IFS Exercise
The Essene Gospel of Peace &
Love’s Breath Session
Tuesday – Friday@ 6:30 PM ET
Zoom Link :
https://MiamiNetwork.org/zoom
Open to everyone.
Understanding this could greatly reduce human suffering.
https://empathymatters.org/now/ifs-spirit/
Some people interpret the story of Jesus Christ as a spiritual metaphor for the inner psychological journey toward wholeness, which aligns with key concepts of Richard Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems (IFS) model. In this metaphorical view, Jesus can be seen as the Self, while his disciples and other figures represent the psyche’s various parts.
The IFS framework
Developed by Richard Schwartz, IFS posits that the mind is made up of multiple “parts” (sub-personalities). A core concept is the compassionate, wise, and undamaged “Self” that exists at the core of every individual. The goal of IFS therapy is to help a person become “Self-led,” so the Self can heal the individual’s wounded and protective parts.
Parallels between the Jesus story and IFS
- Jesus as the Self: In the IFS framework, the Self is a compassionate, wise, and healing presence. Some interpretations view Jesus in a similar way:
- He is the center of the system. Like the IFS Self, Jesus is the leader and compassionate core around which the other figures (parts) revolve.
- He is a source of healing. Jesus’s miracles can be seen as a metaphor for the Self’s ability to heal and unburden the traumatized parts of the psyche.
- He exemplifies wholeness. The death of Jesus and his resurrection can be interpreted as the death of the ego (the false self) and the subsequent resurrection of the true, whole Self.
- The Disciples as Protective Parts: The twelve disciples can be seen as an inner “family” of parts, each with its own role, strengths, and fears.
- Peter as the Manager: Peter is often impulsive, outspoken, and attempts to protect Jesus, even to the point of denial and resistance. This mirrors a “manager” part in IFS, which uses controlling behavior to preemptively prevent pain and maintain a sense of order.
- Judas as the Exile: Judas’s betrayal and subsequent despair can be viewed as a deeply wounded and exiled part that feels unlovable and acts out its pain.
- The other disciples: The varying strengths, jealousies, and weaknesses of the other disciples represent the full range of human experience contained within an internal system.
- The Path of Healing and Integration: The larger narrative of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection parallels the IFS process of healing and integration:
- Calling the parts: Jesus calls his disciples to follow him, much like the Self in IFS “calls” the different parts to engage in the healing process.
- Witnessing the wounded parts: Just as Jesus models radical compassion for all people, the Self in IFS must witness its wounded parts with gentleness, curiosity, and non-judgment.
- Unburdening the pain: The suffering and sacrifice of the cross can be seen as a metaphorical unburdening of all the pain and sin (the burdens in IFS) that the internal parts are carrying.
- Achieving Self-Leadership: The story’s ultimate goal is for the disciples to become like Jesus, just as the IFS goal is for the parts to learn to trust the Self to lead the system, leading to greater inner peace and wholeness.
Potential Similarities and Connections:
Compassion and Unconditional Positive Regard: Both Jesus and the Self, as understood in IFS, are often characterized by deep compassion and unconditional positive regard. Jesus’s teachings emphasized love and forgiveness, even for those who persecuted him. Similarly, the Self in IFS is believed to possess inherent wisdom, compassion, and acceptance for all parts of the system, even those that exhibit seemingly negative behaviors.Healing and Integration: Jesus’s ministry often involved healing the sick and offering solace to the suffering. In a similar vein, the Self in IFS aims to heal and integrate the wounded parts of the internal system. By connecting with the Self, individuals can offer compassion and understanding to their parts, allowing them to release burdens and find healthier roles.Inner Authority and Wisdom: Jesus spoke with authority and wisdom, often challenging societal norms and offering a new perspective. The Self in IFS is also considered to be a source of inner wisdom and guidance. When individuals are Self-led, they can access their innate capacity for clarity, creativity, and effective action.Sacrifice and Redemption: The concept of sacrifice is central to the Jesus Christ story, particularly his willingness to suffer for the sake of humanity. While IFS doesn’t necessarily emphasize sacrifice in the same way, it does involve a willingness to acknowledge and understand the pain of one’s parts, even if it’s uncomfortable. This act of witnessing and validating can be seen as a form of “redemption” for those parts, allowing them to release their burdens and find healing.Important Distinctions and Considerations:
There are diverse theological interpretations of the Jesus Christ story. Some interpretations may align more closely with IFS principles than others.The Nature of the Self: In IFS, the Self is considered an inherent aspect of every individual,In summary:
There are indeed potential similarities and connections between the Jesus Christ story and the Self in IFS, particularly in terms of compassion, healing, inner wisdom, and the potential for redemption. However, it’s essential to approach this comparison with nuance and awareness of the distinct frameworks within which they operate.Sources:
Understanding this could greatly reduce human suffering.
