How about standing back and looking at everything people on this thread
have been talking about -- eg religion, beliefs, glasses, underwear -- and
seeing what the common drive is? Could it safely be called spirituality?
I think spirituality is a fairly neutral word and can be applied to all of
the above. Apologies if it doesn't work for some and lets not start a
conversation on what the best word would be! To work with any system one
needs to look at its history. Is it not that spirituality is what we all
have in common? Is it not that different *systems* of spirituality have
evolved? To understand each of these systems would we not need to
understand their roots?
The thread seems to be concentrating on the differnces - mostly -- instead
of starting from a place of: we human beings range from have an inkling to
a very strong belief that there is something more beyond what we see
(unless you happen to be into existentialism). Based on that we have
evolved many different ways of interpreting and living with that range of
inkling to belief. Dogma is a way of managing a system -- no judgement of
good or bad -- it's just one way that is chosen. Can people learn even
though dogma exists? Yes. There are Catholic churches which welcome gays
into their membership. Just as I know managers will create their own group
culture which is innovative and free within the context of a very
oppressive and dictatorial organization. Can one small Christian church be
a learning organization even if the hierarchy is very closed -- yes! Or
are you saying that because the whole organization isn't into it then it
cannot be a learning organization? Is that LO dogma? To be a learning
organization doesn't seem to mean that you give up all beliefs because that
would seem to be the next step logically. That could transalte to giving
up the belief in learning organizations if you push the logic.
So -- instead of challenging religion to question it's belief of the role
of God and Jesus Christ, why not challenge the concept of LO to work within
their structure? Strong beliefs are present in all types of organizations
which does not prevent them from being LO. Perhaps the first step for
religions is to learn what it takes to be an LO before challenging its
foundational beliefs. Won't every organization go through its own process
to learn and who says you have to start by making such a fundamental jump.
Who is to say that the process of learning for religions may not eventually
lead them to question their definition of God?
Just to throw my own personal beliefs in: I am God. There is no hierarchy
because hierarchy is a human belief. We don't have a relationship because
that would mean there is a separation between us. We just are. Everything
that I do or say is where I happen to be on my path. It is not right or
wrong -- it just is.
Sherri
sherri@maloufinc.com -- please note the new address!
--sherri@maloufinc.com (Sherri Malouf)
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>