Interpersonal Relationships as a Spiritual Ideal
by Laura Ellen Shulman How to strike the balance between community and individuality? Think in terms of how people live... Some folks live very self sufficiently off the land, living in the middle of nowhere. Others live in large metropolitan areas where services abound, given them by others and they too provide a service for others in their community. Some people live in closed but close knit communities (like the Amish) where conformity is all important so as to maintain that sense of community. Individuality is frowned upon. Some people live in planned communities or "subdivisions" where there are community boards that make rules and regulations regarding the appearance and upkeep of common areas (even down to the color of your front door or the type of fence you can install). I think these are too restrictive on individual freedoms but the sense of community these divisions provide is valuable. The problem with communities, whether it be where we live or our vario...