From Prodigals to Compassionate Samaritans
I participated in a "No Kings" protest last Saturday, and the community among the people there led me to reflect further on how Howard Thurman's insights could benefit current discussions about what to do in the face of the injustices that so many people face today. The depth of community, the rejection of hatred and violence, and the dedication to making "Good Trouble, Necessary Trouble," in what Thurman called a (peaceful) "shock to the system, are among the things we should embrace.
In that light, I will be posting a brief summary of the parts/chapters in my recent book, Howard Thurman and the Quest for Community: From Prodigals to Compassionate Samaritans, This summary is found in the Introduction to the book, and I'll post it in "bite-sized pieces."
The Plan of the Book
The thesis of this book is that Howard Thurman’s interpretations of the Prodigal Son and Good Samaritan parables illustrate his understanding of how to (re)establish community with God (Prodigal Son) and therefore with other human beings (Good Samaritan). The book itself and the free online chapter study guides weave together major aspects of both my own and Thurman’s interests that integrate responses to what these parables “mean,” how they “work,” and what they “want” from us in response: (1) in-depth exegesis of the parables themselves; (2) Thurman’s insights into these parables and their implications; (3) the intersecting ways in which parables and visual art work, create a dialogue about their meaning, and encourage an ethical response; and (4) the ways in which parables and visual art can heighten spiritual consciousness and be used to create and deepen community:
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