Leon’s talk is called “Visions of a City on a Hill: A Mytho-Historic Perspective in this Age of Global Crisis”
We will explore the roots of inspiration for John Winthrop’s A Model of Christian Charity, an obscure text written to inspire residents of a largely Protestant England to uproot themselves and embark on a journey to the unknown North American continent. “We shall be as a city upon a hill; the eyes of all people are upon us,” Winthrop wrote in 1629.
In more recent times, the phrase “as a city upon a hill” has proliferated in evangelical Protestantism and contemporary political rhetoric to express the hope and promise of the American Dream. Yet, other parts of the text expressing concern about social inequality and community have been largely forgotten.
How has this text that originates from England’s Puritan past morphed into inspiration for what has become known as American exceptionalism and nationalism? Does its political appropriation mark a turning point, a reframing of our colonial myth in this age of global crisis? We will explore these questions and more, with deep reflection on how mythology and history are interwoven.
About Leon
Leon Aliski, PhD holds a doctorate in cultural mythology and depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. His dissertation, Wild Bison and the Buffalo People: Reimagining ‘The Heart of Everything That Is’, explores the cultural and historical significance of the buffalo as expressed through sacred narratives, songs, visions, and ceremonies. He is a supporter of Cloud Horse Art Institute, dedicated to Lakota traditional arts, performing arts, and culture camps, and the Reel Jobs Film School located on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.