Michele Toomey developed liberation psychology and subsequently liberated theology in response to the western world's dependence on dualism's approach to opposites. Dualism assumes that opposites are unequal and antagonistic, thus opposites are expected to relate as enemies and engage in war with each other. Winning or losing is the measure of success or failure, and proving one's worth is based on winning. Liberation psychology, on the other hand, assumes that opposites are just that, opposite, equally legitimate forces that relate with accountability and fairness so each polarity gets its fair turn. Life is seen as a journey not a test, and domination is an abuse of power.

This is particularly relevant to the sexism that permeates our society, where opposite sex means unequal sex in the dualistic world view, and where strength is seen as the ability to dominate and the measure of superiority. Liberation psychology rejects this view and these definitions. Instead, opposites are seen as equally legitimate forces, and power is defined as energy. Desire is seen as the source of our energy and intensity is defined as strength. With this world view, women and men are equally legitimate and equally strong, and sexism has no justification.

Power then becomes energy not dominance, and the ability to choose is the exercising of power not the ability to conquer. Accountability and fairness governed by integrity are the tools that maintain the equality of the self's paradoxical system, and intimacy not conquest is the goal. This revolutionary approach affects every dimension of our lives, and communication within ourselves and between ourselves and others becomes a discovery process for understanding and clarity leading to intimacy and oneness. Communication is key. Integrity is preserved by communicating with honesty and fairness, caring and respect. Discovery and understanding are the purpose for communicating and intimacy is the desired outcome.

Liberation psychology holds that life is a journey, not a test, and words are to be used as tools not weapons. Verbal abuse is considered a violation of the integrity of our system and using words as weapons is abusive. Living guided by integrity, with truth and fairness, we are living at one with ourselves and others. Liberation psychology teaches how to live guided by this integrity, providing a wonderful opportunity for those who choose to learn how to live with fairness, caring and respect both within themselves and with others.

Liberated theology adds the dimension of God as Life Force, the Initiating Force, and Oneness as God, offering that when we are at One we are at God. Integrity not morality is the governing principle for liberated theology, and living with integrity, honesty and wholeness, fairness and respect, is considered living with God.

Running commentaries allow Michele to apply the world view of liberation psychology to current topics. They appear regularly each month and are archived for reading at any time.

Latest Commentary: The Shamed  August 31, 2009
Women of the World Unite

Liberating our suffering sisters needs to be our top priority as the rise of national laws legalizing abuse of women stares us in the face. We cannot pretend we do not know of their plight, because fortunately, it is finally in the news and in a special Sunday Magazine section in the New York Times.

One action we can take is to write our senators to pass the Afghan Women Empowerment Act (S. 229). It will commit the U.S. government to advancing the rights of Afghan women in providing medical assistance, establishing schools, funding programs to protect women and girls against sexual assault, physical abuse, trafficking and abduction. We are there, so as a nation we must not tolerate abuse of Afghan women in a country we are waging a war in to free ourselves from violence.

The following Tale on Shame that I wrote will, I hope , be a source of mobilization and inspiration for you and I urge you to pass it on to your friends.

Index of Running Commentaries