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This-essay is a9702032.htm which is available at the web-site www.essayz.com. See more notes at the bottom. Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay By-Months By-Years By-Words Webs of Like-&-Un-Like ESSAYS <==> Like-&-UN-Like This-One ========================================================== %FINDING COMMON GROUND CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL CHURCH+970203 %CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTAL CONFLICTS COMMANDMENTS LAW+970203 %LEGALISM MORALITY CONDEMNATIONS SELF RIGHTEOUS SIN+970203 %SCRIPTURES TEXTS INTERPRETATION HONOR RESPECT FAIL 970203 Often there are conflicts within religious traditions about how to interpret their scriptures and the teachings of their revered founders. Often such conflicts revolve around how to respond to the commandments which are found in scriptures and early teachings of the early leaders in the religious tradition. There are differences in interpretation as to what the words mean, and in deciding how to respond to their meaning within modern contexts. How are religious people to find common ground on which to work together in cooperation? Often the differences between them are confused, rather than clarified, by their conflicts. Distinctions are made but not illuminated. There are, however some steps by which to make distinctions and illuminate upon-what-basis the distinctions are made: 1. Make a comprehensive list of the commandments in the original scriptures and teachings which various conflicting factions: (1) take seriously and seek diligently to honor, (2) disagree about how to deal with the commandments, (3) almost always ignore as irrelevant, (4) rarely discuss, because there is virtually universal agreement about, understanding of, and respect for, them. 2. Have participants in a finding-common-ground exercise vote two ways on each commandment in the comprehensive list. A. How controversial is it within their religious tradition; 5 for very controversial and 1 for not at all controversial. B. How well respected, supported and/or honored each commandment is among the "main-line" congregations of their religious tradition. 3. Make a scatter plot of commandments by number; plotting the average score on how controversial each is along the vertical axis as ordinate, and how well respected, supported and/or honored each commandment is along the horizontal axis as abscissa. 4. The numbers of controversial commandments will be across the top of the scatter plot, and the ones about which there is consensus, across the bottom of the scatter plot. 5. The numbers of highly respected, supported and/or honored commandments will be up and down the right of the scatter plot, and those that are not respected, on the left part of the scatter plot. 6. It will be illogical for there to be many commandment numbers in the upper right and lower left corners of the scatter plot. Commandments cannot be controversial and also highly respected; no can they be devoid of respect and honor and also be controversial. In the above way, participants can come to recognize the differences in how their religious tradition regards the commandments found in their scriptures and early teachings. It is important to recognize and agree that such differences exist without the differences being an immediate threat to various participants. To admit the existence of the differences need not make any participant vulnerable to attack. Next, in seeking common ground, participants need to discuss why the recognized differences exist. What is it about the commandments regarding which there is consensus which has led to the consensus? What is it about the commandments regarding which there is controversy which has led to the controversy? Why agree about some, but not about others? What tacit understandings, beliefs, attitudes, values and ideals serve as the basis for agreement where there is agreement? What is the common ground which serves as the basis for consensus about some of the commandments? Seek first to understand the basis for agreement where there is agreement. Once the tacit basis for agreement has been recognized, named, and described; turn to the commandments about which there is controversy. View them in the light of the recognized common ground for agreement about the commandments about which there is little controversy. Seek to articulate why some people regard the controversial commandments as worthy of support, honor and respect; and why others view them as not worthy of support, honor and respect. The differences are probably rooted in deep differences in root attitudes and beliefs about the nature of humans, good, evil, sin, God, earthly life, spiritual life, heaven, birth, death, salvation, damnation, redemption, etc. To find common ground we need to learn how to connect root differences to the differences in how we regard controversial and non-controversial commandments which have played significant roles in our religious traditions. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in www.essayz.com Search for Integrity and Honesty (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================
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This-essay is a9702032.htm which is available at the web-site www.essayz.com. These 5 lines echo top lines. Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay By-Months By-Years By-Words Webs of Like-&-Un-Like ESSAYS <==> Like-&-UN-Like This-One