June read, The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Join us in contemplating America's past and possibilities through classic and contemporary literary voices. The We the People Book Club is a year-long program designed to give you an opportunity to strengthen your vision of democracy and your connections with others.
We affirm two principles. First, reading itself is a spiritual practice. Second, when this inner work inspires engagement with our neighbors and communities—as happens in book clubs—it becomes deeply democratic.
July read, The Partly-Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell
Join us in contemplating America's past and possibilities through classic and contemporary literary voices. The We the People Book Club is a year-long program designed to give you an opportunity to strengthen your vision of democracy and your connections with others.
August read, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Join us in contemplating America's past and possibilities through classic and contemporary literary voices. The We the People Book Club is a year-long program designed to give you an opportunity to strengthen your vision of democracy and your connections with others. We affirm two principles. First, reading itself is a spiritual practice.
Meet Julia Davis, Curator of the We the People Book Club
As part of The Practicing Democracy Project (PDP) our partners at Spirituality & Practice just kicked off the "We the People Book Club," a yearlong discussion to explore the themes of democracy. Julia (Julie) Davis, a fellow wit
The Grapes of Wrath Reading Guide
Explore the themes of technological change, the necessity of connection, and resilience and creativity in this guide to John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. Part of the We the People Book Club, a year-long program contemplating America’s past and possibilities, this guide was created for individual and group use.
September Practice: Not Knowing
We get so firm in our positions on issues of all kinds that we assume we know best. Adopting an attitude of "not knowing" supports an attitude of openness and awareness of complexity.
This practice is from Everyday Soul by Bradford Keeney.
Fetzer Joins Anti-Defamation League and Others in Project to Overcome Extremism in U.S. Cities
Headlines like yesterday’s “Lynching threat made against Shreveport mayoral candidate” are just one of many reasons why we have joined Communities Overcoming Extremism: The After Charlottesville Project, an effort led by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
As the ADL notes, there has been a "dramatic rise in extremism, intolerance, and political violence cities and communities…in the year since the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville last August."
Practice: Lifting Someone into God's Presence
This spiritual practice comes from Jane Vennard in Embracing the World: Praying for Justice and Peace.
Practice: Listening Behind
This practice is from Habib Todd Boerger.
Allow your mind to become quiet as you focus your awareness on your energetic heart. Cultivate an inner alignment with the Divine/sacred in the way that works for you. Allow your heart to connect to your conversation partner from the place of sacredness within you to the place of sacredness in your partner. Cultivate a sense of holding yourself and your conversation partner in a container of nonjudgment and peace. Set the intention to listen from your heart. Invite your conversation partner to share what they would like to say.
Our Work
Our work today is in collaboration with inspiring partners as we all work to reveal, inspire, and serve a more loving world. Learn more about our priority initiatives below and engage with the work through stories, events, resources, and other opportunities to add your voice.