https://empathymatters.org/now/ifs-spirit/
https://empathymatters.org/now/how-evil-triumphs
- Jesus as the Self: In the IFS framework, the Self is a compassionate, wise, and healing presence. Some interpretations view Jesus in a similar way:
Article by: Gord Alton MDiv RP CASC Supervisor-Educator
“In summary, (see link below)… I have attempted to help you see how the evidence-based framework of the Internal Family System brings new understandings to how Christians can understand the inner conflict found within our soul. IFS helps us see our Divine nature differently. Seen through the IFS lens, our Divine nature is not the Mind part of us that seeks to manage our fallen or sinful nature. Rather, our Divine nature is the dynamic of the indwelling Christ that resides within us right from the day we are born. Within IFS, the dynamic of the Self echoes of the Indwelling Christ dynamic and follows many of the ways we, as Christians, understand the Spirit of Christ interacting with our lives. Much more can be said about this connection between IFS and Christianity. What excites me as a Christian psychotherapist is that through IFS we now have a contemporary evidence-based psycho-spiritual model that can help us, as Christians, along with the Bible, Christian history, and various Christian theologies, to understand how prayer and spiritual healing and transformation actually happen through the dynamics of the Indwelling Christ.
Gord Alton MDiv RP CASC Supervisor-Educator
Understanding this could greatly reduce human suffering.
https://empathymatters.org/now/ifs-spirit/
The Research:
The Research:
RESEARCH: Randomized Clinical Trial on IFS treatment for PTSD
This study is being conducted at a Harvard-affiliated Cambridge Health Alliance community mental health center, led by an IFS Level 2-trained addiction psychiatrist, Zev Schuman-Olivier, MD. Dr. Schuman-Olivier, is Director for the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Medical Director for Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, faculty member in Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Clinical Core for NCCIH’s only P01 center grant focused on mind-body mechanisms for chronic pain.
IFS Shown to Reduce PTSD Symptoms in a Sample of Patients with Complex Trauma
“IFS Therapy for the Treatment of PTSD and Complex Trauma” was the first study funded by the Foundation back in 2014. Led by Hilary Hodgdon, PhD, at the Trauma Center, Justice Research Institute in Brookline, MA, USA, the study—an uncontrolled, feasibility pilot—sought to assess the efficacy of IFS on patient outcomes. Multiple validated scales were administered, including the IFS adherence scale. Certified IFS therapists were involved in providing the treatment and received clinical supervision from Frank Anderson, MD, and Richard Schwartz, PhD.
The results showed that IFS therapy had significantly positive effects on adults with PTSD and histories of exposure to multiple forms of childhood trauma. Following the sessions, PTSD and depressive symptoms were significantly reduced, with an overall time effect observed. Notably, at the one-month follow-up assessment, 92% of participants no longer met criteria for PTSD.
In 2021 the research paper was published by the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, a peer-reviewed journal for practitioners in this field. The full article is available here.
NREPP accepted and recognized IFS Therapy as an evidence-based modality
In the second half of 2014 and following an independent, rigorous review, the National Registry of Evidence-based Practices and Programs (NREPP), accepted for review a comprehensive application by the Foundation for Self Leadership, prepared on behalf of The Center for Self Leadership and the community. The application was a formal request to consider IFS Therapy as an evidence-based psychotherapeutic modality. The application had been submitted in early 2014 and was included in a new cohort of applicants subject to some new NREPP guidelines for review.
NREPP, which was an entity operating within the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), had engaged private researchers to review all submissions independently and conduct a two-tier rigorous evaluation, examining the quality of the research about IFS, which had to be based on a randomized clinical trial (RCT), and the capacity to disseminate the named modality.
The application revolved around a proof-of-concept RCT study, completed and published in a peer-review research journal, by Nancy Shadick, MD, MPH; Nancy Sowell, MSW, LICSW; and collaborators. The full article is available here.
In late 2015, the Foundation was notified that NREPP accepted and recognized IFS Therapy as an evidence-based modality. See story on the Foundation’s website and the announcement to the IFS community at the 2015 IFS Conference.
As a clinical treatment, it was independently confirmed that IFS Therapy leads to five outcomes, one effective and four promising. The outcomes covered areas of efficacy that appeared to deal with positive effects on body, mind, and spirit—among them: improving general functioning and well-being, reducing depression and depressive symptoms, and improving resilience and self-concept
Through the following link, the full posting of the SAMSHA-NREPP is presented verbatim as it had appeared on NREPP.SAMHSA.Gov.
