Most of us believe in an objective reality that is universal for everyone, and we think our personal view of the world is that universal objective reality. Most of us live in a culture or extended family that holds the same views of the world and reinforces our idea that we perceive the correct view of reality. We will call this group our Tribe.
What should rid us of this idea that our view of reality is universal is when a member of our Tribe goes rogue and disagrees with us about the-way-things-are. Then we exile the rogue member from our Tribe and sever communication with them. This keeps our Tribe pure, allowing us to continue to imagine that our view of reality is correct. That’s what we do, demonize anyone who fails to see the world as we do and eject them from our family or cultural group. These people are labeled: wrong, deluded, insane, criminal, traitors, terrorists, enemies, evil, or various other names used by our Tribe to discredit wrong-thinking outsiders.
What we fail to realize when we reject the views of others is how small our Tribally-defined world is compared to the views of the rest of the world. Our Tribe of like-thinkers may be a dozen or so out of a world population of some 8 billion. Our assumption that all right-thinkers agree with our views may not be justified.
The truth is we all live in separate worlds determined by the Stories that we tell ourselves. Stories are the tales we tell ourselves and other members of our Tribe about the world we live in, who we are, and how we came to be who we are (or think we are). Shared Stories are those held by all members of our Tribe that hold the Tribe together. Personal Stories are those that hold a personality together, giving that person a consistent way of interacting with other Tribal members and the world. Stories define us and the world we live in.
Ethnic shared Stories may describe how the world and people came into existence, how the people overcame adversity and evil, often with the help of divine power, and how virtue or divine power gives them the right to their land. Personal Stories may describe how that person achieved success through effort or deserved success because of virtues. Personal Stories for those their Tribes label as failures may include how they were raised poorly, how people harmed them, and how good fortune eluded them. All these Stories are deemed essential to the people who believe them, because they support their worldview.
If we attack or discredit people’s Stories, they will push back, often violently. Often the Stories of people or Tribes conflict with the Stories of other people or Tribes, causing the conflicting people and Tribes to try to harm one another. Anger, pain, killing, war, and other forms of chaos result. To avoid chaos, we have to know and understand the Stories of others in order to build shared Stories that promote harmony among people and Tribes. We may have to change parts of our Story that result in conflict, or at least accept that their Story is their Story and coexist.
Ideally we should try to combine our Stories into a harmonious shared Story. The only way our personal Story will not be detrimental to other people and the earth is if our Tribe expands to include the entire world and all the creatures dwelling there. Our worldview must encompass the world. I think we must become global in our thinking. What do you think?
Many thanks for your post on the subject of tribes.
As another way of looking at your post, perhaps we can all get to be kind of like venn diagrams, where two discreet circles move, or are moved, slowly toward each other, intentionally or not, and at some point in time are forced by events, or even willing, to touch at least at one point.
From viewing our circle as the whole picture, some event or insight allows us to share something, however large or small, with another circle.
In my own case, I was taking a class in public speaking
when someone told about how they had robbed another person. Because I heard their whole story, I found that, much to my surprise, I could actually imagine myself doing what they had done—rob someone!
This was a tremendous shock to me, but it also helped me to see and feel, and acknowledge the reality, of another’s circle intersecting with mine.
I have heard other peoples’ stories as well, and find that this is a powerful way to expand my view of the world, how ever much I may not have thought it possible, or desirable.
The harder the line we draw around our circle, the more
shocking or intense the event may need to be to allow or force our circle to be entered. Or we may never allow the circle to expand. Or even tighten it when we perceive it threatened.
In the end, perhaps the conclusion will be determined by which sorts of people prevail.
If I am serious about wanting the expanders to prevail, then I must continue to make the effort to expand what I
call my circle. This is not easy, and I have a long way to go.
But continuing to shut out those I don’t agree with is not going to help get to the conclusion I really want.
Thanks for this opportunity to explore my own thinking and behavior,
Ruth
Your insight is impressive! Watch for a future Heart Drop meditation post designed to expand our circle. Jim
One can also have a world view (tribe)that is open to other world views…..we can analyze and incorporate that which is better or an improvement (at least from our tribe POV which is constantly challenged by our exposure to other tribes)……it does not mean we instantly reject everything and anything that is not us…..we grow….so we can take the best of both while maintaining some differences and diversity for each tribe.
I agree, that is the essence of growing as a person, especially spiritually.
Yes, please see David Bohm ‘On Dialogue, Listening and Creating Communion’ for suggestions as to the ‘how to’ of expanding our view of reality.