Beyond Individualism

In many places around the globe, relations between ethnic and religious groups that once coexisted more or less amicably are now fraught with aggression and violence. This troubling trend has profound international implications, threatening efforts to protect the Earth's ecosystem and narrow the gap between rich and poor. Underscoring the need for immediate action, George Rupp urges the secular West to reckon with the continuing power of religious conviction and seek ways to embrace the full extent of the world's diversity. While individualism is a powerful force in Western cultures and is often a cornerstone of Western foreign policy, it elicits strong resistance in traditional communities. Drawing on decades of research and experience, Rupp pushes modern individualism beyond its foundational beliefs to recognize the place of communal practice in our world. By affirming the value of the group and the productive role religion plays in many lives, new solutions to such global challenges as conflicts in the developing world, income inequality, climate change, and mass migration take realistic shape.