Additional empirical evidence and resources
An accessible summary of significant completed research studies can be found at the IFS Institute website here.
The Foundation has created an annotated publication database which can be found under the Resources tab on our site or accessed here.
Key Findings from Peer-Reviewed IFS Research
Many comprehensive studies and reviews on IFS have been published in journals through Taylor & Francis Online.
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Online Group-Based Internal Family Systems Treatment for PTSD: Feasibility and Acceptability of Program for Alleviating and Resolving Trauma and Stress (PARTS)
Internet Addiction and Efficacy of IFS
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Survivors of Multiple Childhood Trauma: A Pilot Effectiveness Study
MDMA and PTSD STUDIES
The Efficacy Of Internal Family Systems Therapy In The Treatment Of Depression Among Female College Students: A Pilot Study
IFS Shown to Reduce Pain and Depression, and Improve Physical Function for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
IFS Scale
IFS Glossary of Terms
IFS Bibliography, APA Style
- Read more
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https://ifs-institute.com/resources/research
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RESEARCH
Böckler, A. & Herrmann, L, Trautwein, F., Holmes, T. & Singer, T. (2017). Know thy selves: Learning to understand oneself increases the ability to understand others. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 1(2), 197-209, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-017-0023-6.
Engert, V., Kok, B., Papassotiriou, I., Chrousos, G. P., & Singer, T. (2017, November 20). Specific reduction in cortisol stress reactivity after social but not attention-based mental training. Science Advances. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700495
Haddock, S. A., Weiler, L. M., Trump, L. J., & Henry, K. L. (2016). The Efficacy of Internal Family Systems Therapy in the Treatment of Depression Among Female College Students: A Pilot Study. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 43(1), 131-144. doi:10.1111/jmft.12184
Lumma, A., Böckler, A., Vrticka, P., & Singer, T. (2017). Who am I? Differential effects of three contemplative mental trainings on emotional word use in self-descriptions. Self and Identity, 16(5), 607-628. doi:10.1080/15298868.2017.1294107
Mithoefer, M. (Spring 2013). MDMA-assisted psychotherapy: How different is it from other psychotherapy? MAPS Bulletin, Special Edition, Spring 2013. http://www.maps.org/news-letters/v23n1/v23n1_p10-14.pdf
Shadick, N. A., Sowell, N. F., Frits, M. L., Hoffman, S. M., Hartz, S. A., Booth, F. D., … Schwartz, R. C. (2013). A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Internal Family Systems-based Psychotherapeutic Intervention on Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Proof-of-Concept Study. The Journal of Rheumatology, 40(11), 1831-1841. doi:10.3899/jrheum.121465
DISSERTATIONS
Link to Zotero database – https://www.zotero.org/groups/4985243/empirical_studies_on_ifs__internal_family_systems__-_a_comprehensive_database
Amalu, C. (2023). An Analysis of Internal Family Systems Therapeutic Factors From the Perspective of the Catholic Christian Meta-Model of the Person (Publication No. 2919616218) [Doctoral dissertation, Divine Mercy University]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Carter, S. M. (1998). A Study of the Internal Family Systems Model Applied to Remarried Couples of Stepfamilies in Different Stages of Adjustment (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Cooper, B. A. (1999). The Use of Internal Family Systems Therapy to Treat Issues of Biracial Identity Development. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). International University, San Diego, California.
Davis, S. D. (2005). Common and Model-Specific Factors: What Marital Therapy Model Developers, Their Former Students, and Their Clients Say About Change (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Krug, J. A. (2012). Mediating Inner Conflict: A Qualitative Study on the Relationship-Building Process with One’s Subpersonalities (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, California.
Martin N. P. (2014). Understanding Aspects of the Self and Psychological Outcomes (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia.
McVicker, S. A. M. (2017). Cherokee American Voices in Concept Analysis of Self-In-Relationship through Narrative; Theme; Metaphor; Internal Family Systems (IFS). (Doctoral dissertation published in open access). Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California.
Nehring, K. A. (1997). The Metaframeworks Approach to Treatment Of A Family In Therapy (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, Illinois.
Reed, Daniel K (2019). Internal Family Systems Informed Supervision: A Grounded Theory Inquiry St. Mary’s University University, San Antonio, Texas.
Shelton, S. Z. (2012). The Greatest Love of All: Rewriting Mother/Daughter Mythic Imprints (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, California.
Schlief, M. L. (2014). Adaptation of the Internal Family Systems Model Among Analytically-Trained Therapists (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, Newton, MA. https://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/1625386617.html?FMT=ABS
Sokil, L. (1999). An Ethnography of Choice: Active Imagination in the Service of Self-Directed Change (Unpublished masters thesis). Concordia University, Canada.
