Tribes, Society and Engagement

[Craig Althof]

(whew…I wore myself out thinking about the title for this discussion!)

Father Jim Roselli recently joined our merry troupe of troubadours. His background and interests were intriguing to me, and I noted him: I am looking forward to a dialogue on religion and engagement, and the potential power of engagement as it relates to society and social groups (tribes!).

Copied from a note Fr. Jim sent me:

My interest in Sociology/Social Anthropology goes back ('way back) to when I was in my twenties and read a book entitled "Hunting Bands." It was an examination of tribal behavior in modern corporations, and it really affected my outlook.

The six basic human needs are air, water, food, clothing, shelter and companionship. These are best delivered by, and balanced human beings are best produced and nurtured in, the basic human social group: the nuclear family, consisting of a lifetime-committed husband and wife and their children.

The fundamental post-basic social unit is the tribe, or clan: an efficient and effective way for families to share their knowledge, skills and abilities with each other.

Father Jim, you certainly have an interesting background and your note hit a bit of a button for me. I have to confess I have been part of different corporate tribes. One HRD gang in particular NOBODY messed with. Our colors were fluorescent tie-dye, weapons of choice were koosh balls and silly putty. Kind of a nutty bunch, as are most HRD gangs.

First, is it a fair statement that the basic social unit (nuclear family) has diminished in stature and importance? Single parent households and dual-income, multiple job households as well. More emphasis on careers and making money than on basic parenting, which is the traditional primary means to “socialize” our children.

These are broad generalizations, but I believe statistics and an army of “experts” indicate that the family unit is in trouble, even in “normal” and outwardly successful two-parent households. Nuclear is melting down. Ultra-busy parents abdicating their socializing duties to the outside---schools, youth clubs, soccer coaches (I have been in that role! I am a COACH, not a surrogate parent! Blood boiling as I type….)

At the same time, the other institution critical to socializing our young is sadly diminishing in stature and importance as well—organized religion. There is a giant void in too many young peoples’ lives where these two powerful influences used to be. And I truly feel that this is one of the key root causes to all the social problems in the world—seriously! We have lost our ability to instill strong values and social / behavioral expectations in the younger generations, and it is beginning to bite us in the behind big time.

The post-basic social unit for too many youth is gangs, which provide all the basic needs noted by Father Jim. Not to say that gangs are an acceptable alternative, but what happens where there remains a void? And let’s not be ostriches…this is not just a poverty / inner city issue.

There is an unacceptably high level of social disengagement-we do not have a strong set of shared values or social expectations. Not to mention that too many people simply are not at a high level of “satisfaction” societally. I have stated elsewhere that…
1. Engagement is contagious. You can catch it from others just as you can “infect” others.
2. Engagement ripples the surface of the pond…it spreads by association. If I am an engaged person at work / in my position, I am probably engaged elsewhere. And it will show, and will trigger #1.

Is the focus of the EEN important? YES, on many levels—personal, professional, societal.

Craig
In Pursuit of Excellence