turning” is not new. For many of us, it is a stark wake-up call, frightening yet ultimately exciting. It may help to realize that it is also a turning-back as much as a turning-forward—returning to our roots of being human, being in community, being in balance with ourselves, each other, and the planet. We do have it within us to do so.
From the work of Joanna Macy and David Korten, we are given a narrative that allows for an understanding of the oppressive forces that have been at play for more than five thousand years and brought us to the brink of destruction. David Korten explains in The Great Turning, that it is possible to see how we have been taken hostage and identified with our captors. Yet we can be filled with hope and excitement to learn of the growing numbers who are awakening from this seduction and organizing themselves at a grassroots level to do things differently, with awareness.
Many people in our church community are reading The Great Turning. Some soak it in eagerly; some find it slow going at times, despite its compelling message. Fortunately, there are many pathways to our awakening. If we can be still and listen deeply, just as native cultures listened to the wind, then, with practice, we will come to recognize the abiding truth, wisdom, and love connecting each of us.
Related Resources
Here are some further resources to help you find your way in this great adventure. If you have additional titles or links to share, please contact Cindy Creager
Books
- The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community by David C. Korten
- Coming Back to Life: Practices to Reconnect Our Lives, Our World by Joanna Macy and Molly Young Brown
- Endgame: The Problem of Civilization by Derrick Jensen
- The Powers that Be: Theology for a New Millenium by Walter Wink
- World As Lover, World As Self: Courage for Global Justice and Ecological Renewal by Joanna Macy
- A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. Tolle and Oprah Winfrey are conducting a weekly online workshop, which you can join live or view later as a podcast. For more information, go to http://www.oprah.com/obc_classic/webcast/workbook/anewearth_workbook_main.jsp
Films and Visuals
- DVD of David Korten, The Great Turning, available at: http://www.peakmoment.tv/specials/korten.htm
- An Extraordinary Moment, The Wombat, and The Global Community Mission Statement, all of which can be viewed on-line at http://globalcommunity.org/multimedia.shtml
- http://hookedonnature.org/allvideos.html