IFS Exercise
The Essene Gospel of Peace &
Love’s Breath Session
Tuesday – Friday@ 6:30 PM ET
Zoom Link :
https://MiamiNetwork.org/zoom
Open to everyone.
“Imagine living on a planet where the rich get richer by indoctrinating the people to follow ancient dogma, repeating an ancient doctrine of genocide projected onto innocent children, again and again, the rich get richer, and the children receive brutal indoctrination instead of Living Their Sacred Free & Joyful Life.
Secret History: How Evil Triumphs:
..::”Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of people who are oppressing them.
~Assata Shakur ❤️
“All war is a symptom
of man’s failure
as a thinking animal.”
War is not an inevitable outcome, but a result of man’s proud refusal to use reason, dialogue, and empathy to explore strategies that meet everyone’s needs.
It implies that resorting to fear and violence is a regression from our natural potential for peaceful thought, and that peaceful solutions are the hallmark of a truly evolved, intelligent species.
A failure of reason: The quote proposes that war is a failure of human intellect because it replaces rational problem-solving with physical aggression rooted in a mentality of domination.
A symptom, not a cause: Steinbeck frames war as a symptom of a deeper human failing—the refusal to resolve disputes through more thoughtful means like diplomacy and understanding.
An appeal to higher potential: The quote serves as a challenge to humanity, encouraging the elevation of our thinking beyond fear and conflict toward a more peaceful life on Earth.
War is not a sign of strength: In this view, war is a sign of weakness in the ability to manage fear, resulting in destructive reactions over a selfish, feverish. squeamish, fear of sharing.
“Hurt people hurt people.”
… “That’s how pain patterns get passed on, generation after generation after generation. Break the chain today. Meet anger with sympathy, contempt with compassion, cruelty with kindness. Greet grimaces with smiles. Forgive and forget about finding fault. Love is the weapon of the future.” ~Yehuda Berg
The full quote expands on this idea, suggesting that to break the cycle, one should meet anger with sympathy, contempt with compassion, and cruelty with kindness.
This concept suggests that individuals who have experienced pain or trauma may unconsciously pass on that hurt to others, creating a cycle that can only be broken through a conscious choice to respond with compassion and forgiveness.
The core idea: People who are in pain tend to inflict pain on others, passing on negative patterns across generations.
The solution: The quote proposes a path to break this cycle.
Meet anger with sympathy.
Respond to contempt with compassion.
Counter cruelty with kindness.
Let go of the need to find fault and practice forgiveness.
The outcome: The quote ends with the powerful statement, “Love is the weapon of the future,” suggesting that love and compassion are the tools to stop this cycle.
Yehuda Berg: was born in Israel, is the author of many books on Kabbalah. He led the Kabbalah Centre with his mother, until 2014.
Philip Berg: Yehuda Berg’s father, who was an Israeli rabbi, founded the Kabbalah Centre in Israel and then moved to the United States.
Yehuda Berg grew up in a Jewish environment and received a kabbalistic education by his father and an orthodox rabbinic ordination from a rabbinic seminary in Israel. As an active contributor of the Kabbalah Centre since the 1990s, he has developed his own Kabbalah interpretation focusing on self-improvement and healing, and has coached many Kabbalah Centre students, including some celebrities. In 2004, Yehuda Berg became co-director of the Kabbalah Centre.
However, Yehuda Berg left the Kabbalah Teaching Centre due to a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him by a young female student in 2014. Link
..::”Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of people who are oppressing them. ~Assata Shakur
On an individual level,
healing strategies include:
- Developing self-awareness: Practices like mindfulness can help individuals perceive and witness their own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, rather than being ruled by them.
- Finding safe spaces: Processing emotional pain requires a safe environment, whether through talking with a trusted person, a support group, or a mental health professional.
- Creating a new narrative: By exploring and sharing one’s trauma story, it becomes less upsetting. This can happen through writing or speaking with trusted individuals.
- Practicing self-regulation: Techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and physical activity can help regulate the nervous system and calm the “fight, flight, or freeze” response.
- Active Choice: Individuals can choose to break the cycle by seeking healing, forgiveness, and a living relationship with Self, thereby creating a different path for their own and future generations.
Using Internal Family Systems (IFS) terminology, Matthew 6:24 illustrates the conflict of a person’s “Self” being torn between two competing “Protectors” or “Exiles”: the “God” part and the “Mammon” (MONEY/materialism) part.
A person cannot fully serve both, as each has a different agenda that creates internal conflict, forcing the Self to choose which to prioritize to avoid being overwhelmed by one’s own divided system.
