[Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Legacy

[R Williams]

Herman, what you say is true.  However, as we defined the cultural system, there are three interdependent dynamics within it--story, style and symbol, with symbol at the top of the triangle.  In "Principles of Social Development" (Estimates, Summer '76) we said "The key to bringing about effective social change is in the use of symbols." and that was the 5th principle. I'm just wondering if today perhaps that understanding has shifted so that the emphasis would more appropriately be on story.  I'm really not advocating, just asking.
Randy  

--- On Mon, 12/20/10, Herman Greene <hfgreene at mindspring.com> wrote:


From: Herman Greene <hfgreene at mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Legacy
To: "'Order Ecumenical Community'" <oe at wedgeblade.net>
Date: Monday, December 20, 2010, 10:19 AM








I don’t think symbol and story are separate. Think of the cross that represents the Order (it’s the [some African country] cross). There is no story of the Order without this symbol. Not even any life of the Order without this symbol.
 
Herman 
  




From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of R Williams
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 10:19 AM
To: Order Ecumenical Community ; Colleague Dialogue
Cc: Colleague Dialogue
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Legacy
  





I find Nancy's (and Fred's) first point very interesting because I remember distinctly that we used to say that "symbol" is key, the fifth principle of social development.  However, I now agree with Nancy that today "story" is key, and I think a very good case can be made for that proposition.  In a word, symbol is meaningless, and potentially harmful, if the story it seeks to symbolize is dehumanizing, reductionist, reactionary, etc.  What is taking us into the future is a new story that is now emerging which we, of course, will have to find a way to symbolize.

 

An interesting add-on to this legacy exercise could be for us to talk about how our insights have modified and our minds have changed over the last 40-50 years.  The shift  from the primacy of symbol to the primacy of story, if that indeed has occurred, may be one of those changes.

 

Randy

--- On Mon, 12/20/10, Nancy Lanphear <nancy at songaia.com> wrote:


From: Nancy Lanphear <nancy at songaia.com>
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] [Oe List ...] Legacy
To: " Order Ecumenical Community " <oe at wedgeblade.net>
Cc: "Colleague Dialogue" <dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Date: Monday, December 20, 2010, 8:59 AM 

Dear Friends, 

I, too, have 2 more pieces of our Order legacy that cannot be left off of my list.  Someone else has mentioned them but ....

1) Story is Key - this is one that kept Fred's mind sharp and happy as he moved toward his death.  The universe story captured his imagination and his heart.  Of course, in the midst of the big picture (Fred always had that) there were the smaller stories like:   life stories, stories of being of service, funny stories, etc. Beckoning others to tell their stories was one of the best parts of his day.

2) 2 suitcases - I do not know this image came from but it did help to order our lives - what did you carry in your 2 suitcases?  I remember telling the story and it went like this  .... "we carried two suitcase and one was full of decor and notes".  I think the other must have been clothes.  

Nancy




2010/12/12 Bill Bailey <bailey03132 at charter.net>


I would like to add to the list of our legacy, the understanding that we were living in the "no longer and not yet" building (with

many other voices and people of action) a bridge to a new spirituality.

 

Bill Bailey


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