Comments on: Modernity and Postmodernity

By: Greek vs. Hebrew Thinking 2 « Missio Dei

Greek vs. Hebrew Thinking 2 « Missio Dei — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:57:51 +0000

[...] reminds me so much of the modern vs. postmodern conversation from a few days ago. Abstract vs. concrete [...]

By: Peggy

Peggy — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:42:24 +0000

Jonathan, yes — it is about balance. Or, I would say it is mostly about restraint … because the truism that “any strength taken to an extreme becomes a weakness” fits perfectly in this scenario.

It takes time and effort and discernment and encouragement to mature into a person who is willing to engage both sides of the brain. We are to love God with with all our mind — not just the right or left sides. ;^)

And absolutely, we value both sides — sometimes leaning left and other times leaning right. This goes a bit to the dancing image of perichoresis — it’s a dance we’re invited into … there are songs to learn and steps to master, but then you’ve got to get out there and, well, dance with the rest of the troupe!

By: Tracy Simmons

Tracy Simmons — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:24:59 +0000

The right brain/left brain test with the dancer totally freaked me out! The dancer would spin clockwise for about 20 seconds, then I’d glance away and look back and she’d be spinning to the anti-clockwise. 20 seconds later and she was going back the other way again! I could not “make” her change direction by concentrating on, but whenever I’d look away and then back, she had changed direction again. Very disturbing :). I’m not sure what that says about my brain–maybe very little separating the two halves–ha!

By: jonathanbrink

jonathanbrink — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:38:51 +0000

Jhimm, as I said to Peggy. I’m not calling left brain thinking bad. I’m calling the loss of relationships that predominant left brain tendencies have created destructive and oppressive. I’ve met a lot of left brain people who were deeply compassionate. But humanity is designed for relationship.

The tendency is to polarize, which I don’t want to do. I don’t hold that all human beings are one sided. Remember, improved spiritual journey are your words, not mine.

In spite of that, I still do think that the modern/postmodern response is a left brain to right brain swing. Hopefully we can find the balance.

By: david

david — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:34:33 +0000

Hi Jonathan.

Tim Keel interacts with the right brain in a fantastic way in his book Intuitive Leadership. He approaches leadership from a starting point of creativity and cultivation.

By: jonathanbrink

jonathanbrink — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:33:57 +0000

Peggy, I share your thoughts about fitting neatly into one category. And in no way do I think anyone does. I think, as Jill shows, that we need both sides to function.

The problem has been the loss of balance over history. I think the tendency of humanity is to operate in control mechanisms, of which the left brain functions. Does this make the person bad…no. It makes them broken and human at the same time.

By: jhimm

jhimm — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:19:34 +0000

i think this, like a lot of other “there are two kinds of …” thinking is good to help us see that differences exist and must be taken into account and considered to have effective communication.
but, i think they also pose a big risk of saying “this is good and this is bad” or at least “this is ok, but this is better”.

i think we risk alienating a lot of naturally left brained people if we start attempting to couch our “improved spiritual journey” as a journey of the right brain.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:42:48 +0000

I was fascinated by this presentation, as well. I’ve been following John LaGrue’s blog (http://microclesia.com/) of his experience at this year’s TED conference.

Anyway, while agreeing with your thoughts here, what I was struck by was a challenge issued from M. Scott Peck for an increase in what he called “androgenous thinking” — the fostering of both left and right brain activity, rather than the focus on just one as prime reality. I’m now going to have to return to his book, “The Road Less Traveled — and Beyond,” and reread his chapters about thinking. Perhaps this should be an annual exercise, at least! ;^)

I find that I do not fit neatly into either category — but resonate with both as well as finding myself frequently moving toward a synthesis (androgenous?). I realize that this is a factor in what FuturistGuy (http://futuristguy.wordpress.com/) has coined as being an Interpolator (http://futuristguy.wordpress.com/interpolators/). It is an interesting perspective from which to engage the conversations of our times.

Thanks for your summary of Jill’s remarkable talk.