Christianity and 5th Discipline LO9619

Kerr, Donald (Donald.Kerr@alliedsignal.com)
Fri, 30 Aug 1996 06:55:00 -0700

On the suggestion of a polarization of camps. I'd like to offer a
little twist. Seems one "side" sees the five disciplines as a science
only and the other "side" sees the 5th discipline crossing the frontier
of science and spirituality. David Steindl-Rast (a Benedictine Monk)
and Fritjof Capra (father of new science) in their book, Belonging to
the Universe, explore this frontier between science and spirituality.
They engage in a wonderful dialogue much like we are doing here. It
appeals to my science background and my Christian beliefs. I think it
would help close the gap if we look at "What common changes are taking
place in the future of both science and spirituality?" They have
defined 5 common New Paradigm thinking in science and in theology. I
will list each paradigm shift (s=science, t=theology)

1s. Shift from the part to the whole
1t. Shift from God as Revealer of Truth to Reality as God's
Self-Revelation (The meaning of individual dogmas can be understood only
from the dynamics of revelation as a whole)

2s. Shift from Structure to Process
2t. Shift from Revelation as Timeless Truth to Revelation as Historical
Manifestation ( no longer a static set of of supernatural truths)

3s. Shift from Objective Science to Epistemic Science
3t. Shift from Theology as an objective science to Theology as a process
of knowing (theological statements are no longer objective or
independent of the believing person and the process of knowledge)

4s. Shift from "Building" to "Network" as Metaphor for Knowledge
4t. Shift from "Building" to "Network" as Metaphor for Knowledge (our
theological statements form an interconnected network of different
perspectives on transcendent reality...and no longer "fundamental laws
or building blocks")

5s. Shift from Truth to Approximate Descriptions
5t. Shift in Focus from Theological Statements to Divine Mysteries
(Theological knowledge is no longer seen as exhaustive, but approximate
descriptions...greater emphasis on mystery)

I'll describe each of these in more detail later, but I believe this
shows a very clear connection between (5th discipline) New Science and
New Theology (New Christianity).

I could go down this list and easily fill in parallel shifts in
organizational learning as defined by Deming and Senge (& others). I
fact I have. I could easily list tools and techniques from them that
help make these shifts happen in both business and the church. This
would be a constructive dialogue, instead of clinging to past limiting
assumptions about Christianity and the 5th discipline. Don't you think?

Have a Great Adventure!
Don Kerr


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"Kerr, Donald" <Donald.Kerr@alliedsignal.com>

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>