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Preserving Personhood: Quaker Individualism and Liberal Culture in Dialogue
Abstract
For many Christian ethicists the language of individualism serves as a philosophical short-hand for an atomistic and anti-social existence which refuses the invitation of a common life with others. Is this negative description deserved? This article undertakes a close reading of the categories of the individual and the person in order to formulate a theologically affirmative account of certain liberal strands of social and political individualism. In an effort to ground this project, dialogue is initiated with the Quaker theological tradition. Through a close engagement with early Quaker accounts of community, selfhood and conversion, the discussion retrieves a social and teleological model of individuality which challenges key suppositions of individualism's contemporary critics. This article concludes by considering ways in which Quaker formations of the individual can assist the Church in the task of faithfully engaging with liberal societies.
... it religious references, many of the ideas common to American political culture have deep associations with religious worldviews and teachings that are less apparent (Dionne, 2008). For example, the idea of individual dignity as a political principle emerged in Enlightenment philosophy but has also been a feature of a number of Christian doctrines (B. Wood, 2014). So, too, ideas about equality-when groups such as the Quakers and many in the Anabaptist tradition extended their conceptions of the Christian soul across racial lines, this formed some of the bedrock of abolitionist sentiment and action (e.g., R. M. Smith, 1997;Young, 2006). While classical liberalism did not need an immanent God for ...
Significant scholarly attention has been paid to politicized conservative religion, especially the Religious Right and white Christian nationalism. But the common assumption is that religious conservatives face off primarily against secular liberals. This leads many to overlook the active world of progressive religious activism. The field of progressive religious activism, sometimes called the “Religious Left,” attracts a racially and religiously diverse set of participants, including many nonwhite Christians and non‐Christians, some white mainline Protestants and Catholics, and occasionally white evangelical Protestants. These varied groups often join in multifaith coalitions that may also include secular partners. Progressive religious activists have played a major role in US political history, whether through actions taken within liberal congregations, faith‐based community organizations, or social movements. Religion, however, is increasingly associated with conservatism in the US, raising questions about what influence this diverse and loosely organized “Religious Left” will have on American politics in the future.
... it religious references, many of the ideas common to American political culture have deep associations with religious worldviews and teachings that are less apparent (Dionne, 2008). For example, the idea of individual dignity as a political principle emerged in Enlightenment philosophy but has also been a feature of a number of Christian doctrines (B. Wood, 2014). So, too, ideas about equality-when groups such as the Quakers and many in the Anabaptist tradition extended their conceptions of the Christian soul across racial lines, this formed some of the bedrock of abolitionist sentiment and action (e.g., R. M. Smith, 1997;Young, 2006). While classical liberalism did not need an immanent God for ...
In recent decades, scholars interested in the role of religion in American public life have largely focused on the Christian Right or the role of religion in civic life. Compared to these extensive literatures, relatively little attention has been paid to the role of religion in liberal/progressive politics. Progressive religious voices are more widespread and more racially, socioeconomically, and religiously diverse than is typically recognized. Moreover, while these actors seek influence within the most visible political realms of elections and policymaking, they also focus on shaping the cultural identities, narratives, and discourses that undergird democratic life. This article offers a framework through which to conceptualize the progressive religious field of action and reviews the growing body of research on the individuals and organizations that comprise this field. It begins by examining the prevalence of progressive religious views and activities among the general public; reviews research on three different types of progressive religious political organizations (social movements, national advocacy organizations, and faith‐based community organizations) as well as religious congregations' efforts to spur members to progressive political consciousness and mobilization; and evaluates the place of progressive religion in American political culture. Finally, it points to fruitful areas for future research.
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