This is because “Mammon/MONEY” operates as an external and potentially idolatrous “Protector” seeking security, while the “God” part represents a deeper spiritual “Witness” that can be neglected when “Mammon/MONEY” rules.
Key concepts in IFS terms
Conflicting parts:
The “God” part and the “Mammon” part are presented as two opposing managers or leaders within a person’s system. One is a part focused on spiritual and eternal things, while the other is a part focused on material wealth and security.
Protector vs. Self:
When a person tries to serve both, it’s because “Mammon/MONEY” is acting as a “Protector” part, attempting to provide a sense of safety and worth. This creates an internal conflict with the “Self,” which is the core of the person’s being that should be in charge.
Divided allegiance:
The scripture highlights that a divided heart is unsustainable. A person cannot maintain equal loyalty to two opposing “masters” because the “Protectors” demand different actions and have conflicting goals. One will be loved while the other is despised, leading to internal “hatred” or resentment.
The choice:
The choice is not between being rich and being poor, but between which part has ultimate authority. Serving God is the way to achieve ultimate security, as it allows the “Self” to be in charge, while serving “Mammon” means the “Protector” takes over and exerts control over the person’s life.
Exile and unburdening:
Choosing “God” over “Mammon” is a path of “unburdening” the “Mammon” part, as the person’s security and worth are not dependent on material possessions. This allows the “Self” to lead and the “Mammon” part to be seen as a tool rather than the master.
If we, the people want Peace:
“So what prevents Peace Now?
Unconscious, unhealed trauma projected onto “others”.
AI REPLY:
The idea that unconscious, unhealed trauma is a key barrier to peace suggests that external conflicts often mirror internal struggles. When individuals and groups carry unresolved emotional pain, they may project that pain onto “others,” creating cycles of misunderstanding, fear, and violence. This concept can be applied to both interpersonal relationships and large-scale international conflicts.
How unconscious, unhealed trauma prevents peace:
- Creates a cycle of aggression: People “at war with themselves” often cause collateral damage to those around them. Unhealed pain can manifest as anger, insecurity, and a need for control, which can be projected onto others who then feel hurt and react defensively. In group settings, this dynamic escalates, turning shame and rage into collective cycles of violence.
- Impairs perception and communication: Unresolved trauma shapes how people see and react to the world, often triggering a “fight, flight, or freeze” response. In a state of hypervigilance, ordinary situations can be perceived as threatening, causing a breakdown in communication and a loss of control.
- Leads to demonization of the “other”: A key part of the projection process involves assigning one’s own unwanted feelings or aspects of trauma to another person or group. This “demonization” turns the other party into an enemy and is a dangerous foundation for further conflict and bloodshed.
- Creates a cycle of aggression: People “at war with themselves” often cause collateral damage to those around them. Unhealed pain can manifest as anger, insecurity, and a need for control, which can be projected onto others who then feel hurt and react defensively. In group settings, this dynamic escalates, turning shame and rage into collective cycles of violence.
- Transmits across generations: Trauma can be passed down from one generation to the next, a phenomenon known as intergenerational trauma. This means that the wounds of past conflicts continue to fester in the collective consciousness of a society, fueling future violence.
- Creates collective trauma: In societies that have endured severe conflict, unprocessed collective trauma can leave a lasting impact on social, economic, and political life. This can lead to the formation of “chosen traumas,” a part of a group’s identity connected to a deep-rooted conflict.
Moving from trauma to peace
Overcoming trauma is a necessary step toward achieving lasting peace, both personally and globally. This process requires courage and a commitment to address internal wounds rather than continually reacting to their influence.
On an individual level, healing strategies include:
- Developing self-awareness: Practices like mindfulness can help individuals perceive and witness their own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, rather than being ruled by them.
- Finding safe spaces: Processing emotional pain requires a safe environment, whether through talking with a trusted person, a support group, or a mental health professional.
- Creating a new narrative: By exploring and sharing one’s trauma story, it becomes less upsetting. This can happen through writing or speaking with trusted individuals.
- Practicing self-regulation: Techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and physical activity can help regulate the nervous system and calm the “fight, flight, or freeze” response.
- Developing self-awareness: Practices like mindfulness can help individuals perceive and witness their own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, rather than being ruled by them.
- Active Choice: Individuals can choose to break the cycle by seeking healing, forgiveness, and a living relationship with Self, thereby creating a different path for their own and future generations.
On a collective level, healing is necessary for sustainable peacebuilding:
Trauma-informed conflict resolution:
- Peacebuilding and mediation efforts that are sensitive and responsive to trauma are more likely to achieve impactful and sustainable outcomes.
