On Hope
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Three quotes on hope this Sunday, because I've been reading and thinking about it lately:
"Hope alone is to be called 'realistic', because it alone takes seriously the possibilities with which reality is fraught. It does not take things as they happen to stand or lie, but as progressing, moving things with possibilities of change ... Thus hopes and anticipations of the future are not a transfiguring glow superimposed upon a darkened existence, but are realistic ways of perceiving the scope of our real possibilities, and as such they set everything in motion and keep it in state of change. Hope and the kind of thinking that goes with it consequently cannot submit to reproach of being utopian, for they do not strive after things that have 'no place', but after things that have 'no place yet' but can acquire one." (Moltmann, 1967: 25, original emphasis)
Full Ref:
Moltmann, J. (1967). Theology of Hope. London: SCM Press
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"Active Hope is about becoming active participants in bringing about what we hope for. Active Hope is a practice. Like tai chi or gardening, it is something we do rather than have. It is a process we can apply to any situation, and it involves three key steps. First, we take a clear view of reality; second, we identify what we hope for it in terms of the direction we'd like things to move in or the values we'd like to see expressed; and third, we take steps to move ourselves or our situation in that direction. Since Active Hope doesn't require our optimism, we can apply it even in areas where we feel hopeless. The guiding impetus is intention; we choose what we aim to bring about, act for, or express. Rather than weighing our chances and proceeding only when we feel hopeful, we focus on our intention and let it be our guide." (Macy & Johnstone, 2012: 3, original emphasis)
Full Ref:
Macy, J. & Johnstone, C. (2012). Actve Hope: How to face the mess we're in without going crazy. Novato, CA: New World Library.
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"Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in a lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing that is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore, we are saved by love. No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our firend or foe as it is from our standpoint. Therefore we must be saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness." (Niebuhr, 1952: 63)
Full Ref:
Niebuhr, R. (1952). The Irony of American History. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
***
Three quotes on hope this Sunday, because I've been reading and thinking about it lately:
"Hope alone is to be called 'realistic', because it alone takes seriously the possibilities with which reality is fraught. It does not take things as they happen to stand or lie, but as progressing, moving things with possibilities of change ... Thus hopes and anticipations of the future are not a transfiguring glow superimposed upon a darkened existence, but are realistic ways of perceiving the scope of our real possibilities, and as such they set everything in motion and keep it in state of change. Hope and the kind of thinking that goes with it consequently cannot submit to reproach of being utopian, for they do not strive after things that have 'no place', but after things that have 'no place yet' but can acquire one." (Moltmann, 1967: 25, original emphasis)
Full Ref:
Moltmann, J. (1967). Theology of Hope. London: SCM Press
***
"Active Hope is about becoming active participants in bringing about what we hope for. Active Hope is a practice. Like tai chi or gardening, it is something we do rather than have. It is a process we can apply to any situation, and it involves three key steps. First, we take a clear view of reality; second, we identify what we hope for it in terms of the direction we'd like things to move in or the values we'd like to see expressed; and third, we take steps to move ourselves or our situation in that direction. Since Active Hope doesn't require our optimism, we can apply it even in areas where we feel hopeless. The guiding impetus is intention; we choose what we aim to bring about, act for, or express. Rather than weighing our chances and proceeding only when we feel hopeful, we focus on our intention and let it be our guide." (Macy & Johnstone, 2012: 3, original emphasis)
Full Ref:
Macy, J. & Johnstone, C. (2012). Actve Hope: How to face the mess we're in without going crazy. Novato, CA: New World Library.
***
"Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in a lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing that is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore, we are saved by love. No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our firend or foe as it is from our standpoint. Therefore we must be saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness." (Niebuhr, 1952: 63)
Full Ref:
Niebuhr, R. (1952). The Irony of American History. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
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