This is http://www.essayz.com/a9303272.htm Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words. {Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.} ========================================================== %CONFORM CREATIVE DISCIPLINE SYSTEM PARADIGM 930327 Both non-conformity and conformity can be creative. Both non-conformity and conformity can be disintegrative. Not all creativity and integrative activity is non- conformist in character. Not all disintegrative activity is non-conformist in character. We need to be careful about making assumptions regarding the connections between non- conformity/conformity on the one hand and creativity/integrity on the other hand. The connections are not as clear as people often assume. The reasons for which some people look favorably upon conformity are not always robust in the face of open and honest consideration of the facts of life. The reasons for which other people look favorably upon non-conformity are not always robust in the face of open and honest consideration of the facts of life. It is dangerous to regard/define either conformity or non-conformity as an ideal, value or virtue; for either conformity or non-conformity---when considered to be an ideal, value or virtue---is easily perverted, confused, and/or abused by manipulative people who are constantly looking for tools to convert, use or abuse for their on disintegrative purposes and reasons. Some ideals and values are robust in the face of the tendency of manipulative people who are constantly looking for tools to convert, use or abuse for their on disintegrative purposes and reasons. Other ideals and values are anything but robust under such threats. It is important to recognize which ideals and values are robust, and which are not robust. Robust ideals and values often relate to both personal and communal integrity; to openness, honesty, balance, justice, humility, charity, gentleness, forgiveness, growth, change, dialogue, listening, inter- change, re-birth, conversations, conversions, liberation, freedom, transformations, and related realities of the relationships between integrative people. Ideals which are not robust often: 1. Relate to definitions of what people are good people as individuals, and what people are evil people as individuals. 2. Are systematic, rigid, brittle, or dogmatic. 3. Are not articulated openly and honestly. 4. Form a pattern in support of collusions, addictions and codependent support thereof. 5. Affirm unbalanced and extreme positions in support of some form of dichotomy; saying that goodness lies at one pole of the dichotomy and the essence of evil is associated with the other pole of the dichotomy. 6 Are the means chosen by fundamentalists by which to define themselves as agents of God while their enemies are regarded as agents of the Devil. 7. Are the occasions for breaking down the bonds of open and honest dialogue, conversations, listening, and affectionate affirmations within intimate relationships. 8. Are the foci of alienation, estrangement, rejections, exclusivity, excommunications, disfellowship- ping, banishment, punishments, seductions, manipulations, and rewards. 9. Are confused, incoherent, and unarticulated. 10. Are uncompromising and are used by uncompromising manipulative people. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================