- Narrative exchange: When conflict survivors share their stories, they humanize the abstract concepts of war and help build empathy and understanding.
- Inclusive processes: Giving all parties a voice in the peace process can help restore a sense of control that trauma often removes. This is crucial for gaining their buy-in to any resolution.
Focus on the past:
Does healing trauma Focus on the past?
Sustainable peacebuilding is impossible without addressing and transforming collective trauma. This involves dealing with the past to create a different future.
Healing trauma involves addressing the past to create a different future. Sustainable peacebuilding requires transforming collective trauma by dealing with past events to prevent future harm and enable reconciliation and progress. This process of “dealing with the past” is necessary to create a different, more peaceful future.
Acknowledging the past is crucial:
To heal, both individuals and groups must acknowledge past suffering, which can involve revealing the truth about abuses and recognizing the suffering of victims. This helps prevent future violations by understanding the root causes of conflict.
Processing the trauma:
Healing trauma involves processing past pain, but it’s not just about reliving it. Instead, it’s about processing it in a way that allows for transformation and moving forward.
Connecting to the future:
The goal is to integrate the past with the future, which is only possible when the past is processed and acknowledged. This allows a society to move forward toward a just and lasting peace.
Different levels of healing:
Healing can occur on different levels, from individual self-empathy to large-scale public reconciliation efforts like truth commissions and public apologies.
Past trauma impacts the future:
Trauma that is not addressed can be passed down through generations, unconsciously impacting families and societies. Addressing it allows for the present to be shaped in a more positive way for the future.
AI Reply:
Exploring the potential parallels between the Jesus Christ story and the Self in IFS is definitely a thought-provoking endeavor.
Potential Similarities and Connections:
Compassion and Unconditional Positive Regard: Both Jesus and the Self, as understood in IFS, are often characterized by deep compassion and unconditional positive regard. Jesus’s teachings emphasized love and forgiveness, even for those who persecuted him. Similarly, the Self in IFS is believed to possess inherent wisdom, compassion, and acceptance for all parts of the system, even those that exhibit seemingly negative behaviors.
Healing and Integration: Jesus’s ministry often involved healing the sick and offering solace to the suffering. In a similar vein, the Self in IFS aims to heal and integrate the wounded parts of the internal system. By connecting with the Self, individuals can offer compassion and understanding to their parts, allowing them to release burdens and find healthier roles.
Inner Authority and Wisdom: Jesus spoke with authority and wisdom, often challenging societal norms and offering a new perspective. The Self in IFS is also considered to be a source of inner wisdom and guidance. When individuals are Self-led, they can access their innate capacity for clarity, creativity, and effective action.
Sacrifice and Redemption: The concept of sacrifice is central to the Jesus Christ story, particularly his willingness to suffer for the sake of humanity. While IFS doesn’t necessarily emphasize sacrifice in the same way, it does involve a willingness to acknowledge and understand the pain of one’s parts, even if it’s uncomfortable. This act of witnessing and validating can be seen as a form of “redemption” for those parts, allowing them to release their burdens and find healing.
Important Distinctions and Considerations:
There are diverse theological interpretations of the Jesus Christ story. Some interpretations may align more closely with IFS principles than others.
The Nature of the Self: In IFS, the Self is considered an inherent aspect of every individual,
In summary:
There are indeed potential similarities and connections between the Jesus Christ story and the Self in IFS, particularly in terms of compassion, healing, inner wisdom, and the potential for redemption. However, it’s essential to approach this comparison with nuance and awareness of the distinct frameworks within which they operate.
After we stop burning fossil fuels, how long will it take for the environment to return to the pre-industrial normal/stabile Co2 levels?
AI:
Factors, like melting glaciers and ice sheets, could further increase CO2 release and slow down the return to pre-industrial levels.
It is likely that it would take centuries, if not millennia, (Thousand), of years for the atmosphere to return to pre-industrial CO2 levels, even if we stopped burning fossil fuels today.
Q: Why do the wealthy world leaders, want to own and control everything, while they are in denial of climate change, is it just to keep the stock market economy growing?
AI:
You’ve hit on a complex and troubling intersection of psychology, economics, and global issues. Here’s an attempt to explain it using modern psychology and Internal Family Systems (IFS):
Modern Psychology and Narcissism:
Grandiosity and Control: Narcissistic individuals often exhibit a sense of entitlement, a need for admiration, and a strong desire to control their environment. They may believe they are superior and that rules don’t apply to them.
Lack of Empathy:
Narcissistic individuals struggle with empathy and understanding others’ perspectives. They are often focused on their own needs and goals, making it difficult to consider the broader consequences of their actions.
