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The Future
of Europe: Spiritual Values and Citizenship (4)
Discussion: WHAT ARE ‘SPIRITUAL’ VALUES?
Contents:
•
Do
the shared spiritual values of Quakerism give us a common political
outlook?
•
To
think about: What is the role of religion and religious groups in
the governance of a diverse, multi-cultural society?
•
Other Papers in this Series
Do
the shared spiritual values of Quakerism give us a common political
outlook?
One of
the aims of this project is to “inspire reflection
and debate among Quakers on the connections between the spiritual
and ethical values of Quakerism and the ‘European values’
which underpin European governance”. We want to
find out whether Quakers hold similar views of European integration,
or if our common spiritual experience and values allow us to diverge
when it comes to the application of these values at the political
level. The Convention on the Future of Europe (see Briefing Paper
1: The Future of Europe Debate) provides an opportunity for the
reassessment and redefinition of the values which underpin the European
Union. This opportunity is open to everyone in Europe; we, as European
Quakers, have to tell the Convention what values we want our European
society to uphold. The
‘spiritual values’ in the name of the project are at
the heart of the debate and reflection which we aim to encourage.
What are the spiritual values of Quakerism? Consider the Quaker
commitment to the testimonies of peace, equality, simplicity and
integrity. It could be said that these are Quaker values, that Quakers
believe in these values and try to be true to them in their lives.
These are values that can be applied to governance; European institutions
should promote respect for these values in all their work and policies.
The
current values of the EU can be difficult to understand, as there
is no single statement of objectives and values. However, this could
change if the Convention comes up with a ‘constitutional text’
which may include such a statement. For now, the values of the EU
are hidden away in the various Treaties (see Briefing Paper
3: Aims and Values of the EU). Historically, the EU was set
up with the aim of preventing conflict in Europe, through the means
of economic co-operation. Gradually, the EU has moved from being
simply an economic community to what some have described as a ‘community
of values’. The most concise statement of these fundamental
values can be in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU,
a document currently without legal force, but which could possibly
be used as the basis for the potential ‘constitutional text’.
The Charter states that “the [European] Union is founded on
the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality
and solidarity; it is based on the principles of democracy and the
rule of law.”
It
can be seen that the EU is an organisation set up to create the
conditions for peace and which claims to uphold equality. One of
the aims of the Convention is to simplify existing EU structures
and institutions, to make these easier to understand and interpret
and more accessible to citizens; another aim is to make the EU more
democratic, including greater accountability and transparency. So
far it seems that the four Quaker values outlined above are to some
extent incorporated into EU objectives.
However,
there are problems with this analysis. The Quaker commitment to
the testimonies is deeper than the simple affirmation that these
values are important. It is not enough that the EU is a mechanism
for the democratic and peaceful resolution of conflicts within and
between member states; it must also work for the resolution and
prevention of violent conflict elsewhere in the world, including
in its trade and development policies. The commitment to equality
expressed in the Charter of Fundamental Rights must be
fully applied to all people resident within the EU, including refugees,
asylum seekers and migrants, not just those who are citizens of
the member countries. It must also influence policy towards the
rest of the world.
These
are just two areas where Quakers can and should push for a deeper
application of the expressed values of the EU. However, while our
commitment to the values of peace and equality comes from our spiritual
experience, can these values really be called ‘spiritual’
values? Is the Quaker promotion of equality different to that of
a secular NGO? If we are promoting similar values to other groups,
why should we make such statements as Quakers, rather than simply
as concerned human beings?
These
are the questions that are fundamental to this project. We want
to identify the values that are of importance to Quakers and to
come up with concrete ways in which these values can be incorporated
into the work of the EU. However, in addition to this we want to
explore whether Quakers have a unique contribution to make. Does
the spiritual source of our social commitments give these commitments
more weight? Does it differentiate us from the many secular groups
working for peace, equality and social justice?
Perhaps
these types of questions miss the point slightly. Perhaps the unique
Quaker contribution is not in the substantive values which we uphold.
Of course, we should continue to push for these values to be respected
and work together with other NGOs and other faith-based groups to
do this. Perhaps we should focus more on processes. Quakers have
always understood the connection between spiritual conviction and
political action. It is not that we necessarily promote different
values, but that the conviction to act has a different source.
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To
think about: What is the role of religion and religious groups in
the governance of a diverse, multi-cultural society?
“
‘Politics’ cannot be relegated to some outer place, but
must be recognised as one side of life, which is as much the concern
of religious people and of a religious body as any other part of life.
Nay, more than this, the ordering of the life of man in a community,
so that he may have the chance of a full development, is and always
has been one of the main concerns of Quakerism.”
Lucy F Morland, 1919, as quoted in BYM Quaker Faith & Practice,
23.06 “What
is important is that institutions and their administration be constantly
tested against human values, and that those who are concerned about
these values be prepared to grapple with the complex realities of
modern society
as it is.”
BYM Quaker Faith & Practice, 23.47
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Other
Papers in this Series
(1)
The Future of Europe Debate HTML
PDF (39kb)
(2)
The European Union: Institutions and Structures HTML
PDF (60kb)
(3)
Aims and Values of the EUs HTML
PDF (36kb)
(5)
Discussion: The European Union and Civil Society HTML
PDF (45kb)
(6)
Discussion:
The European Union in World Politics HTML
PDF (46kb)
(7)
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