Can't find community? Blame it on "demonic individualism"

For my May  DMin course, "A Seminar on Culturally-Attentive Pastoral Leadership," I am reading the book, "Being Human, Race, Culture and Religion by Dwight N. Hopkins.   In the introduction, he says

Can we say a word about a healthy God-human encounter, in which each person enjoys self-love and healthy ego; in which human beings come together to found positive harmonious communities; in which women and men support and live in balance with plants, animals, and the natural elements; and in which people reflect intentionally about their high calling (which they receive from some greater force or being other than themselves) to anchor their human being with the poor and the working class?  (p.4)

His answer is "yes" but we can't because of "demonic individualism."   His definition of demonic individualism is described in three categories  1)historical amnesia, 2)instantaneous fulfillment of desire, and 3)we're number one.      Historical amnesia is when we forget to ask the questions that challenge our hearts and heads about the past, he asks among other things, "From what peoples on the West Coast and the Deep South..did we derive our national identity?  When did women become legal adults, free of fathers' and husbands' guardianship?  Why did the federal governments start utlizing ordinary citizens' tax money as welfare payments to giant corporations?  I don't think I need to explain our need for instant gratification(okay so he mentions a "plethora of gadgets to facltiate everything from cooking to sex...".). We're number one is about our country, he asks "How can the United States enter international sports event so other countries win as well?   (I can hear it now because WE want to be number one!) This book ends with:

When a society's priroties are redirected radically to alleviating the majority of its members plight through phasing out the super-elite's privileges, genuine democracy results.  In the reconfiguration of an obsessively racialized society, we develop both collective selves and unique individuality.  In this way, all people enjoy the grace of possibilities inherent in full human potential.

Our country, cities and even many families have forgotten or haven't been taught about the sense of community.   In the community described above we all care about each other's welfare and work within the community to make the community a harmonious and positive place. 

I was watching the Today show yesterday and Matt Lauer was in Bhutan in the Himalayas.   He said that this country has a GNH which is similar to our GNP in gathering statistics and measuring the success of the country.  A GNH is the country' Gross National Happiness scale compared to our Gross National Product.   He pointed out that the leadership of the country is very concerned about the satisfaction of its people.  The country works at keeping the people happy.   The concept is so intriguing that a couple of other countries are looking at Bhutan and wondering if they could apply it to theirs, Great Britain is one of the countries.  I don't know much about this program but the concept of a country caring about the quality of life for its commmunity can't be all bad.  Of course the individual in me, says, "How can this be?  What will I have to give up?   Ooops, there's that demonic individualism"

I miss the sense of community that our family had in Stockton.  Our family was part of a bigger family.  every one of my four children gained aunts, uncles, cousins, the minute we entered our Trinity Church home.   Everything was about caring about each other, "giving up" something for the community (time, money, presence.)  Our child care folks came from the church.  Our visits to hospitals, convalescent homes, and mortuaries were about church family taking their part in the care.   If there was a prayer sent out, immediately, folks would go to the person's house or bring food.   Perhaps its because my parents knew that community was essential for their survival in this country.  I remember as a little girl all the things my parents "made" me do which I now value so much and am pleased that my granddaughters are "made" to do the same thing.  I used to wonder where all these aunties and uncles came from, why did I have to give them a kiss hello and goodbye.  How come I had to see if they needed anything or serve them, I was just a kid.   My new aunties and uncles came from my mother's and father's work, Filipino club affiliations  and church.   Few of my aunties and uncles remain and I miss that.   These aunties and uncles felt responsible for  my family and me and my parents felt responsible for them.  Presents for each of us on birthdays and loans given to us and in turn my parents loaned money, cars, tools... When both my parents died there was overwhelming support from the community even when many hadn't been in contact with my parents for years.  They remembered their affiliation to the community.  An auntie recently died at the age of 95.  I went to her funeral.  The sanctuary was filled.  Many of the folks didn't really know her that well, but their parents did or their aunts or uncles did and out of respect for them, they went to the funeral. In that sanctuary there was a whole community celebrating her life by folks who had little contact with her in the last few years.   

In the community I was raised, we never forgot our parent's  history and  struggle  in this country.  Remembering that my Trinity church community started the first child care center in South Stockton, made the city put in sidewalks, and demanded that when new houses were built they would be of the same quality as those built on the "better" side of town by selling church property to a developer with those demands. In the community I was raised, we didn't buy into instant gratification-everthing was about hard work, and being number one was not as important as the status and care of the family and the community.  (of course my parents wanted all of us to get straight A's to prove that we were as good as the other "Americans")   and most importantly we understood the principles of  respect, honor and shame in our family and  community.   At that time our "individualism" was about what I do as an individual for our community NOT what I can do for "me."

So when Hopkins asks:  "Can we say a word about a healthy God-human encounter, in which each person enjoys self-love and healthy ego; in which human beings come together to found positive harmonious communities;..."   I say "Yes," and we need say lots of words to keep working on why community matters.  This book ends with:
 

When a society's priorities are redirected radically to alleviating the majority of its members plight through phasing out the super-elite's privileges, genuine democracy results.  In the reconfiguration of an obsessively racialized society, we develop both collective selves and unique individuality.  In this way, all people enjoy the grace of possibilities inherent in full human potential.