Claiming Your Voice

Norvene Vest, PhD, is an Episcopal laywoman, Benedictine oblate, and respected teacher and guide. She has graduate degrees in political theory, theology, mythology, and depth psychology. Her earliest ministry was as a public servant, which gradually shifted to spiritual direction and adult faith formation. Among her published writings, Dr. Vest is the author of six books on Benedictine spirituality for the common life. Her passion is the relationship with the holy Mystery, through traditional practices (especially Benedictine spirituality) in dialogue with contemporary theology. Learn more at composury.com.

"Dr. Norvene Vest’s radical call for reform in Claiming Your Voice: Speaking Truth to Power names many complex levels of our culture, but perhaps is most urgent in the political landscape. Her expose will not settle for simply patching once again a sinking ship with the band aids of greedy, self-serving and economic bromides. She insists we entertain 'a prophetic imagination' to move us into a political theology of caring and serving the larger community—so to heal de-formations through compassionate re-formations. Anything less imprisons us in the same bloated, exhausted 'empire'; instead of continuing 'following the profits,' we must choose instead following the prophets."Dennis Patrick Slattery, PhD, Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Mythological Studies Program at Pacifica Graduate Institute and author, most recently of The Way of Myth: Stories’ Subtle Wisdom

• ContentsPreface xiSection IAmerica’s PromiseCHAPTER ONEAmerica’s Beginnings 3The Sacred and Public Policy: America’s Promise 8Founding Heritages 15CHAPTER TWOCalled to Account 24A Benevolent World Presence? 24A Military Attack on Our Homeland and Our Response 26A Viral Attack on Our Homeland and Our Response 32The Role of Denial on the Way to Fullness of Life 37Interlude AImperial Consciousness and Prophetic Imagination:Moses’ Story 42Section IIWitness to De-Formation: The Pathos of GodCHAPTER THREEUncritical Confidence in Market Culture 49Market Culture at Home 50 Market Culture Worldwide: The Bretton Woods Institutions 57Accountability at World Trade Organization Meetings 62Challenge to These Signs of the Times 65CHAPTER FOUROverweening Growth in Our Global Empire 68Pillar 1: Financial Power in Global Empire (Reminder) 71Pillar 2: Worldwide Corporate Domain of Global Empire 72Pillar 3: Military Force 76Challenge to These Signs of the Times 83Interlude BLiving in Hope 86CHAPTER FIVEDenial of Earth’s Climate Crisis 90Planetary Beginnings 90Climate Impacts 95Food Production 98Challenge to These Signs of the Times 104CHAPTER SIXResistance to Diversity 110Preliminary Thoughts: Biodiversity 110Structural Racism 116Challenge to These Signs of the Times 125Interlude CHow Are We Divided? 131 Chart: Primary Characteristics of Traditional, Modern, and Postmodern Cultures 137Section IIIFormative Challenge to Public PoliciesCHAPTER SEVENLament and Conversatio 141Where Is God? 142Lament: The Prophetic Cry 145Lament: Benedictine Conversatio 150Cultural Lament and Turning: Living into the Pattern of Christ’s Life 154CHAPTER EIGHTOur Task of Prophetic Imagination 161The God Who Calls 162Our Faithful Response: Soul-Making 167Formative Participation in Community Life 173Spiritual Formation and Denial 179Participation in Community 183Appendix A: Practice of Conscious Community 188Appendix B: For Further Reading 190Notes 192