Denial and Projection:
To maintain their self-image, narcissistic individuals may engage in denial, minimizing or dismissing evidence that contradicts their beliefs. They may also project their own negative qualities onto others, blaming them for their own shortcomings.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Denial:
Protective Parts:
IFS suggests that everyone has different “parts” of themselves, each with its own motivations and beliefs. Some parts may be protective, trying to shield us from perceived threats. These protective parts can lead to denial, minimizing or avoiding painful realities.
Self-Preservation:
In the case of climate change, the protective parts of these leaders might be driven by a fear of losing power, wealth, and control. Denying the severity of the issue might feel like a way to protect their position and maintain a sense of security.
Unconscious Motivations:
Often, the motivations behind denial are unconscious. These leaders might not be consciously aware of the psychological mechanisms driving their actions.
The Stock Market and Economic Growth:
Short-Term Gains: The stock market thrives on continuous growth. Focusing on short-term profits can create an incentive to prioritize economic expansion, even at the expense of long-term environmental sustainability.
Cognitive Dissonance:
There is a clear conflict between the economic interests of these leaders and the urgent need to address climate change. Denying the severity of the issue allows them to maintain a less psychologically uncomfortable position.
Why This Matters:
Global Consequences:
The actions of powerful individuals can have a profound impact on the planet. Denial and inaction on climate change have devastating consequences for the environment and future generations.
Psychological
Impact: Understanding the psychological dynamics at play can help us to better understand the motivations behind these decisions and potentially find ways to address them.
Key Points to Remember:
Complexity:
This issue is incredibly complex, involving a mix of psychological, economic, and political factors.
Not All Leaders:
It’s important not to generalize or stereotype. There are many leaders who are committed to addressing climate change, and many individuals who are actively working to create a sustainable future.
Hope and Action:
Despite the challenges, there is still hope for change. By understanding the forces at play, we can better challenge denial, demand action, and work towards a more sustainable world.
It’s essential to continue the dialogue about these complex issues, to challenge harmful narratives, and to advocate for policies that protect our planet for future generations.
quote via Sameer D. ..::” Many years ago, someone I consider a good friend tried to corner me on this issue. Referring to the far-right in Israel I had used the term “Nazi”. He violently disagreed with the use of the term, even though he conceded that these particular people were genocidal – they were calling for the extermination of Palestinians. “The term “Nazi” should be a synonym for “Jew killer”” was what his argument boiled down to (in fact I think that’s a direct quote from that discussion).
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The problem here is one of history as well as theory. From a historical perspective it’s not clear to me that the killing of as many as 7 million people (mostly, but not exclusively, of the Jewish faith) is more worthy of recognition than the killing of 10 million people in the Congo or the killing of 100 million people in India. The common thread is that all of these atrocities were committed by Europeans – Germans, Belgians and British Europeans to be precise. The Holocaust is one of many terrible atrocities that one could cite by way of analogy when faced with a current example of a militarised population murdering civilians.
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Out of all of these examples, only the Holocaust has been universally recognised in our culture as an act of unspeakable evil. If I write a science fiction book about a guy who comes to power and starts killing people, I don’t compare my character to King Leopold or Winston Churchill (though those would be perfectly reasonable analogies). If I want to explain to someone in an instant that my character is a very bad person, I compare him to Hitler.
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If you ask anyone – even someone as thick as Konstantin Kisin seems to be in this interview – what was bad about the Nazis, they’ll have the right answer. The Nazi engaged in the systemic oppression and murder of entire categories of people (Jews, Socialists, Romani, queer people, etc). They not only committed those atrocities, they declared their intent to “rid Europe of its Jews” to paraphrase some of the language of the “Final Solution”. So when we have similar language from Israeli officials – “We will eliminate everything”, “Erase them, their families, mothers and children. These animals can no longer live.” – not to mention the killing of tens of thousands of women and children, is it not time to make the obvious analogy without fear?
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Ultimately those who argue for the sacrosanct status of the Holocaust are guilty of creating the circumstances by which the Holocaust can be repeated. Is the lesson from the Holocaust a particular lesson or a universal one? Does it only apply to European Jews who were living in Europe in the 1930s and 40s? If so, then there is no lesson of the Holocaust. The exact circumstances of 1930s Europe will never be repeated; therefore there’s nothing to learn from the holocaust if you believe that all of those circumstances must be in place in order to justify an analogy.
