An interview with Lakoff from Sierra Magazine:
Sierra: Does conventional religion offer any openings?
Lakoff: It's important to understand the theology behind liberal Christianity.
Liberal Christianity is based on a nurturant morality. Its central
concept is that of grace. You can be filled with grace, it protects
you, heals you, you have to be close to God to get grace. You can't
earn grace, you must accept it. It's metaphorical nurturance. And
there are many more liberal Christians than conservative Christians.
http://liberalchristians.blogspot.com/2005/02/winning-words-george-lakoff-says.htmlAt the moment, progressives tend to organize around particular issues and causes: a sustainable environment, anti-war and peace organizations, labor rights, women's rights, human rights, and so on. Groups working on particular issues often form coalitions that are based on common self-interest to work toward a particular program or policy initiative. But these coalitions are usually short term because once the program or policy is either achieved or is unsuccessful, there is no further basis for ongoing cooperation. Coalitions come apart readily because it is very common for groups to have substantial differences about policy details or tactics. And coalitions are hard to maintain over time since groups often compete with each other for limited funding and resources, creating counterproductive tension.
What is needed is a focus on creating a progressive values movement that recognizes the shared values that define who progressives are, and that encompasses the work done by groups working on many different issue areas and programs. Recognizing the importance of higher-level values, principles, and policy directions can help progressives overcome common differences about policy details and tactics so that more enduring progressive goals can be achieved.
http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/research/rockridge/valuesmovementAnd if you honestly look at Unitarian Universalism, we stand very clearly as a religious tradition within the nurturant parent model. Our 7 Principles make this obviously clear: to affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, to promote justice, equity and compassion in human relations, to support the goal of a world community with peace, liberty and justice for all, to respect the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
It is my opinion that with the rise of the strict father model, America is shedding its greatest values in the name of fear. It is my opinion that progressive values as represented by the nurturant parent model, equality, fairness, fulfillment, respect, dialogue, the protection of children and the marginalized, are the foundational ideals of this nation. It is my opinion that we must, we must stand up and protect these values… as if it were our very own child that was being threatened. And we must do so by speaking such values, living such values, and supporting organizations that represent such values. But let us remember, if we are drawn into divisiveness, into disrespect of our opponents, into fear, then the strict father wins. We must win using our nurturant values or we will not win at all.
I encourage you to explore further and begin by reading George Lakoff’s book, Don’t Think of an Elephant. And I encourage us to think very clearly about how this religious community can play a role in bringing the nurturant family model back into prominence.
May we have the strength to be so brave.
http://www.uuprinceton.org/sermon-11-28-2004.htm