The Unum Test and ideas to unite America once again.

[Brihaha]

Eight in Ten Americans are Concerned About Partisanship. Here's How to Reunite America

This idea of the Unum Test was published by Time magazine. It comes from the Latin e pluribus unum. Out of many, one. It's literally the opposite of today's tribal us vs them mentality. I found this article intriguing, as we all seem weary and tired of the stressful polarization in America today. I believe we can choose to be better, more compassionate individuals in America than we are presently. Maybe it will take a conscious effort on the part of each American citizen to behave in a more civilized, understanding way. I came to Christian Forums to avoid the counterproductive tribalism running rampant in America but the tribal culture seems to have infiltrated all aspects of our society, even here. I think discussion and admitting a problem is a good way to begin overcoming the problem. I'm just curious if anyone has ideas to toss around our collective consciences.

 

[Yttrium]

Compassion is something we should all strive for, but idealism never works out. People will be people, and society will always have its share of sociopaths, bigots, belligerents, and the paranoid.

 

[Mark Quayle]

They are right the problem existed long before Trump had anything to do with politics. They are wrong about pretty much everything else.

Compassion is something we should all strive for, but idealism never works out. People will be people, and society will always have its share of sociopaths, bigots, belligerents, and the paranoid.

Not to mention that compassion, to the left, is only along their lines of tolerance.

 

[Brihaha]

They are right the problem existed long before Trump had anything to do with politics. They are wrong about pretty much everything else.

Not to mention that compassion, to the left, is only along their lines of tolerance.

I agree, trump did not invent the partisan divide. Yet we can hardly say he didn’t exacerbate our divisions. Your last statement is the exact polarized tribalism I'm talking about. The dems and republicans project their own behaviors onto the other party equally. I'm talking about a discussion to illuminate and accentuate our similarities. Like how all Americans need food and water to survive. We all want our children to feel safe in school. We all need hospitals now and again. Taking off our tribal lens with which we view the world is not easy I grant you. But finding common ground is nearly impossible if we do not even TRY. For instance, I agreed with your first statement to show we had a bit of common ground. There ARE objective truths in life. Like it is a sunny day in the Shenandoah Valley today. Or stealing is not lawful. I'm looking for folks willing to offer ways to unite us instead of more ways to divide us. Thanks for the reply. Peace

 

[public hermit]

I agree, trump did not invent the partisan divide. Yet we can hardly say he didn’t exacerbate our divisions. Your last statement is the exact polarized tribalism I'm talking about. The dems and republicans project their own behaviors onto the other party equally. I'm talking about a discussion to illuminate and accentuate our similarities. Like how all Americans need food and water to survive. We all want our children to feel safe in school. We all need hospitals now and again. Taking off our tribal lens with which we view the world is not easy I grant you. But finding common ground is nearly impossible if we do not even TRY. For instance, I agreed with your first statement to show we had a bit of common ground. There ARE objective truths in life. Like it is a sunny day in the Shenandoah Valley today. Or stealing is not lawful. I'm looking for folks willing to offer ways to unite us instead of more ways to divide us. Thanks for the reply. Peace

I agree. When it comes down to it, we agree on some very basic things since we want the same basic things. We have a better chance securing those by working together. It's the way we do it that seems to be a significant point of contention. Still, recognizing and collectively affirming our commonalities is a good start, and perhaps it is the primary basis upon which to try and go forward intelligently and with prudence.

 

[cow451]

Not to mention that compassion, to the left, is only along their lines of tolerance.

An example given for illustration?

 

[d taylor]

Believers should not be yoked with unbelievers, but in this day and age many are. Especially in the area of politics, which is a den of lies. Not really sure why a believer would seek out this.

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

 

[public hermit]

Believers should not be yoked with unbelievers, but in this day and age many are. Especially in the area of politics, which is a den of lies. Not really sure why a believer would seek out this.

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

What does being a believer have to do with the basic things we all want? Do you eat different food as a believer, drive different roads, use a different fire department? Is your toilet paper special? We all live together. We are all not believers. Still, we have many things in common that we need and want, right?

 

[d taylor]

What does being a believer have to do with the basic things we all want? Do you eat different food as a believer, drive different roads, use a different fire department? Is your toilet paper special? We all live together. We are all not believers. Still, we have many things in common that we need and want, right?

Good example of how the Bible must subject It's self to me and what i want.

 

[public hermit]

Good example of how the Bible must subject It's self to me and what i want.

How does that relate? Help me. Are you saying only believers should work together for food, and security, and the things humans share in common? Of course, you don't. You trade and work with people who are not Christian on a regular basis, as if it is the norm because it is. Stop acting like you don't depend on non-believers for all kinds of things that you enjoy. That being the case, shouldn't we work together for the common good?

 

[KeithAC]

Eight in Ten Americans are Concerned About Partisanship. Here's How to Reunite America

This idea of the Unum Test was published by Time magazine. It comes from the Latin e pluribus unum. Out of many, one. It's literally the opposite of today's tribal us vs them mentality. I found this article intriguing, as we all seem weary and tired of the stressful polarization in America today. I believe we can choose to be better, more compassionate individuals in America than we are presently. Maybe it will take a conscious effort on the part of each American citizen to behave in a more civilized, understanding way. I came to Christian Forums to avoid the counterproductive tribalism running rampant in America but the tribal culture seems to have infiltrated all aspects of our society, even here. I think discussion and admitting a problem is a good way to begin overcoming the problem. I'm just curious if anyone has ideas to toss around our collective consciences.

