Based on his new book, ‘DisConnected’, Steve Taylor explains how
human goodness – including qualities like compassion, altruism and
justice – is related to connection. Conversely, what we think of as ‘evil’
is related to a sense of separation, resulting in a lack of empathy and a
desire for power.

He suggests that connection is fundamental to human beings, and that
our sense of separation is superficial and aberrational. As his philosophy
of panspiritism suggests, human consciousness is a manifestation of a
more fundamental universal consciousness. When we experience our
interconnection, we feel empathy and compassion, which leads to
altruism. The main goal of spiritual practices and paths is to transcend
separateness and attune to our fundamental oneness. In this way,
spiritual development is intimately linked to altruism and social justice.
Steve will include meditations and poems to illustrate the reality and the
power of connection.

DisConnected offers a new vision of human nature and a new understanding of human behaviour and social problems. Connection is the most essential human trait – it determines our behaviour and our level of well-being. Cruelty is the result of a sense of disconnection, while “goodness” stems from connection. Unfortunately, the most disconnected people gravitate to positions of power, which leads to “pathocracy,” the most common form of government during the 20th century. Disconnected societies are patriarchal, hierarchical and warlike. Connected societies are egalitarian, democratic and peaceful. We can measure both social progress and personal development in terms of how far we move along a continuum of connection. At the most essential level, we are always interconnected. Altruism and spirituality are experiences of our fundamental connection. Regaining awareness of our connection is the only way by which we can live in harmony with ourselves, one another, and the world itself.

Books by Steve Taylor