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Social Relationships and Fraternity: Paradox Or Sustainable Model? a Social Sciences’ Perspective

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Vera Araújo (ed.) Social Relationships and Fraternity: Paradox or Sustainable Model? A Social Sciences’ Perspective Translations by: “The Voice” School of English, Malta. www.thevoicemalta.com SOCIAL SCIENCES IN DIALOGUE, Rome, 2007 Codice ISBN 978-88-95697-00-0 1 CONTENTS Araújo Vera: Introduction Araújo Vera: Presentation of Chiara Lubich Lubich Chiara: Message Demartis Maria Rosalba: Social-One: the birth of a proposal Zani Vincenzo: The challenges of a complex and global society Iorio Gennaro: The birth of sociology and social interaction Araújo Vera: Social relations and fraternity: a paradox or a sustainable model? Cambón Enrique: The sociological value of life stories Giostra Mario: Empathic communication and “making yourself one with the other”: a way to create new models of intervention in social difficulties Cristao Rolando: Relationships in social community work as seen in the light of the paradigm of unity. An experience of the Unità community centre in Buenos Aires Certini Maurizio: “Giorgio La Pira” Centre in Florence Zurlo Alberto: A Centre of formation for families “SCUOLA LORETO” Fontem (Camerun) – A laboratory of fraternity Callebaut Bennie: Introduction Martin Nkafu Nkemnkia: The experience of Fontem and the African vision of life Callebaut Bennie: The inspiration becomes daily life: the sixties, the inspiring spark, the common interest Dal Soglio Lucio: A paradoxal choice (an interview by Nkafu Martin) Chiara Lubich: Story – from video: “A miracle in the forest” 2 Tomasi Bruna: Small towns of the focolare (an interview by Nkafu Martin) Chiara Lubich: Story – from video: “A miracle in the forest” Dal Soglio Lucio: Learning to tolerate diversity (an interview by Nkafu Martin) Callebaut Bennie: Fraternity as a code of behaviour-I Ferrucci Alberto: The story of european solidarity (1968-69) Dal Soglio Lucio: Breaking dependence (an interview by Nkafu Martin) Fontem seen through its story: the opinion of some of the leaders of the Bangwa people Ndi Asa’ah Fontem Fontava: My witness of an event – Focolare Movement and the Bangwa people of Cameroon Paulina Khumbah: Linking generations and building strong families: the life span of Lebialem women from 1960 to date Asa’ah Nkohkwo: Health impact assessment of the Focolare mission in Bangwa Cameroon: 40 years on public health Valentine A. Nzengung: Focolare Movement/LECA-USA partnership to improve the quality of life for Lebialem People John Nkemnji: Education in Lebialem before and since the arrival of the Focolare Movement: Seat of Wisdom College, Fontem Chiara Lubich: Story – from video: “A miracle in the forest” Callebaut Bennie: Fraternity as a code of behaviour – II Aquini Marco: Project Africa 2000. The contribution of the youths of the Focolare movement Mbiach Nkemabi Francis – mayor of Fontem (an interview by Nkafu Martin) Callebaut Bennie: Conclusion Introduction to the book “The Power of Love” written by Piritim Sorokin 3 Lo Presti Alberto: An introduction to the presentation of Piritim Sorokin’s book: The Power of Love Colasanto Michele: Presentation of the book “The Power of Love” written by Piritim Sorokin, Part I Sorgi Tommaso: Presentation of the Book, “The Power of Love” written by Pitirim Sorokin - Part II Round Table: dialogue on brotherhood in various cultural spheres Araújo Vera: Moderator Speakers: Rondinara Sergio, Zanzucchi Michele, Salamanca Esther, Magari Simonetta, Crivelli Luca Final notes Di Nicola Giulia Paola: Challenger encountered in fraternity Vecchiato Tiziano: Sociability and fraternità: new possibilities for reflection, research and social innovation L’Abate Alberto: Non violence as a way of combatting injustice: the foundation of a society based on fraternity Matos Emanuel: A new “place” for sociology Biela Adam: The need to build the paradigm of unity in social sciences Catemario Armando: New currents of research on altruism and the ethics of love Cavara Pietro: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: the complexity of a triad Petricone Luca: The uncertain fraternity, opaqueness and determination of a concept between “politics of friendship”, “politics of animosity” and the Christian perspective 4 INTRODUCTION Vera Araújo* Without any doubt, “social relationships” is a very current topic in the analysis of social sciences. The increasing interest for the relational dimension and the challenges arising with globalisation demand an understanding of the complex and multiple interconnections found in our contemporary world, even through the use of theoretic models, strategies of empirical research and applied schemes which point out and support the diffusion of positive and constructive social relationships. Is it possible to say that social sciences, starting from sociology, can be founded on a paradigm of reference capable of fulfilling both the achievement of scientific knowledge as well as the axiological orientation to which they are called to? This is in fact the challenge which has been taken up by