Beyond Individualism: The Challenge of Inclusive Communities

Activist and educator Rupp (Globalization Challenged) argues that Western individualism must reaffirm the pivotal role of community. Modifying and repurposing content from past speaking engagements, he draws on his experience as dean of Harvard Divinity School and president of Rice University, Columbia University, and the International Rescue Committee to explore the ways in which individualism perpetuates a system skewed toward private interests over public goods. He contends that without a focus on communities we will maintain policies that favor the privileged few and exacerbate wealth disparity, armed conflict, and the earth's destruction. While Rupp's definition of community is expansive, he focuses largely on religious groups, asserting that secularism cannot continue to ignore the way religious beliefs influence public policies. He also explores the relationship between religion and the humanities, urging educational institutions to provide opportunities to study religion, in part because it plays a crucial role in engagement with non-Western traditions. Ultimately, Rupp argues that when we shift our focus from valuing individualism to elevatomg inclusive communities, we can conceptualize new possibilities for global issues. "A hybrid of memoir and systematic reflections," Rupp offers an accessible and well-reasoned contribution to debates on the role of religion and community. (Sept.)