I would support the inclusion of a social justice forum

excellent idea.  would even support using it as a replacement for religion and faith - since it seems to me to have more to do with Chtist's teachings than religion and faith does.

Definately support the inclusion of a social justice forum.  Hopefully it will allow us to focus on some of the pertinent issues which affect all of our lives.

Does this mean I'll actually have to get off my butt and do something?

 A social justice forum would be excellent!

Sounds like a good idea to me.

Has anyone  contacted Admin?

Do we currently have a problem with people posting Social Justice issues in the wrong forums?

alta, what forum would you post them in?

I agree, I would love to see a Social Justice forum. It might be a good replacement for Politics, but maybe not. It can't be that difficult to add the topic.

Qwerty, in two sentences, you have summed up my persistent disillusionment with organized religion.

LB

Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of supply and demand; it is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy.

     Wendell Berry

And mine.

Hi qwerty,

Side shows of or sub-texts to?

If social justice is all pervasive then are the forae inappropriately named or are they slants towards being socially just?

Well I can't.  Admin can.  Another forum wouldn't hurt.

If not the times at least of a denomination that has said the word so frequently that it takes the concept for granted.

Grace and peace to you.

John

I can't imagine a better arguement FOR a social justice forum, than young Besh thinks it's a dumb idea.

I don't think that it's a bad idea... I'm just not certain that I understand what would go there that can't already be itemized into Politics, Global Issues, Heath and Aging, Church Life, or Religion and Faith.  It seems to me that we're all doing well enough at placing social justice discussions into one of those existing forums.

Are you suggesting, qwerty (and others), that a Social Justice forum replace one of those existing?  if so, which one?  Or are you suggesting that it be added, which I feel would greatly decrease the number of threads that appear in other places and perhaps increase the confustion as to what qualifies as "social justice" and what should be placed elsewhere?

Perhaps we could draw on a seiously overpopulated  area, Religion and Faith.

It could be the church in today's worldm or faith in action; and leave Religion and Faith for those who really worry about whether the streets of heaven are paved in gold.

I feel a little uneasy about a  social justice forum.

IMO social justice isn't something to write about - it's something to do.

Support the political party that identifies with social justice the most.

Give your money and time where you can.

Show by your actions, rather than empty words, where your support lays.

On such a forum, those of us on the left would feel good about espousing our social justice philosophy - and those on the right would go on about "lazy" folks, addicts, etc.etc.

When it comes to social justice, give me action over rhetoric anytime.

While practicing Judaism I never met anyone who thought that tzedekah (acts of charity or philanthropy) or chesed (acts of kindness) or tikkun olam (repairing the world) were dirty words.

Social justice seems to be almost a dirty word to some people online and off. Why?

Is it because it has been so overused people hear it and say "here comes the new thing for us to argue over like access to abortion or same-sex marriage or bottled water'?

Is it in part all the shame and guilt religion can seem to heap on those who have investments, turn profits, or have a roof over their head, or are eating tonight?  

Is it that in over 2,000 years we still think social justice is about "others" or "thems" and "those types" and not us? Why do people think about the homeless and addicts and queers and "those poor unfortunates"? Social justice is about a just society and we all benefit. It is about unity,  no us and no them. WE!

It is sad. Such a history of Jesus and then abolition, prison reform... and it seems people get turned off more than turned on when they hear 'social justice".

Social justice and human rights outside churches, in the secular, get people motivated and draw the youth.... yet, inside UCCan churches, it seems to get them angry or they act like "here we go again". Is that across denominations or a UCCan dilemma or a localized response?

Was it one cause or a combination of them or a ceaseless parade of them? It seems to differ depending upon who you ask.

Yet, it seems people who want "sj" in the church do not want to talk about how you go about it and they just want to do it. No talking allowed. Is it fear? Is it a relucance to be open? What is it? Isn't that part of the problem surrounding "the Issue" was not talking at local levels in the interim between studies and statement?

How do you unite in a widespread movement or a mission if it is "I will do my thing and you do yours"?

Didn't Jesus talk about doing the right thing? Didn't he teach others to? Isn't it about doing it and creating the desire for it and telling others about it and forcing them to hear you and talking where they might overhear and instilling in others the desire also to create it... ?

Have we lost our guts, our hearts or our souls.....

