Book Description

“In this stirring call to arms, the activist, spiritual leader, and New York Times bestselling author of the classic A Return to Love confronts the cancerous politics of fear and divisiveness threatening the United States today, urging all spiritually aware Americans to return to—and act out of—our deepest value: love.

America’s story is one of great social achievement. From the Abolitionists who fought to outlaw slavery, to the Suffragettes who championed women’s right to vote, to the Civil Rights proponents who battled segregation and institutionalized white supremacy, to the proponents of the women’s movement and gay rights seeking equality for all, citizens for generations have risen up to fulfill the promise of our nation. Over the course of America’s history, these activists have both embodied and enacted the nation’s deepest values.

Today, America once again is in turmoil. A spiritual cancer of fear threatens to undo the progress we have achieved. Discord and hatred are dissolving our communal bonds and undermining the spirit of social responsibility—the duty we feel toward one another. In this powerful spiritual manifesto, Marianne Williamson offers a tonic for this cultural malignancy. She urges us to imitate the heroes of our past and live out our deepest spiritual commitment: where some have sown hatred, let us now sow love.

Williamson argues that we must do more than respond to external political issues. We must address the deeper, internal causes that have led to this current dysfunction. We need a new, whole-person politics of love that stems not just from the head but from the heart, not just from intellectual understanding but from a genuine affection for one another. By committing to love, we will make a meaningful contribution to the joyful, fierce, and disruptive energies that are rising at this critical point in time. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “we must think anew, and act anew . . . and then we shall save our country.”

Book reviews available, including from audible and goodreads.

Reflection Questions

• What is my biggest takeaway from “A Politics of Love”?
• What did I learn about American systems?
• How are youth suffering in this country and what is the cost of chronic trauma (as described by Marianne)?
• What did I learn about the history of post-reconstruction in America?
• What are my understandings of the immigrant story in this country?
• What are my thoughts on cultivating peace rather than investing more money in war? Reflect on Marianne’s discussion on war and peace in the 21^st century.
• Do I agree with Marianne’s vision of a politics of love? Why or why not?
• How can I engage in local politics or in an issue or cause that I care about?
• How will I feel when I participate in positive change?

Learning Resources

• Peaceful Readers “Politics of Love” Information Sheet
• Peaceful Readers “Politics of Love” Presentation
• “On Politics and Morality” YouTube video (2:27)
• “We Can Turn Love into a Political Force” YouTube video (4:50)
• “Marianne Williamson Speaks about a ‘Politics of Love’ in Los Angeles” YouTube video (28:58)
• “A Politics of Love” YouTube video (34:52)
• “A Politics of Love: Handbook for a New American Revolution” YouTube video (1:04:39)
• “A Politics of Love & Belonging” YouTube video (1:24:37)
• “The Politics of LOVE” YouTube video (1:45:09)

Action Recommendations

• Commit to a daily spiritual practice.
• Learn more about American history and civic education.
• Learn more about social justice movements and revolutionary community organizers.
• Learn more about “trickle-down economics” and how this system impacts average Americans today.
• Learn about trauma and its effects on the body, mind, and soul.
• Learn how to heal your nervous system and the impact of past trauma.
• Learn more about African American history in the US.
• Learn more about the current refugee crisis in the world and how it directly impacts US immigration.
• Learn more about the military industrial complex and the big business of weapons and defense contractors.
• Watch the videos found in Learning Resources above and continue to engage with this material.
• Commit to taking action in your local community.
• Discuss what you learned from the book with friends and/or family.