SOCIAL-ONE, a group of sociologists, scientists and social workers who have answered to the invitation made to them by Chiara Lubich, the founder of the Focolare Movement. The International Meeting entitled “Social Relations and Fraternity: a paradox or a sustainable model? A prospective starting from social sciences” held at Castelgandolfo (Rome) from the 11th to the 13th of February 2005, was an achievement and, at the same time, a starting point. The meeting was attended by 300 sociologists and researchers of social work coming from different countries: Africa, South America, Europe, India, Japan, the Philippines, the United States and Canada. The theme of the Congress was a reflection on social relationships, but it also proved to be a very intense experience. Every talk was shared amongst the speakers and discussed in an atmosphere of intense participation before being delivered. This participation arose from the belief that every contribution has its own originality, due to the unique cultural background of each speaker. Yet there was also the desire and will to create, even at an embryonic state, a culture of unity in which differences are considered to build an authentic, human society. We are aware, in fact, that every scientific paradigm is also based on a “community of scholars”, that is a community of people who not only share an outlook of research, but also a direction, a “vision of the world”, a time in history, as well as an organisational structure of the intellectual challenge. The contents presented in this publication is a topic which is still at its initial stages; its development still needs to be defined, and we are aware that we are still at our very first steps, just like a child who has just started to learn a language with phonemes and morphemes in order to finally speak out words, sentences and concepts. Everyone’s wish and ambition is that through the work which has started we may arrive to the definition of a new social paradigm. There are, however two warnings which, as “reflective sociologists”, we wish to suggest to those who we will be meeting throughout the course of our work. The first is the awareness that a new theoretic approach never emerged historically from the thoughts of solitary minds. Only a collectively organised history has brought the development of new interpretative instruments. The second warning concerns our relation to those who have preceded us in the sociological adventure, with their “tradition”. In going back to their debate from this new point of view we have encountered great intuitions spread here and there which are very useful to our work. We consider all those who came before us, including their dreams, hopes and theoretical elaboration as “friends” with whom we can build a relationship and dialogue. The reflection on fraternity is surely an incipient subject when compared to the reflection of the other values of the French Revolution of 1789, namely freedom and equality. This, however, is another reason which makes us aim to achieve what seems to us to be the most authentic project of modern days. * Sociologist, instructor of sociology at “Sophia” Institute for cultural studies; co-ordinator of “Social-One”. 5 Presentation of Chiara Lubich Vera Araújo Allow me to present Chiara Lubich, at least for those who do not know her. Her human and spiritual story started in the city of Trent, the place where she was born and where she completed her studies. In 1943, during World War II, together with some of her friends, Chiara rediscovered in the Gospel old but, at the same time, new values that are able to give back to man his real dignity and to reorganise the human family with unity and fraternity. This is how the Focolare Movement was born. It holds a new spirituality, both personal and communitarian; two features that together are able to give rise to dialogues in all areas: within the Catholic Church, amongst the Christian churches, amongst believers of the great religions, amongst people with no religious beliefs but who are of good will and with contemporary culture and knowledge. Chiara leads all activity herself and this is the reason for her visits around the whole world and her speeches in numerous international headquarters. At the same time, the literary activity which arises from her life and from her thought is very intense: she has published 45 books starting with “Meditations”, which reached 21 editions and which has been translated in both western and eastern languages, up to the recent “The Spiritual Doctrine”, which gathers part of the immense richness of her charisma. Public opinion and many international institutions have begun to become aware of Chiara’s work and several recognitions have been given to her from all over the world, starting from the 70’s. These acknowledgments include the “Templeton Prize” for the progress of religion (London 1977), the “UNESCO Prize” for peace education (Paris 1996) and the “Council of Europe Prize” for human rights (Strasbourg 1996). In 1998, Brazil awarded her with “The South Cross”, while Germany presented her with “The great cross for merit”.
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