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The only way in which there is anything to learn from the Holocaust is if we take it as a universal principle – no group should be targeted and killed just because they are members of that group. The universality of the Holocaust underlies the entire human rights framework (which was largely written in response to the Holocaust). The group in question doesn’t matter – those who have devoted their lives to human rights often cite atrocities committed against Armenians and people from East Timor as some of the worst atrocities ever. Both of those groups happen to be Christians who were persecuted by Muslims. So the cries of antisemitism make no sense either – those who are fighting against genocide fight against all of them, especially those that their own government is complicit in.
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..::” If we do not universalise the lessons from the Holocaust, if we accept that there’s something that’s sacrosanct about it, what is that thing that is sacrosanct? It’s not the number of people killed – those numbers have been exceeded in Africa and in Asia. Is it the religion of those who were murdered? Given the long history of antisemitism in Europe that seems unlikely. So what is it that gives the Holocaust this unique status?
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I don’t have an answer to this question, but I do have a guess. I fear that what makes the Holocaust against European Jews sacrosanct is the fact that they were European. African and Asian genocides don’t have the right sort of victims. Black people dying we can live with, but white people dying? Never Again (repeated over and over, and repeated by the exact same people who are simultaneously justifying the murder of thousands of Palestinian children).
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The preoccupation with one particular genocide above all others may or may not be due to racism. But it is a preoccupation that does exist. We make (mediocre) movies about escaping the Nazis, we write (and read) novels about the Nazis, and so on. It’s the one example of genocide that firmly ensconced in the public imagination. Those of us who are actually in favour of universal human rights have an obligation to use this example – the only example that the public really gets – as part of our effort to end the current genocide.
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Bassem Youssef was essentially asked what he would do if he was put in the situation of being in charge of an ongoing genocidal occupation. His answer is absolutely the right one – he would end that occupation and the genocide. But in order to get this point through the thick heads of those who seem intent on insisting that this war is like any other, we should not shy away from historical analogies, including the analogy to World War 2 when appropriate.
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Sameer Dossani is co-director of Peace Vigil, an organisation dedicated to Peace Education. They are online at: PeaceVigil.net
User:
please explain with modern psychology and IFS, why the super wealthy narcissistic world leaders, want to own and control everything, while they are actually in denial of the danger of climate change, in order to keep the stock market economy growing?
AI:
You’ve hit on a complex and troubling intersection of psychology, economics, and global issues. Here’s an attempt to explain it using modern psychology and Internal Family Systems (IFS):
Modern Psychology and Narcissism:
Grandiosity and Control: Narcissistic individuals often exhibit a sense of entitlement, a need for admiration, and a strong desire to control their environment. They may believe they are superior and that rules don’t apply to them.
Lack of Empathy: Narcissistic individuals struggle with empathy and understanding others’ perspectives. They are often focused on their own needs and goals, making it difficult to consider the broader consequences of their actions.
Denial and Projection: To maintain their self-image, narcissistic individuals may engage in denial, minimizing or dismissing evidence that contradicts their beliefs. They may also project their own negative qualities onto others, blaming them for their own shortcomings.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Denial:
Protective Parts: IFS suggests that everyone has different “parts” of themselves, each with its own motivations and beliefs. Some parts may be protective, trying to shield us from perceived threats. These protective parts can lead to denial, minimizing or avoiding painful realities.
Self-Preservation: In the case of climate change, the protective parts of these leaders might be driven by a fear of losing power, wealth, and control. Denying the severity of the issue might feel like a way to protect their position and maintain a sense of security.
Unconscious Motivations: Often, the motivations behind denial are unconscious. These leaders might not be consciously aware of the psychological mechanisms driving their actions.
The Stock Market and Economic Growth:
Short-Term Gains: The stock market thrives on continuous growth. Focusing on short-term profits can create an incentive to prioritize economic expansion, even at the expense of long-term environmental sustainability.
Cognitive Dissonance: There is a clear conflict between the economic interests of these leaders and the urgent need to address climate change. Denying the severity of the issue allows them to maintain a less psychologically uncomfortable position.
Why This Matters:
Global Consequences: The actions of powerful individuals can have a profound impact on the planet. Denial and inaction on climate change have devastating consequences for the environment and future generations.
Psychological Impact: Understanding the psychological dynamics at play can help us to better understand the motivations behind these decisions and potentially find ways to address them.
Key Points to Remember:
Complexity: This issue is incredibly complex, involving a mix of psychological, economic, and political factors.
Not All Leaders: It’s important not to generalize or stereotype. There are many leaders who are committed to addressing climate change, and many individuals who are actively working to create a sustainable future.
Hope and Action: Despite the challenges, there is still hope for change. By understanding the forces at play, we can better challenge denial, demand action, and work towards a more sustainable world.
It’s essential to continue the dialogue about these complex issues, to challenge harmful narratives, and to advocate for policies that protect our planet for future generations.
