In the book, Gardens of Democracy, authors Lui and Hanauer argue that western institutions are based a fundamental misunderstanding of Darwinism: only the strong survive, dog-eat-dog, survival of the fittest, etc. They argue that the growth models of our religious and social institutions have been based on competition and self-interest. And yet, observing the natural world, we see that the natural world is not, in fact, based on simple competition. The healthiest, most vibrant ecosystems are those that have the most biodiversity: the most cooperation (both within a single species, and between multiple species). As we move further into the 21st century, this may well serve as a model for how our religious communities might not just survive but thrive. In this service, I ask myself, drawing on nature’s model of biodiversity, how does my theology make room for others, for “theodiversity.” (6/10/2018)
