HOW TO OVERCOME THE PATRIARCHAL MINDSET

It is not easy, but it is simple: renounce violence, embrace non-violence. Since violence is the fuel that keeps all the patriarchal reinforcement loops going, it follows that renouncing violence would deprive those loops of the fuel they need to keep going. When the patriarchal reinforcement loops are no longer dominant, then the solidarity-sustainability loops can gain strength and even become dominant, and healing from the triple addiction will commence. Healing of the triple addiction will make possible a radical shift from consumerism to human development, and this will further weaken the patriarchal mindset. Who would want to regress from homo solidarius to homo economicus? Who would want to regress from homo solidarius to homo violentus?

This brings back to mind the issue of gender balance. Mahatma Gandhi had the courage to share the following insight: "Nonviolence is the inherent quality of women. For ages men have trained in violence. In order for them to become nonviolent they have to cultivate the qualities of women. Ever since I have taken to nonviolence, I have become more and more of a woman." But it is not a matter of having a few women around for decoration. Effective gender balance requires (as a goal) to have 50% of all roles of authority on earth (both secular and religious) in the hands of women. As Bishop Penelope Jamieson has pointed out [07]: