AUSTRALIAN Initiatives of Change through moral and spiritual transformation PHOTO: CRICKET WHITE FEBRUARY 2005 No. 218 To tell a better story By Mike Lowe n his bookTips from a travelling soul- be opposed or faith is something which Isearcher Tim Costello quotes an should be helped to pass away). incident from the life of Ivan Illich, a 2 The way of faith inevitably leads to great South American advocate of the conflict. point - the need to tell a different story. poor. Illich was asked what was the most 3 The advancement of science and Early in the 20th century, long before powerful way to change society: was it education will lead all humanity to words like “interfaith” and “ecumenical” by revolution where the hated power- become similar types of purely rational were as common as they are now, Frank brokers were overthrown, arrested and and economic beings, and thereby Buchman, the initiator of (what later executed; or was it by peaceful abolish conflict. (Gray says that this became) Initiatives of Change recognised reformation using education and gradual, last one is the most potentially that when people of faith focused on democratic and industrial reform? destructive myth because it says that Praxis (how you live the faith) rather than Illich replied that it was neither. we will all become the same when we Dogma (what you teach about the faith) Neither revolution nor reformation can should be preparing ourselves to live then there is common ground and the ultimately change a society, he said. with conflict.) possibility of partnership. For those with Rather you must tell a new and powerful More recently we can add a further story - eyes to see, there is plenty of evidence for tale, one so persuasive that it sweeps one which has been around for a long this different story which says that faith away the old myths and becomes the time but which is particularly to the fore can be the answer, not the problem (so preferred story, one so inclusive that it since 9/11. This story says that Islam is long as faith is God centred not religion gathers all the bits of our past and our particularly backward, incompatible with centred). This story recognises the present into a coherent whole, one that modernity and opposed to the rational, common ground of moral values on even shines some light into the future so scientific, democratic ideal, and that which our diverse cultures and religions that we can take the next step forward. Muslims above all have a propensity to can grow together whilst retaining their Since I read that a couple of weeks ago conflict. unique and diverse identities. In contrast I have been asking myself, “what is the to the old story, this one says that the way new story we are meant to tell?” I had Way to harmony to harmony lies through living our faiths also just readAl Qaeda and what it Of course the situation is complicated more fully. This story says that it is not means to be modern by John Gray, because a lot of religious people and human for us all to be the same, but that Professor of European Thought at the communities have shaped themselves as we develop a relationship with the London School of Economics. While not around these old paradigms. Gray is deep spiritual dynamic that some call offering much of a new story, the book particularly good on explaining how Al God, we learn how to relate to those who does give a good critique of the old story Qaeda is itself a product of modernity, are different with love and respect. which shapes the mess we have gotten borrowing from strands of thought first You will find this story shining ourselves into now. The old story says developed by the Russian revolutionary through the pages ofNewsbriefs and other that: intellectuals who were the precursors to Initiatives of Change publications. I hope 1 The way of faith does not fit with Bolshevism! that for more of us this will also be the modernity (so either modernity should Which brings me back to my first story of our lives. More peace circles launched Life Matters gainst the backdrop of recent events hot Sunday afternoon, including two Iraqi he biggest everLife Matters course Ain Sydney, not least the Cronulla Australian schoolgirls. There was never Tis now under way at Armagh, the riots, another round of “Peace Circles” a dull moment. Salam Deeb, a Lebanese Initiatives of Change Asia-Pacific centre were launched at the Belmore Australian who participated in last year's in Melbourne. The 21 participants come Community Centre (South West Sydney) round, spoke about how much it had from diverse backgrounds including on 22 January. Peace Circles are meant to her, and we concluded with a Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Solomon culturally diverse groups of women who prayer song from Chichi Seii from Islands, Europe and multicultural commit to meet regularly over a number Kenya. There was enthusiasm to sign up Australia. As well as discovering the of weeks to explore and develop their for further Peace Circles along with the “other”, the participants are exploring peace-making ability. possibility of conducting them in a meaning and purpose for life and learning Twenty five women from almost as school. to become agents for positive change in many backgrounds made the effort on a Barbara Lawler their families and communities. The extraordinary life of Alec Smith Alec Smith from Zimbabwe died unexpectedly in London on 19 January. Son of Zimbabwe's last white Prime PHOTO: JONATHANLANCASTER Minister, Ian Smith, Alec worked for an end to the civil war and towards a peaceful transition to majority rule in the late 1970s. John Bond, who worked with Alec between 1975 and 1983 recalls: lec Smith once told me he reckoned situation. Then Ahe had had 50 trips of LSD. Enough someone told Kit to send most people into insanity. No he should meet wonder his conversion to Christianity Alec. was dramatic. He was driving along in Alec was his Volkswagen one day in 1972, high on intrigued by Kit, marijuana, when he heard a voice from and came to a meeting of the MRA team. the back seat say, “Go home and read the At that time interest in MRA was limited New Testament”. Having searched the to an elderly group of white Rhodesians, that my white skin afforded me,” he told car and found no-one, he obeyed the and Alec thought he had stumbled upon the conference, going on to express his voice. He found himself fascinated by a some sort of evangelical outreach to commitment to build a country in which book he had until then dismissed as geriatrics! But their aims intrigued him. everyone was treated fairly. boring. As Christians, they were attempting to His words gave hope to Africans One day he took me to a vast rock bring the truths of Christ to bear on throughout the country. We followed it famous for its ancient bushman paintings national policy. up by arranging public meetings in many of animals. At its heart was a small Kit asked Alec to lead the meeting. towns, at which hundreds came to hear stream which had channelled its ways Alec hadn't a clue what to do, and was Alec and others, black and white. In the through the rock. “This is where I was still recovering from his drug-taking. following years, I often heard Africans baptised,” he told me. Alec was a white One of those present described the say, “If the son of the Prime Minister can African, deeply in love with his country. meeting as “like rowing in treacle”. But change, perhaps a multiracial country is But to me, the most fascinating part of Kit asked Alec to lead the next meeting, possible.” his story comes after his baptism. and the next. And gradually he began to It was a painful time for the country, At that time a man named Kit Prescott see a connection between his new-found with thousands dying in war. Eventually had come from faith and the in 1979 - thanks in large part to the then Britain to Rhodesia national Australian Prime Minister Malcolm - as it was then situation. Fraser - a political settlement was called. Kit had If the son of the Then Kit reached, and elections held. But would worked most of his suggested the agreement be kept? life with MRA (as “Prime Minister can that Rhodesia Initiatives of needed an Coup averted Change was then change, perhaps a international known). In his MRA conf- Though we did not know at the time, the sixties he had a multiracial country is erence aimed head of the Rhodesian Army was heart problem and possible. at bringing planning a coup should Robert Mugabe was told by the about the win the election. Again Alec played a doctors to go where change in crucial role. Though his father had he could rest. He people that dismissed Mugabe as “the Red Terror”, and his wife Joyce chose Rhodesia. ”alone would make political change work. Alec asked him to meet Mugabe secretly. Alec's father, Ian Smith, was the Prime Alec agreed. “Will you raise the money His father agreed, and went to Mugabe’s Minister. He and his Government had for it?” Kit asked. Before long Alec was heavily-fortified residence. Had that rejected Britain's attempts to ease the pounding the streets of Salisbury, visiting meeting not taken place, the country country towards majority rule, and had all the businessmen he could reach, and would probably have descended again declared independence unilaterally under eventually raised nearly $30,000.