stages of faith

We've discussed stages of spiritual development before. And now I want to tell you what I've learned from M. Scott Peck.¹ His stages are a delicious mix of Fowler, Jung, and a hint of gnosis and mysticism, but well blended with years of psychotherapy experience. Or, Dr. Peck's stages of spiritual development are more of a simplification of Fowler, with somewhat of a grounding in Jung (who laboriously studied the ancient gnosis approach to mental healing), and is forged from his own study and experience.

continue reading "Spiritual Development According to M. Scott Peck."

Julie Redstone's article -- One World Meditations - A Time for Change

Julie makes a point about the place of awareness and the forward march of time/existence. She also discusses synergy as an important part of movement forward. While I am not familiar with the details of all of her writings, I found this one had something to say relative to Faith.

continue reading "The Synergy of Awareness"

All

Recent readings in the Trail of Tears has shown me that, in part, the treaties that took the land from the natives relied on the lack of restriction to create privatization, or one might say, total restriction.  It has been expressed as a way of thinking that the natives did not so much consider that the land belonged to them as that they belonged to the land.  Not just a play on words, but an expression of world view that differed totally from the European mindset of settlers in the New World.

continue reading "Does the Private Sector Comprehend a Commons?"

We have had several conversations about faith as a process -- more aptly, faith in process, as that expresses the flow (which exists) more than the object (which does not concretely exist).

A recent experience with a relatively new and inexperienced company has brought some insight into the education process.  Project manager determines scope of work is to be limited in design time, and details are to be worked out in the field by an experienced and trusted construction crew.  Client gets what he wants at less engineering cost.  Sounds good.  I have had experience with several of these kinds of "design-build" projects.  What I knew, was that the design time will be spent and charged one way or another to the client.  What I mean is, at some point, whether the designer or the construction crew, the specific problems will be encountered and will require working out.  In some cases with people experienced in this type of project "engineering" it nets a savings.  In others, the unanticipated problems can offset any possible savings by incurring more expense and time.  This I knew.  But an invitation to a "Texas Barbeque" (for those who don't know, its like a roast, only you are the on the spit), it became clear that the project manager did not know or expect questions and difficulties to come from the field.  His inexperience  left him unprepared to account to his client for the additional cost -- as apparently he had "sold" the client on net savings and no problems.

continue reading "The Consequences of Learning"

 Mike, Bill, and All

Mike's suggestion was to expand on a theme that I mentioned ...something that I see in Christ. 

 Bill said a few words:  "Christ is the universal connector. Not the founder of a new religion, but the end the dividing walls and the bridge between peoples. Paul talked only about Greek and Jew because that was his audience. But the concept was much broader."

continue reading "Variation on a Theme"