One riff for now: the idea of cultivating the heroic imagination. This is not mere utopianism; it rolls into one such practices as functional communitarianism, discerning and pursuing “preferable” futures, human rights, etc. It is goodness that is accessible to all, reflects the Source of all goodness, and hopefully draws people toward the Source for their eventual direct connection with Jesus Christ and transformation into Christlikeness.

I wonder if this is why so many people love Lord of the Rings and similar kinds of epic literature where the smallest person can affect the course of the future. The bookends for LOTR are Hobbits – from the very outset, Tolkien says it is a story about Hobbits, and at the end we see Samwise truly at home again in Hobbiton. When we see a social evil, like spiritual abuse in churches and ministries, who will “take the ring” to see if the evil can be confronted and sent back to whence it came?

Is it possible that evil systems require people as lynchpins to keep it going, but that any one potentially can become the lynchpin to stop the machine (or at least attempt to confront/stop it), if they choose to do so?

Anyway, lots of food for thought in your post – thanks!