The intensity of the problems we face today render traditional approaches and solutions inadequate and counter-productive. The brutal realities of global poverty, new alignments of repressive power, economic systems which ravage the environment and crush the poor, political corruption, the escalation of violence in all its forms, the ugly spirit of racism and sexism, uniformity through technology accompanied by the loss of human freedom and dignity, and the social disintegration, boredom, and meaninglessness of affluent mass societies all point to the moral bankruptcy of traditional solutions and established leadership. The continual promises of those in power and of those who aspire to power suggesting that solutions are just around the corner have proved to be illusory and deceptive.
Traditional solutions and the various ideological strategies that put themselves forward as alternatives have not been comprehensive enough in their scope. In the most accurate sense of the word, these solutions are not radical enough; they have failed to attack the roots of our problems. Some continue to view the problems individualistically rather than seeing the cancer-like sickness that affects whole systems. Others continue to cling to the belief or hope that our problems can be solved within the assumptions and structures of present systems and fail to comprehend the need for alternative vision. Still others define everything ideologically and see solutions coming only through their gaining and manipulating political power which merely perpetuates one of the most central idolatries of the present system.
To deal with the root causes of our problems, to begin to offer more comprehensive solutions on the road to meaning-full social change, we must deal with the need for basic change in human values and relationships on both personal and corporate levels. Anything less will lead to disillusionment, futility, and conformity to present historical realities.
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