TABLE OF CONTENTS

Last Updated 3-28-08.

NOTE:A Table of Contents from the five chapters of my book Countering Polarization is available below to provide readers with the range of topics integrated together in my book. My book is available now from Xlibris' bookstore at: Countering Polarization. The book is now also available from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1 - PSYCHO-SOCIAL AND MORAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

INTRODUCTION
VARIATIONS IN CHARACTER AND GENERAL TRENDS IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
THREE TYPES OF CHARACTER FOUND IN MODERN SOCIETIES
HARDWIRING OF THE BRAIN BEFORE AGE 3
EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT - BECOMING INDEPENDENT
KEY STAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADOLESCENTS
DIFFERENT STYLES OF THINKING
BUILDING WALLS PROVIDES SECURITY AGAINST DOUBT AND DIVERSITY
THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY
THE IMPORTANCE OF RELEVANT STORIES
LEARNING TO TAKE THE PERSPECTIVE OF OTHERS
LEARNING HOW TO BE MORAL
MORAL DEVELOPMENT IS A PROCESS THAT INCLUDES SEVERAL LEVELS OF PERSPECTIVE TAKING
FROM SUBJECTIVE INVISIBLE SELF TO OBJECTIVE VISIBLE SELF
GLOBALIZATION OF COMMUNICATION
EIGHT LEVELS OF PERSPECTIVE TAKING
PERSPECTIVE TAKING IS ESSENTIAL TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
CONCLUSIONS

CHAPTER 2 - A FOUNDATION FOR VIEWING RELIGION AND GOVERNANCE AS SOCIETAL INSTITUTIONS IN A CHANGING WORLD

INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSIONS SOMETIMES END IN POLARIZATION OF THE PARTICIPANTS
UNCONSCIOUS NEEDS
PERSONAL IDENTITY CRISES
SOCIETAL TRANSITION CRISES
THE BOOMER GENERATION
VARIATIONS IN BELIEFS, DOGMAS AND CONSTRUCTIONS OF REALITY
IMAGES OF GOD - TRANSCENDENT, WITHIN EACH OF US, AND/OR IN HEAVEN
INTRODUCTION TO ASPECTS OF SPIRITUALITY
YOUTH AT THE TURN OF THIS MILLENIUM
APPROACHES TO DIVERSITY AND CRITICAL THINKING AMONG THE THREE ABRAHAMIC FAITHS
JEWISH APPROACHES TO CRITICAL THINKING AND TOWARD THOSE WHO FOLLOW OTHER FAITHS
CHRISTIAN APPROACHES TO CRITICAL THINKING AND TOWARD THOSE WHO FOLLOW OTHER FAITHS
APPROACHES OF ISLAM TO CRITICAL THINKING AND TOWARD THOSE WHO FOLLOW OTHER FAITHS
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT DIFFERENT USES OF CRITICAL THINKING

CHAPTER 3 - TRUE RELIGIOUS PLURALISM

INTRODUCTION
BASIC VALUES OF MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS
DIVERSITY
EFFECTS OF ASSIMILATION ON IMMIGRANTS TO AMERICA
INTERACTIONS AMONG POLITICAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS A BRIEF HISTORY OF GOVERNANCE
OBSTACLES TO INCREASING THE SIZE OF COMMUNITIES
DIFFERENCES IN APPROACHES TO RELIGION BY MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS
EXTREMISTS AND CAUSES OF MILITANCY
FUNDAMENTALISM IS A WORD OF MANY MEANINGS
WHY DO THEY HATE US?
IMPORTANT CULTURAL DIFFERENCE - HONOR, GUILT, AND SHAME
IS THERE HOPE OF INCREASING TOLERANCE IN UNCERTAIN TIMES?
THE IMPORTANCE OF STORIES THAT DESCRIBE HOW OTHERS LIVE
STORIES AND TRADITIONS NEED UPDATING AND REINTERPRETATION
ADAPTING SACRED STORIES TO SOCIO-CULTURAL CHANGE
WHOSE STORIES SHOULD A PERSON BELIEVE?
CHANGES RESULTING FROM INCREASES IN DIVERSITY
ORGANIZING THE FOREGOING INTO SYSTEMS USEFUL FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT
CONCLUSIONS

CHAPTER 4 - MORE EFFECTIVE PEACEMAKING

INTRODUCTION
PEACEMAKING, RECONCILIATION, AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
EXAMPLES OF INCREASING THE SCALE OF JUSTICE SYSTEMS
EFFECTIVE AND FAIR SYSTEMS OF JUSTICE ARE ESSENTIAL BUILDING BLOCKS TOWARD PEACE
INCREASING SCALES OF GOVERNANCE CREATE NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR SYSTEMS OF JUSTICE
CHANGING INFORMATION CONTEXTS - COMMUNICATION NOW PENETRATES EVERYWHERE IN A MATTER OF SECONDS
A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE - INTERCOMMUNITY COMPETITION AND CONFLICT
INSTITUTIONS AND INCREASING SCALES OF COMMITMENT
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL NONVIOLENT ACTIONS LED BY CHARISMATIC PEOPLE WITH HOLISTIC WORLDVIEWS
PEACEMAKING OFTEN ENTAILS CULTURAL CHANGE
STRENGTHENING SOCIAL CAPITAL
HOW YOUTH ARE EDUCATED IS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION
THE INTERNET CAN HELP DIALOGUE AND LEARNING RELATED TO PEACEMAKING
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FEAR
ALTRUISM AND PEACEMAKING
CONCLUSIONS
RECENT BOOKS, POSTINGS, AND CHAPTERS THAT ARE HELPFUL

CHAPTER 5 - PEACEMAKING AND CONCLUSIONS.

INTRODUCTION
IDEAS ON PEACEMAKING GENERATED BY MARC GOPIN AND R. SCOTT APPLEBY
THE AMERICAN EMPIRE, GLOBAL CORPORATIONS, AND CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHURCHES
SPIRITUALITY IN PERSONS AND IN SOCIETAL INSTITUTIONS
HADITH RELATED TO PEACEMAKING
WORKING FOR PEACE
RELATING THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE COMPLEX OF SYSTEMS IN WHICH WE ALL ARE EMBEDDED
COMPONENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR BUILDING MUTUAL TRUST AND PEACE IN A DIVERSE INTERCONNECTED WORLD
BROADENING THE EDUCATION OF OUR YOUNG AND BRIDLING COMPETITION
CONCLUSIONS

EPILOGUE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDIX 1 - OUTLINE ON PEACEMAKING FROM RAUF’S BOOK WHAT’S RIGHT WITH ISLAM

APPENDIX 2 - A CHECKLIST FOR CONSIDERATION OF INTERRELATIONS AMONG MAJOR COMPONENTS OF SOCIETAL SYSTEMS

NOTES