2022-08-22
53 分钟My ability to see my own imperfections is going to help me see the humanity in your imperfections.
And it doesn't mean we're best friends, and it doesn't mean that I condone what you do, but it really does mean that I can see you for who you are.
And that way of seeing one another, I think, is completely different from where we are as a culture today.
And I think that's where we need to go.
We've all been and felt othered at some point in our lives.
It feels awful.
But what happens when that experience rises to a level and pervasiveness of such intensity that it's not just about feeling unwelcome.
It's about fearing for your life and the lives of others you care about.
Whether drawn from what we look like, what or who we worship, our values, beliefs, or any other identifier, that fear of being othered on an extreme level because of something that defines us can lead to so much suffering and at times translate to anger, even rage.
And it's understandable question is it the answer, the way forward?
Or is there a different, more expansive, empathy centered path?
And if so, what does that look like?
And is it really a genuine option, given the world we currently live in?
These are the questions and ideas today's guest, Simran Jeet Singh, have been grappling with.
Simran is the executive director for the Aspen Institute's Religion and Society program and a visiting professor of history and religion at the Union Theological Seminary.
He's a Soros equality fellow with the Open Society Foundations, and in 2020, Time magazine recognized him among 16 people fighting for a more equal America.
He's a columnist for the Religion News Service, and his work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, and more.
In today's conversation, we take a deep dive into his experiences growing up, becoming a visible advocate not only for his own culture and spiritual traditions, but also a different approach to bridge building.
In his new book, the light we give how sick wisdom can transform your life, he shares his complex, fresh perspective on how empathy and tradition come into play to help us embrace each other's differences, find contentment, and discover our universal connectedness.
And in our conversation today, he offers a framework, a different approach designed to let us see each other's humanity more clearly and hopefully create a better and more equal world for ourselves and whoever comes after us.