the culture of unity
As an answer to the cultural crisis
which prevails in Western countries and beyond,
in such an epochal transition towards new cultural paradigms,
new lines of thought are emerging from the spirituality of unity,
which are contributing to open new paths
leading towards a renewed culture.
Complexity and fragmentation – Signals arriving from modern society show a new and growing complexity. The existing fragmentation is particularly affecting knowledge, ideas and thought. Today’s different cultural worlds not only do not interact but escape each other, brushing against each other, at times even clashing, triggering conflicts in relationships within the social network and also on an international level.
A proposal: the culture of unity - It is therefore necessary and urgent to promote a “culture of unity”, a carrier of positive values, able to place at the centre of all cultural interests the human person in one’s full dignity, in one’s ability to relate to others, and in one’s openness towards the transcendent. The human person is seen as a subject able to give a human face to the world and promote dynamics of life which better reflect the aspirations of individuals and nations.
The Abbà School – The guidelines of this culture are emerging from a Centre of studies of an interdisciplinary nature, the Abbà School, which studies the original intuitions of the charism of Unity at a scientific level and according to the methodology of the charism itself. It is composed of 30 experts from different disciplines: from theology in its various specialisations, to philosophy, from ecumenism to political science, from natural sciences to economics, from sociology to psychology. Chiara Lubich founded the Abbà School in 1990 in collaboration with Mons. Klaus Hemmerle, Bishop and theologian, and other professors and experts in religious and other subjects. Since 1998, another group of 300 professors and experts in various fields coming from different countries have also been involved in this experience. Their contribution is based on the spiritual experience of the charism of unity and on their professional expertise.
In dialogue with various cultural fields – A new development in the cultural field is the dialogue based on reciprocity which has begun with the cultural world in its various expressions, in its various disciplines: politics, economics, art, media, pedagogy, psychology, sociology, medicine, law, architecture, environmental sciences and sports. It is promoted by international secretariats and groups which are emerging from many countries through conventions, seminars, meetings, forums, workshops, making use of all means of communication. This dialogue is seeking to provide a store of ideas, of cultural contributions as well as of life and knowledge.
A thought inspired by a paradigm of unity – This dialogue is open to all those who feel the urgency of the challenges ahead of us, to elaborate a thought and a doctrine inspired by the paradigm of unity in various fields. This does not mean uniqueness, but is instead a pluralistic dialogue with yesterday’s and today’s thoughts, ideas, perspectives, meant not only to confront each other, but to generate an innovative “cultural product”.
In the spirit of communion – The commitment of the members of the Abbà School is to fulfil this dialogue not as individuals but as a scientific community, in the spirit of friendship and communion amongst themselves. They do not seek to compose a “group” but a “unity”, an “us”, from which a new dynamics of work, elaboration and explanation of various doctrines springs forth.
The influence of the spirituality of unity in the various cultural fields has been given recognition in recent years by numerous Catholic and lay universities, through a number of degrees Honoris Causa in various disciplines which have been awarded to Chiara Lubich. The first essays on these new cultural lines are published in the Movement’s cultural magazine: Nuova Umanità (New Humanity).