You want to unite America, turn off the news. The sensationalizing of every piece of information, through propaganda which comes from both sides of the political spectrum, has people blinded to the reality, save for faith based ideologies, we are more the same then different. One example, the socialist American hates capitalism because, exploitation. Conservative Americans hate corporatism, because, exploitation. We basically all just have majorly different perspectives on the same issues, based off what our chosen source of information is.

 

[Vylo]

One example, the socialist American hates capitalism because, exploitation. Conservative Americans hate corporatism, because, exploitation. We basically all just have majorly different perspectives on the same issues, based off what our chosen source of information is.

Just gonna say, when Biden got elected, most Trump supporters I knew lamented it wasn't Sanders instead.

 

[d taylor]

How does that relate? Help me. Are you saying only believers should work together for food, and security, and the things humans share in common? Of course, you don't. You trade and work with people who are not Christian on a regular basis, as if it is the norm because it is. Stop acting like you don't depend on non-believers for all kinds of things that you enjoy. That being the case, shouldn't we work together for the common good?

That was the example set in Acts with the early church. If that was not how God intended this to be, then why would the early church have functioned this way. I am not sure when this way stopped but i am sure this was the way God intended The Church to function in the world of satan.

But now you are correct it is hard to in a way, for a believer to live without having no contact with an unbeliever. And i see how that has effected the church and many believers. In ways they would have not have, if the church had remained as it was in Acts.

But i still believe a believer should make the best attempt at minimizing their yoking together with unbelievers.

 

[public hermit]

But i still believe a believer should make the best attempt at minimizing their yoking together with unbelievers.

Y'all don't have to share the same pew, just the same earth, same air, same everything else. You know as I know that if we depended on the body of Christ for the common good, and trade, and unity, and the things we need to function it would not be there for us. We can barely get a call when there is a pandemic. Isn't it strange that the body of Christ doesn't actually function as a body, but Christians want to make everyone like them. Pfft. Tell me about the honor and exclusivity of Christians when they function like Christians, then I will agree.

 

[timothyu]

The only way the US will survive being absorbed into the new world government is to maintain it's nationalism. The whole purpose of the us vs them movement that has overtaken the nation is to destabilize the country and make the transition into just another member of the new world government of Corporatism, easier as your nationalism is lost. Your president, our prime minister, the leaders of Europe and in the British commonwealth and middle East, capitalists and communists alike, the British monarchy and the Pope have all joined forces as supporting members of the new world government of Corporatism and it's Great Reset agenda and slogan of building back better (not for the people but the elite of course). Supposed enemies of old are working together for a common Corporatism cause. The corporate movement may have taken hold in the US over a century ago and destroyed small towns and the rural way of life but today it absorbs nations and their governments. Today, without the divisive attitude of the US, it will not make the transition easily. Your past existence depends on it, but it seems you are destined to just become muscle of a world order. Time to wake up and see beyond your own front yard. That is if your choice is the world of man instead of the world of God. If the latter, none of this matters as it merely marks the end of the old ways.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I like the goal and the idea, and I certainly like our original national motto better than the current official one.

But even some of the reasonable things in the essay have been pre-poisoned. One side sees 'saving the middle class' where the other sees 'SOCIAЛIЗM'.

And I think we'll continue to see in this thread why we can't all get along.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Eight in Ten Americans are Concerned About Partisanship. Here's How to Reunite America

I'm just curious if anyone has ideas to toss around our collective consciences.

"We call it the Unum Test. Here’s how it works: put partisan blinders aside and ask yourself which policies would have the long-term effect of uniting—or further dividing—our country."

I think any legislation that is not bi-partisan is counterproductive. Pushing something through just because one party has the muscle to do it will never build unity.

 

[GoodTimes]

Welcome to the internet!

 

[timothyu]

I think any legislation that is not bi-partisan is counterproductive. Pushing something through just because one party has the muscle to do it will never build unity.

Most of what is now being pushed serves a greater secular power. Time to think global to see the new reality, rather than focusing on each other.

 

[public hermit]

"We call it the Unum Test. Here’s how it works: put partisan blinders aside and ask yourself which policies would have the long-term effect of uniting—or further dividing—our country."

It's not unlike John Rawls "original position." The idea is to approach questions of justice where "...no one knows his place in society, his class position or social status, nor does anyone know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence, strength, and the like. I shall even assume that the parties do not know their conceptions of the good or their special psychological propensities. The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance."

A Theory of Justice - Wikipedia

If we approach questions of policy without reference to how it will benefit one over another, particular the benefit to ourselves, but focus on how it will deliver a common benefit, then we will see how just it really is. We have spent years focusing on groups, our own in particular, and we really need to think in terms of the common good. Division is inherently acidic to unions. Unity needs diversity, but it needs diversity that can work in some kind of harmony, I think.