Beyond Individualism - (Religion, Culture, and Public Life) by George Rupp (Hardcover)

About the Book

The noted humanitarian and educator urges Western societies to engage with the core commitments of traditional communities.

Book Synopsis

In many places around the world, relations between ethnic and religious groups that for long periods coexisted more or less amicably are now fraught with aggression and violence. This trend has profound international implications, threatening efforts to narrow the gap between rich and poor. Underscoring the need for sustained action, George Rupp urges the secular West to reckon with the continuing power of religious conviction and embrace the full extent of the world's diversity.

While individualism is a powerful force in Western cultures and a cornerstone of Western foreign policy, it elicits strong resistance in traditional communities. Drawing on decades of research and experience, Rupp pushes modern individualism beyond its foundational beliefs to recognize the place of communal practice in our world. Affirming the value of communities and the productive role religion plays in many lives, he advocates new solutions to such global challenges as conflicts in the developing world, income inequality, climate change, and mass migration.

Review Quotes

A powerful yet simple message emanates from this philosophical book.--Aminul Hoque "Times Higher Education"

In this slim volume [Rupp] offers insights about the increasingly interconnected yet individualistic world, and concludes that greater inclusion can be pragmatic and does not require homogeneity, a principle that can be embraced by both the religious and secularists.--Susan Froetschel "YaleGlobal"

Rupp offers an accessible and well-reasoned contribution to debates on the role of religion and community.-- "Publishers Weekly"

Beyond Individualism is a wonderfully accessible and personal meditation on the human desire to be part of something greater than oneself. Rupp's own experiences at places ranging from educational institutions to post-conflict communities around the world are a wonderful backdrop for examining how we can embrace diversity within communities of conviction--Helene D. Gayle, president and CEO, CARE USA

Essential reading for leadership and citizenship in today's complex world of religious and cultural difference. As scholar, administrator, and activist, Rupp has seen the crisis of community first-hand, and offers readers a timely proposal for ethical, informed leadership in a global context.--Diana Eck, professor of comparative religion and Indian studies, Harvard University

George Rupp's vision comes in the nick of time for a world crowded with competing cultures. His philosophical scholarship combines with hard experience as an international humanitarian to reveal how our differences can be our salvation on a path to a just and inclusive future.--Scott Pelley, anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News

Rupp brings a lifetime of thought and action to this passionate exploration of one of the biggest challenges faced by countries both large and small. The issues he raises are for all of us to ponder and act upon.--David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee and former Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom

Rupp writes with great clarity and wisdom, and also with unmistakable moral conviction about issues with which he has direct personal engagement. Beyond Individualism is a book of passionate advocacy.--David N. Hempton, dean, Harvard Divinity School

About the Author

George Rupp has served as dean of Harvard Divinity School and as president of Rice University, Columbia University, and the International Rescue Committee. As an activist and educator, he is committed to shaping fair institutions and building inclusive communities in both the developed and the developing worlds. His articles have appeared in the New York Times and the Washington Post, and he is the author of five books, most recently Globalization Challenged: Conviction, Conflict, Community.