History Teaches: 
     Effects  of Industrial Revolution

Dare a member of the academic elite opine? Takes a bit of courage these days. However, compelled 

as I am, here are some thoughts. They emerge from what I thought was a sudden flash of brilliant idea.

Further research brought me down a peg by revealing that the idea did not originate with me.

Recently I engaged in very stimulating conversations about the the current state of things with two young

men (freshman and sophomore in high school) and their father. The youngsters were totally engaged 

in the discussion, knowledgeable and very capable of expressing their thought out opinions. In the midst

of extolling the balance of powers in our government, presidential propriety, banning immigrants and 

restoring jobs in coal mines my new idea came as a flash. "We are going through a new industrial revolution

without learning the lessons of the unintended consequences caused by the last one", I blurted out.

Few would doubt that we have entered a period of technological revolution. It seems those in decision making 

positions effecting not only our citizens but also those of the world have failed to comprehend the enormous 

consequences of that revolution. Much less have they considered the unintended negative consequences for 

society which the industrial revolution of the 17th and 18th centuries caused. Highly recommended is an essay 

concerning the social effects of the industrial revolution . I makes abundantly clear the negative effects of 

unbridled free market capitalism.

In 2016 German economist Klaus Schwab published "The Fourth Industrial Revolution" . Reading it brought to 

an end my notion of having a unique idea. After giving historical context and ample evidence for his theory

(and that of others) of this new and equal consequential global revolution he offers a number of chapters on 

the consequences in terms of the economy, nature of work,business, national and global developments,

society at large and the individual. 

Sub-topics in these areas include but are not limited to:

unemployment

nature of work

consumer expectations

collaborative innovation

inequality and the middle class

community

identity, morality and ethics

human connection

managing public and private information

You must be getting the idea. What is facing us cannot be fixed by persuading companies not to move facilities

in order to keep to 1,200 employees on the job; not by assuring coal miners that jobs will come back. 

Coping with what is to come requires major study and planning within an informed and communicating citizenry, 

governance by the constitutionally balanced executive, legislative and judicial branches of government less

interested in re-election or appointment than the best interests of all and influenced by 'the better angels of their

nature, and finally, business within a compassionate capitalist system.

webs.bcp.org/sites/vcleary/.../industrialrevolution/ireffects.html

Technology and Contemplative Nuns

Nuns Using the Internet

for Contemplative Outreach

Here's a link to a great article in the Irish Times of Dublin about how contemplatives there are using the Internet as a means of reaching out to the world and attracting vocations.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2011/1029/1224306468864.html

Among the communities featured in the very well done and informative piece are our own sisters in the Monastery of St. Alphonsus in the Drumcondra section of Dublin. This is the community with which I spent three weeks last May. It was such a joy to be with them. Check out the article and get to know more about them.

Note: More to come on the New Roman Missal.

Contemplative Nun Blogger Responds to Comment

Given all of the typos in my response to Kate as a comment on my last post, I've decided to correct them and publish those remarks here. Kate was very complimentary in her comment to the second post concerning contemplative prayer which focused on its fruits. Internet media seems to be the way of the future in communication. Unfortunately, technological skills do not come to monastic contemplatives at a pace that keeps up with the speed of developments on that front. When I entered the monastery seven years ago I came with word-processing and library automation skills and that was about it. Thanks to a wonderfully skilled woman who spent time in our community I learned a great deal - enough to give me the push to try to set up this blog on my own.

No, we have not used the Internet as much as we could. It all takes time. The learning curve and interest varies from person to person. The beginnings of our website are accessible at the Metropolitan Association of Contemplative Communities link on this blog. (See the side bar for links.) The site is very much 'under construction' but a great beginning an will give anyone a good idea of who we are and what we are about.

I have just spent a couple of days revamping our own vocation and informational brochures taking advantage of the templates offered in MS Publisher. What a difference that makes. And we are about to format materials that can be sent via e-mail.

I have noted with interest that the national organization of vocation directors, those in communities who deal directly with prospective candidates, are beginning to sponsor workshops on blogs, My Space pages, etc. We are paying attention. But like everyone else, we are trying to do more with less, fewer resources, fewer people. But the Spirit continues to work powerfully among us, even if we do not understand how.