When I lived in Montreal, I was the leader of a small social justice committee. It was very well attended. We got Warren Allmand in to give us information that was not in the news media about Canad'a treatement of third world countries. When the Liberal mp declined to attend our public meeting on an election, we were able to use the press to change his mind. And in a hurry.

I don't doubt that action is better than words. But without the words of information, you're not likely to achieve any action. And if you do, there's a danger of causing more damage than you cure.

We consistently outdrew church attendance.

graeme,

Due to dissatisfaction with the state political parties - there is  an organization being formed  called the Sydney Alliance.

It is a coalition of the Uniting Church in Australia, the Catholic Church, Jewish Board of Deputies, various trade unions and community organizations.

The aim is to firstly build a relationship within the organization - and select the social justice issues that canvassing our various members brings to the forefront.

I am supporting it, because it's much needed.

I have reservations about it being a non-party political organization however - it could well end up being yet another "talk fest".

But, on the positive side, it could bring a greater understanding of the various churches and trade unions. All too often groups only understand their own issues.

In Oz, there has been a disturbing shift in perception.

Those that once were doing it tough were called "battlers" - nowadays the perjorative word "losers" is used.

It all points to politicians not focussing on social justice issues - sadly, it's not where the votes are.

well, that sounds like a very useful start. One reason people need discussion and information is because our news media do such a bad job of it.

Wonderful post SG and as I read I was reminded of one of my favourite biblical quotes

Galatians 6:9
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Social Justice is like laundry, its never done.

And like laundry if you don't keep at it it piles up until you are left with a mountain to overcome and it is easier to just go out and buy new stuff and turn away from that mountain or shovel it all into a garbage bag and toss it; forgetting the beautiful things buried in the pile.

One becomes weary of the never ending tasks.  Weariness turns to negativity and that negativity navigates the focus only to the failures, blinds one to the successes.

I believe we have become a weary species.  We mask our weariness with things.  We deflect our negativity onto others.  We blind ourselves to the positives in those self created mountains of despair.

I confess I lack patience.  Like Pilgrims Progress I want action and frankly, I want it now!  But that is because I know how easy it is for me to be drawn into the bleak landscape of hopelessness. 

Yet, perhaps from weariness or the growing patience of age, I have come to realize that I don't need action; I need acknowledgment.  Acknowledgment that there is a problem because once a problem is identified hope that a solution can be found is granted.

There will always be disputes.  There will always be two sides to every story.  There will always be disagreements on *how* to get the job done; but when there isn't even agreement that a job needs to be done there is no hope only weariness.

LB

When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God.

     Charles L. Allen

On this issue, the glass for me is half-empty - or half-full, depending on my perspective at the time.

It's half-empty when..........

Recent events in Oz suggest to me that acknowledgement isn't enough.

The Queensland floods were catastrophic - folks felt sorry for all those affected.

Until....... they were asked to contribute to a levy - based on income.

There is general agreement about climate change. The present govenment (pressured by the Greens Party) wants to introduce a carbon tax. There is so much uproar that the opposition party can see there is votes in opposing it.

Maybe age is making me cynical but I see that there's lots of acknowledgement out there - just so long as it doesn't affect the hip pocket.

It's half-full when I remember.............

There is ALWAYS some folks who give of their time and money for social justice issues.

With these folks, acknowledgement would have preceded action.

As an aside, I do use the "acknowledgement" rule in my own life.

I'm uncomfortable with conflict to such a degree that these days it's enough for me to say and have my point of view acknowledged.  Nowadays that's where conflict ends for me - life is too short to fill with bad feeling.

Pilgrims Progress, for me, what you describe above is not acknowledgment but lip service and, again in my eyes, a dishonest service at that ...

Personally I would prefer some one to just admit they have no intention of helping their fellow man than one who says they will but won't, because at least then I know not to waste any time but to move on and find the one who will. 

As you wrote above, there are people who are willing to work, really work, on solutions.  They are often the quiet ones.  They don't blow their own horns.  They just roll up their sleeves and get to work.  Sadly the successes of these individuals are unacknowledged, hidden behind all the noise and rhetoric.

....perhaps this is why I am so cynically weary, eh.

LB

There is one thing alone that stands the brunt of life throughout its course: a quiet conscience.
     Euripides,  428 B.C.

 

 We could try adding a forum called Social Justice. But I think social justice is pretty much a common theme to the Discussion Forums and that we should not put it in a box by itself.