The term "collective selfishness", is taken from Chapter 2 of Krista Tippett's book, 'Speaking of Faith'. Here are just some thoughts concerning this idea.
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"Collective selfishness" is something that Rauschenbusch fought in the heat of Hell's Kitchen. It was 1920, but it was already there. Growing bigger, ever wanting more, never satisfied and this was only the tip of the iceberg. It's purpose was to consume whatever it could: no caring, no compassion, just individualistic and collective greed.
It's like the "blob"in that old science fiction film - only you can't stop it by freezing it. It's too hot and aggressive.
It's like thirsty cracked soil except it can't absorb the water because it's too dry, too lonely and too weary to remember how to drink.
It's has the effect of starvation, swelling the belly and yellowing the eyes; even though the feeding frenzy never stops.
It's the want of everything you don't have and never appreciating the things that you already possess.
It's tripping over piles of excess while pointing and laughing over the fallen, disenfranchised, the widow and the orphan.
It's consumption.
It's self absorption.
It's gluttony wrapped up in the never ending desire of power, control and all the Rail roads in a game of monopoly - only it's no game at all.
We all are affected by it.
We all carry the hidden potential to be it's carrier, it's slave or it's victim.
The only cure is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'
Maybe then we can begin to understand what love is.
Maybe then we can see that the world is much bigger than our own field of vision.
Maybe then we can be born again to a life of purpose.
One where the individual learns how shallow life is when we only serve self.
One where the community cares for the needs of each other, knowing that someday soon they may be the ones in need of help and rescue.
Someday they may be the orphan or the widow.
Collective selfishness is only healed when the effected look into Jesus' face of love and hear the words, "Healthy people don't need a physician, but sick ones do. I did not come to call righteous people, but sinners."(Mark 2:17)
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