David Korten, probably best known for his work on YES Magazine was a presenter during this morning’s Role of Communities of Faith and the New Economy.  Korten mentioned that of all the activity happening in this area, the interfaith activities are at the heart of it all.  He mentioned that any faith community brings with it the moral, ethical, and spiritual stories necessary to envision and create a new way of conducting human affairs.

http://livingeconomiesforum.org/great-turning

Science that excludes religion and our present neo-economic systems are examples of a faith-based organization that has been subjected to corruption and as a result, advances the over consumption of our valuable resources.  With our present world’s condition of exploitation and resource depletion, we have to, of a necessity, reach a balance for our future generations.  A new economy that places people and especially the earth, at the center of all systems.  Korten mentioned that in our present system, people have limited power and rights…corporations have more power and legal rights.  Nature has none and is the reason for its exploitation for profit and gain. 

Korten places great value on the retelling of stories – stories about new ways to operate.  A present story being advanced is the one that says “if you don’t have money, you’re dead”.  Humans are effected by stories, can envision how the stories impact them, and can be used to create workable and just systems for all concerned.  He believes that the popular culture tends to "zombify" people into not only accepting the things the way they are but also, make decisions the have dire consequences for all living things.