This essay, inspired by a visit Pomerants made to Caux in 1992, is an attempt to explain the essence of Initiatives of Chang (still Moral Re-Armament, MRA, at the time the essay was written) in the context of history, religion and the moral foundations of society.
The essay covers certain key episodes in IofC’s external history: in particular, its contribution to reconciliation in postwar Europe, as well as other parts of the world (South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Japan etc). Alongside this, Pomerants explores the spiritual roots of IofC, with reference to Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam.
One of Pomerants’s main interests is the convergence of world religions. In this context, he shows how the spirit of IofC, with its simplicity, emphasis on dialogue and commitment to individual freedom, turns out to be present at the core of all world religions.
Pomerants writes: “I do not know whether Buchman was thinking of a new form of ecumenism; but that is what he created. The participants in the movement are linked by the common cause of love … - a transformation of the living, a deliverance from the demons of technological civilisation, a return to simplicity which can counterbalance the complexity rushing towards chaos and disintegration. This is a movement with a religious 'sub-text' but without the things that normally accompany religion: dogmas and structure and rejection of those who are part of other structures and believe in other dogmas, or who belong to no structure at all; in Christian terms we could call it the fellowship of the Holy Spirit which blows everywhere, an embodiment of the spirit of inter-religious dialogue…”
He also writes that “to preserve the spiritual environment in which animosities lose their power” might be the main task for IofC in the 21st century. However, for that IofC should not transform into either a structure or a system, but remain a “meeting place above systems, a place of dialogue without pre-set boundaries and without the goal of arriving at such boundaries, dialogue with hearts open to the spirit that blows everywhere.”
The essay was originally published in Moscow in 1997 in the book Catching Up with God. It was translated by Peter Thwaites and published by Caux Books in 2004, together with "The Two Talks", which comprise the second part of the material below.
Peter Thwaites writes about "The Two Talks": "The talks were given during visits to Norway in October 1997 and May 1999. They continue Pomerants' analysis of factors shaping the Russian mind at a critical time, when the country is searching for new direction at home and a new role in the world."
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Peter Thwaites (translator). Born 20 July 1942 in Chester UK. Studied German and Russian literature at Melbourne University (Australia) and Zurich University (Switzerland). BA (hons) from Melbourne University 1964. Since 1967 a full time volunteer with Initiatives of Change (Moral Re-Armament) in many countries, particularly in Europe (Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Britain, more recently Russia and Eastern Europe) and Australia. Lives in Sydney.
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