Resistance

Written on: May 3, 2017

In psychological terms, resistance is recognized as an inability to accept something I have not integrated into my own definition of self. The word ‘resistance’ takes on a negative context when an outside person such as a parent or other authority figure attempts to impose change upon another individual. We say that someone is “resistant to change” or “resists” my noble interference.

Today, across the globe, many people are feeling deep resistance within themselves about a variety of social situations. Many of these social injustices stem from the imposition of a worldview from some outside authority that doesn’t match the interior definitions within the Self. Whether I am defined by my gender, sexuality, color, country of origin, religion or social status, I may feel ‘resistance’ to what is perceived as an affront to my dignity as an individual and as a person who is a member of one of these groups. This is then, a positive experience of resistance. The gut-feeling that something is wrong in the way things are being defined; in the way I am being defined, by people who ‘think they know.’ The term we use for this injustice on a global scale is Social Sin.

Sister Susan Francois, CSJP, has written a powerful theological reflection for the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) addressing the topics of resistance and social sin, under the Conference’s Global Concerns Committee.

As we engage with the movements of resistance emerging in our global and local communities, we have a transformative role to play as women religious rooted in the Gospel.

We encourage your reading of the article attached here:  Resistance- Susan Francois.

This entry was posted in With a Heart for Justice and tagged: global concerns, Gospel, LCWR, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, resistance, social sin, Susan Francois CSJP