The THIRD DIMENSION of Understanding

by Terry 18 Replies latest jw friends

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  Narkissos

  The "three-dimensional" perspective belongs to (relative) objectivity which requires distance (or the ability to move from one place of observation to another). Which is possible either by reflexion after the fact (Nackdenken), or from an outsider's angle. When you're "in" you generally can't afford it.

  We cannot expect "believers," activists, militants, apostles, prophets, to be committed and "objective" at the same time. Their very situation requires "either/or," "us and them," "black and white" thinking.

  The tolerant picture of diversity we can gather from the variety of views in the Bible or the history of religion was unavailable to most of their actors and writers: they were playing their part seriously, that is, usually in a very intolerant way. It took the irony of time to reconcile them (superficially and through a lot of anachronism and misunderstanding) under the same book cover.
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  Borgia

  Interesting analogy.

  Is it not merely that people tend to be in some mood to a certain extend from one time to another. Even from one subject to another. It is always helpful to have more parties available for consultation.

  Looking at something from a different angel-s, different perspective-s, inside out, outside in, short range, long range, magnified or the oposite. It certainly reminds me of the first time I confronted myself with the way the outside world looks upon the JW- movement (eufemism: eyeopener)

  Cheers

  Borgia
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  RAF

  I'd like you to consider these two shapes and their UNalike characteristics as a kind of metaphor for religion. Specifically Christianity.

  There is Orthodox Christianity which narrowly defines itself by the standard set at the Council of Nicea in 325 c.e. We'll call this self-identifying section of the Christian religion as the Circle set.

  Then, there is sectarian Christianity which diverges from Orthodox Christianity by narrowly selecting other self-identifications. We'll call these groups of self-identifying Christians as the Triangle set.

  These oppositional groups both call themselves CHRISTIANS.

  you've missed one of them (and it does not limit the dimension of the understanding to those you've mentioned) to get every point for all angles possible

  so here it is : Then there is a gnostic christian view which would look like a sphere where the understanding takes into consideration everything from it's center to the entire sphere volume (that you can compare to its capacity) ... that's an open philosophy and you can go as far as you want from whatever angle ... no limit but a central point.
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  Terry

  I'm now dancing to the Rhombus!
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  Carmel
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  Carmel

  Terry, Good post! Next step, back up a few more paces and broaden the circle beyond Christianity and the bible! carmel
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  RAF

  broaden the circle
  
  ... LOL ... since the cirle is flat and cone is still limited ... well ...
• 

  jwfacts

  Excellent post.

  Black and white thinking , Excluded middle, or false dichotomy (Considering only the two extremes in a continuum of intermediate possibilities) is rhetorical fallacy. and a common element within high control religion, such as the following quote.

  You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth p.208 “Either you are serving Jehovah God or Satan the Devil. … Regardless of your answer, if you follow the unrighteous ways of the world you cannot be serving the true God, Jehovah.”

  It seems to make sense as a JW, either you worship Jehovah or Satan, either you have a soul or are a soul, etc, etc.

  Your example shows very well how this is not the case. If a person only sees black or white, only sees Jehovah or Satan, only sees a circle or triangle it just shows how limited simplistic their experience, knowledge and viewpoint is.
• 

  Terry

  You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth p.208 “Either you are serving Jehovah God or Satan the Devil. … Regardless of your answer, if you follow the unrighteous ways of the world you cannot be serving the true God, Jehovah.”

  It seems to make sense as a JW, either you worship Jehovah or Satan, either you have a soul or are a soul, etc, etc.

  Your example shows very well how this is not the case. If a person only sees black or white, only sees Jehovah or Satan, only sees a circle or triangle it just shows how limited simplistic their experience, knowledge and viewpoint is.

  This may sound silly to say, but; I think the years I spent as an indoctrinated JW damaged my intellect and cost my I.Q. more points than I could afford to lose!

  How could a reasonably intelligent person accept either/or explanations? How could I not see that the preponderance of people on the Earth for all of history have something more to say than what was coming out of Brooklyn NY?

  The worst part is how limiting being a devout Witness is. You exclude all the wisdom the greatest minds have accumulated over a vast span of time and declare them worthless without having read and considered them first hand!

  That is an unconscionable tragedy.

  I would think the Truth from a Supreme Being would gladly take on all commers in debate because it had nothing to fear. But no! JW's flee from actual formal debate with their tail between their collective legs.

  Thanks to them I've got drain bammage.