By: Laura Fleetwood on October 10, 2023
According to Dr. Jason Clark, 15,000 new books are published every year with the word leadership in the title. [1] Of these, many will not stand the test of time, yet it is clear that the world is obsessed with the topic of leadership. It’s easy to imagine why, since we daily read articles of…
By: Becca Hald on October 9, 2023
Sitting through the election coverage in 2016 was difficult for me. My daughter was fourteen at the time and she watched the coverage with a friend of hers. It was heartbreaking to see these two young women follow the election coverage. As we watched the news, they moved from hope at the prospect of a…
By: Tonette Kellett on October 9, 2023
Francis Fukuyama’s book, Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment, was an interesting read for me this past week. It helped make sense for me some of the things going on in our societies today politically both here in the United States and elsewhere overseas. For instance, the hyper-focus of our politicians…
By: Michael O'Neill on October 7, 2023
Introduction In a world marked by increasing polarization and identity-driven conflicts, the quest for dignity and the role of identity politics has become central to our understanding of modern society. Well-known political scientist Francis Fukuyama has explored these themes extensively in his book Identity, shedding light on the complex relationship between identity, politics, and human…
By: Jean de Dieu Ndahiriwe on October 7, 2023
Introduction Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder did amazing work in Rare Leadership. “RARE” is an acronym for what they call the four essential qualities of a mature Leader: Remaining relational, Act like Yourself, Return to Joy, and Endure Hardship. I can’t agree more with the statement below in the praise of the work of Marcus…
By: Greg McMullen on October 6, 2023
What Is Postmodernism? The terms “postmodern,” “postmodernism,” and “postmodernist” are associated with literary criticism, architecture, painting, and philosophy and have come into use at different times and for different purposes. Postmodernism, is best described as an historical period stretching from the 1960s to the present. Simplifying Hick’s Book The six chapters that make up Explaining…
By: Audrey Robinson on October 6, 2023
Introduction Francis Fukuyama’s book “Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment” delves into the complex interplay of identity politics, anger, and fear that has become increasingly prominent in contemporary society. Fukuyama argues that the politics of resentment, fueled by feelings of exclusion and frustration, has played a significant role in shaping modern…
By: Daron George on October 6, 2023
Francis Fukuyama’s “Identity” is a thought-provoking exploration of the complex concept of identity and its profound impact on contemporary society and politics. It is very interesting to look at the book in light of everything that has taken place to shape our identities since the pandemic in 2020. “The modern concept of identity unites three…
By: Jenny Steinbrenner Hale on October 5, 2023
Our pastor mentioned this week in her sermon entitled “Visible Words” that, according to a national survey some years ago, when people were asked, “What words do you most want to hear said to you?” the three phrases at the top of the list were, in order of popularity: “I love you.” “I forgive you.”…
By: Shonell Dillon on October 5, 2023
Where is your dignity Black Woman? Politics and Dignity being mentioned in the same title seemed interesting to me. I found that I enjoyed reading what the author had to say about it. I especially paid lots of attention to his mentions of the treatment of women in the workplace. I also thought that the…
By: Sara Taylor Lattimore on October 5, 2023
My Identity I am an only child who was adopted. I have had a wide range of life experiences. I double majored in political science and sociology in undergrad. I worked for the state of Texas as a legal caseworker for Child Protective Services. I have worked in church ministry and gotten a Masters of…
By: Kristy Newport on October 4, 2023
Francis Fukuyama articulates the roots of political tension in his book Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment. He gives a raw analysis as he states, “Resentment over lost dignity or invisibility often has economic roots, but fights over identity often distract us from focusing on policies that could concretely remedy those…
By: David Beavis on October 4, 2023
As a pastor, I have the privilege of weekly opening up the Scriptures and teaching a congregation about the present reality of the Kingdom of God and the implications the Kingdom has for us right here, right now. These duties of pastoring – “preaching and peopling” as I heard it once described – fill me…
By: Audrey Robinson on October 1, 2023
Introduction Simon Walker’s book, “Leading with Nothing to Lose,” challenges conventional notions of leadership by advocating for the power of weakness. In a world that often celebrates strength, dominance, and unwavering confidence, Walker’s perspective offers a refreshing and thought-provoking alternative.[1] This essay explores the power of weakness as elucidated by Walker, delving into its relevance…
By: Caleb Lu on September 30, 2023
In college my grades were directly dependent on how I performed relative to my peers. There were classes where I would routinely score in the 50s out of 100 and end up with the same “B” letter grade as a class where I scored 96 out of 100. And in some ways, it made sense.…
By: Chad McSwain on September 30, 2023
“Demand for recognition of one’s identity is a master concept that unifies much of what is going on in the world of politics today”[1]. This is the thesis of Francis Fukuyama’s book, Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment. Fukuyama brings his Hegelian perspective of history[2] to offer an explanation for the…
By: Jean de Dieu Ndahiriwe on September 29, 2023
Introduction The weekend before Oxford, I facilitated a music concert inside the prison for a volunteer organization. The team wore t-shirts with “Orange Lives Matter,” Referring to the Inmates’ orange uniforms. Inmates were so excited by the gesture that they also matter and deserve dignity. In “The Demand for Dignity and the Politics…
By: Greg McMullen on September 28, 2023
This is a very difficult subject to navigate. Lately, I have been reflecting if there is more class discrimination rather than ethnicity discrimination. Whether it be a class struggle or struggle with different ethnicities there is a real problem in our society. There is a problem inside our hearts with loving others. 1st John 2:11,…
By: Greg McMullen on September 27, 2023
Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder in Rare Leadership: 4 Uncommon Habits of Increasing Trust, Joy, and Engagement in the People You Lead reminded me of many books we have read and what many leaders have endured through this time of Covid.[1] Often leadership comes down on how we choose to see and handle things. From…
By: Greg McMullen on September 24, 2023
Identity Fukuyama shares with us the problem with identifying only with those like us or in Christian vocabulary like minded. Fukuyama reminds us of the importance of sharing national beliefs, and a need to find a way to have an identity that supports our democracy instead of undermining it.[1] Francis Fukuyama is an internationally recognized…
