Will the human race always be tribal?

[IWantGod]

You seem to think any type of social structure precludes that.

Did you ask? I notice that you tend to jump to conclusions. loool

 

[PetraG]

???
I looked it up. The normal definition was:

the state or fact of being organized in a tribe or tribes.

We’re Christians. We are blessed to know that in the eyes of our Creator there is one tribe, which is made of those persons for whom Our Lord died on the Cross.
Anything beyond that? The Second Coming will erase it.

 

[Theo520]

Don’t see what’s wrong with this, as it follows our basic organization principles. We have always been a member of multiple tribes: family, school, church, hobbies, community, state, nation, race, human race.

 

[rom]

If God dominated the world there would be only one tribe, or no tribes, just a one world order.

I am not sure of that. Even in heaven there are various hierarchies of angels. There are Angels, Archangels, and Principalities; Dominations, Virtues, and Powers; Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones – different choirs of angles all singing for the glory of God.

I think that the word “tribalism” can be taken in two senses, one good and one bad. If it simply means being organized in groups, then it is ok. If, as PetraG understood it, it connotes a “tendency to unjustly prefer some humans and their rights and needs over others,” then that’s not ok.

The same is true of the word “nationalism.” It can have two meanings, one good and one bad. If it is understood as giving priority to one’s country, I take it as being a form of patriotism, and is OK. But if it is taken to mean a love of country that excludes any love for other countries, then that becomes equivalent to isolationism or secessionism, and is not ok.

 

[PetraG]

True, but having some places or people who depend on you more directly than others isn’t tribalism. Christians being organized isn’t tribalism. Why? Because in the context of supernatural grace, the whole church, the whole family, the whole religious community takes care of each other within a greater shared mission by which all will also sacrifice for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

 

[Theo520]

True, but having some places or people who depend on you more directly than others isn’t tribalism. Christians being organized isn’t tribalism. Why? Because in the context of supernatural grace, the whole church, the whole family, the whole religious community takes care of each other within a greater shared mission by which all will also sacrifice for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

You seem to put a negative connotation on the word ‘tribal’ which I don’t.

The catholic church is tribal as well, organized by subsidiarity.

 

[rom]

I think that you (Theo520) and PetraG are both correct, but you are both using the same word with different meanings. If you both define your terms, you will see that there is really no issue between the two of you. But if you don’t define your words, then you can argue endlessly and get nowhere. Here we see the importance of definitions. Definition does not mean that the arguments will go smoothly; but at least it will not go in circles.

 

[HumbleIOughtToBe]

I disagree. I hold the view of structuralism, “People of Good Will can make the world a worse place to live in”. The structure of the world as it is, is determined to sustain itself.

 

[Magnanimity]

On the other-hand, more than ever before, we perceive ourselves as one human species.

I think you’re probably right in your assessment here.

Will the human race always be this way, or do you think we might be destined to evolve past the tribal ideology or instinct?

This question makes me think of Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.“

I can’t help but think that tribalism is necessarily exclusivist and dualistic. It necessarily has embedded within it unhealthy us vs. them (me vs. you) thinking. It does seem necessary that humanity evolves beyond that to continue to see the fundamental unity of the race.

For the dualistic/tribal/exclusivist person, the verse “love your neighbor as yourself” might mean “love your neighbor like you love yourself.“ (Or, you have to love yourself first before you can love your neighbor.)

For the person who sees inclusivism and nonduality as evolved human living, perhaps she would read that verse as “love your neighbor as yourself—as you, yourself.” My neighbor is my self (in some way).

Perhaps?

 

[tafan2]

This is the main point. The idea we should not have small groups looking out for themselves as a community, that the ideal is a world wide order, all of this violates the principle of subsidiarity.

 

[tafan2]

What the world needs now is people more focused on their local communities. Working to solve their problems at a local level, and stop looking for centralized governments to fix everything (how has that worked out for us)

 

[EndTimes]

Will the human race always be tribal?

Question presumes too much…

Urbanization began roughly 10,000 years ago - give or take.

Ultimately - humans fall into two groups…

Those who are on God’s Ship - and those who are not.

_

 

[PetraG]

You seem to put a negative connotation on the word ‘tribal’ which I don’t.

The catholic church is tribal as well, organized by subsidiarity.

Catholic means “universal.” The Church was instituted for the salvation of all.

 

[PetraG]

You seem to put a negative connotation on the word ‘tribal’ which I don’t.

The catholic church is tribal as well, organized by subsidiarity.

You’re right, I kind of do. That might not be fair, but to me the word carries an “us vs them” mentality in it. Where you have a tribe, you have those who aren’t in the tribe. Now, if you contrast tribalism to individualism, though, the word carries and “us” mentality in contrast to a “me” mentality. So yes, maybe I’m too negative about it. Charity is learned at home, and then in what we see as our “tribe” and grows from there.

 

[Theo520]

Catholic means “universal.” The Church was instituted for the salvation of all.

Not sure what point you are making, the Church still has a tribal organizational structure in line with practicing subsidiarity. Subsidiarity means you focus on loving your neighbor, not that you wish harm to the people living in the next state.

 

[PetraG]

Ok, but that isn’t what tribalism means.
Tribalism doesn’t have much meaning unless you’re differentiating between those who are in your tribe and those who aren’t or else giving relatives (or people in whatever group qualifies as “your people”) a claim on your support

 

[EndTimes]

I know that some modern Jews refers to Jews (as a whole) as being, “The Tribe”

It doesn’t have a clear analogous parallel to Christians… who might use the phrase, “Children of God”

Communion of Saints is another known Phrase…

_

 

[esieffe]

Every cloud has a sliver lining. Cultural barriers can be a difficulty and sometimes an insulator. The west, has some good things to offer, but also some not so good things. These barriers can protect some cultures from things that could be detrimental to them.

 

[otjm]

Tribalism and racism have a lot in common; it is an “us against them” attitude.

One of my daughters made a comment this last week about getting away from high school and into college where the number of people they associated with was much larger; and the comment was specifically about a group of girls she and her twin sister had been friends with early in high school, and wondering how that group later in high school had actively dissociated with the two of them. it was an example of tribalism at some of its rawest.

I have often said that the dust-up in Bosnia-Herzegovina was another example of tribalism unleashed to its lowest common denominator.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

There will always be in groups and out groups.

But I think tribalism will be more focused on opinions than geography as more people live more of their lives online.