an integral approach to faith developmentfiles.meetup.com/604601/levels of faith.pdf · invitation...

An integral approach to faith development

Welcome

God be in our heads and in our understanding;God be in our eyes and in our looking;God be in our mouths and in our speaking;God be in our hearts and in our thinking;God be at our ends and at our departing.

-- from the Sarum rite

Invitation to engage

“I appreciate that everyone’s perspective is both true and partial, including my own”


“When feeling contracted, I will explore my assumptions”


“I will notice that which arises; I will make an object of my own awareness”


“I will attempt to fly a little higherand support others to do the same”


“I will watch the Thinker and feel the Watcher”

Why “integral”?

“It is apparent in our time that…all world cultures are going through a dark phase of internal transformation. Perhaps, at the same time, there are spiritually advanced individuals who are pushing ahead to new spiritual frontiers. What we see more evidently is that old religions and social structures are breaking down, patterns of community and family life are disintegrating, and compensatory efforts are being made to shore up the certainties of the past.”•Murray Stein, “Transformation”

Why “integral”?

Can we reconstruct “old religions and social structures”?

Is the breakdown of community patterns inevitable?

Is this necessarily even a problem?

Why “integral”?

“There will not be one best way of being human, but a rich ecology… though it is clear to me that a paradigm shift is required if we are to reinterpret the present as the prelude to better futures.”•James Ogilvy, “Creating Better Futures”

The essence of the integral project

Midwifing the integration of all human knowledge, experience, wisdom and reflection from all human civilizations—premodern, modern and postmodern – by transcending the limitations and preserving the value of everything humans have understood so far.

An integral journey into Christ

Any truly integral approach will:Turn always toward ChristGather and consider all ways of experiencing and understanding GodEmbrace the movement of created toward Creator and the gifts of Grace bestowed

The 3-2-1 of God

Dimensions of Reality

All human languages have structures to indicate “I” and “WE” perspectives and “IT”perspectives on experience


These dimensions are present in all human situations whether or not you have a mental model that supports you in recognizing them


All languages therefore recognize at least these dimensions as inherent in human experience, including experiences of the Divine

`̀

BehavioralIndividual

Objective:Measurable

viability

Collective

Intentional

StructuralCultural

We can map these We can map these experiencesexperiences

Subjective: Interpretedvalidity

Guiding distinctions

“We live in and through a complex interaction of spirit and matter, a complex interaction of what is inside us and what is ‘out there’”••Parker Palmer, Parker Palmer, ““The Active The Active LifeLife””

`̀

ObjectiveFactsTangibleSimple location“Visible” forms and surfacesEmpirically measurable

What are the age, weight, size of the manuscript? (i.e., Dead Sea scrolls, NRSV Bible)

`̀

SubjectiveInterpretationIntangibleNo spatial locationInvisibleSelf-sense & consciousnessMeaning/values validity

What is the meaning of the parable? For the authors? Now?

Subjective

These are the “theories”that determine what facts we see and that, in turn, are influenced by what we encounter “out there”

Objective

Medical “facts”:Demons to humors to bacteria/viruses to mind/body

Physics:Aristotle to Galileo to Newton to Einstein

Both/And

While the attention and intention of the observer affects what is observed…

…regardless of how else they are interpreted, diamonds will always cut glass

Two other Two other dimensionsdimensions

INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUAL AGENTAGENT

COLLECTIVE COLLECTIVE CONTEXTCONTEXT

Upper

Lower

Novelty, innovation generation

Stability, consistency generation

INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUAL AGENTAGENT

COLLECTIVE COLLECTIVE CONTEXTCONTEXT

I

WE

IT

ITSITS

SUBJECTIVE INTENTIONAL

OBJECTIVE BEHAVIORAL

CULTURAL INTERSUBJECTIVE

SOCIAL INTEROBJECTIVE

Beautiful

Good

TrueTrue

SUBJECTIVE INTENTIONAL

OBJECTIVE BEHAVIORAL

CULTURAL INTERSUBJECTIVE

SOCIAL INTEROBJECTIVE

The 3-2-1 of God

Seeking God in the third person:

Contemplating, thinking, studying, talking aboutGod

`̀

It/ItsIt/Its

“True”“True”

The 3-2-1 of God

Seeking God in the second person:

Listening to, praying to, receiving from, communing with God

`̀

We (I/Thou) “Good”

The 3-2-1 of God

Seeking God in the first person:

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” Philippians 2:5-11

`̀I (witness)

“Beautiful”

Another set of “both/and” dimensions

and involution

both evolution

`̀

SPIRIT - SOUL

HUMANS - MIND

ANIMALS - BODY

LIFE - CELLS

EARTH - MATTER

QUANTUM - ENERGY

Eros Eros (Ascendant)(Ascendant)

AgapeAgape(Descendant)(Descendant)

SPIRIT - SOUL

HUMANS - MIND

ANIMALS - BODY

LIFE - CELLS

EARTH - MATTER

QUANTUM - ENERGY


AgapeAgape(Descendant) (Descendant)

Evolution as transcendence

SPIRIT - SOUL

HUMANS - MIND

ANIMALS - BODY

LIFE - CELLS

EARTH - MATTER

QUANTUM - ENERGY


Natural drive “upward” toward increasing differentiation, consciousness, depth, complexity, adaptive capacity, holism and integration

Involution as manifestation

SPIRIT - SOUL

HUMANS - MIND

ANIMALS - BODY

LIFE - CELLS

EARTH - MATTER

QUANTUM - ENERGY

AgapeAgape(Descendant)(Descendant)

The “downward” grace “in which we live, move and have our being”that gives actuality to forms in all their particularity and invites these into ever-more inclusive fields of potentiality

Seeking Christ

SPIRIT - SOUL

HUMANS - MIND

ANIMALS - BODY

LIFE - CELLS

EARTH - MATTER

QUANTUM- ENERGY

How do we meet Christ in each other?

Where are others looking to find Christ?

The Spectrum of Faith

What is universal?

Each of us seeks to make Each of us seeks to make meaning of our experience meaning of our experience as creaturesas creatures

What is “particular”?

Each of us is a unique Each of us is a unique creature to whom Christ is creature to whom Christ is closer than our own breathcloser than our own breath

““The perfection of the universe is The perfection of the universe is attained essentially in the diversity attained essentially in the diversity of natures in it.of natures in it.”” St ThomasSt Thomas

Universal

Each of us is a whole entity with identifiable boundaries that is also a part of some whole more inclusive than itself

Electron > Atom > Molecule > Cell > Organism

Adapted from Ken Wilber’s “Sex, Ecology and Spirituality”

Universal

SPIRIT - SOUL

HUMANS - MIND

ANIMALS - BODY

LIFE - CELLS

EARTH - MATTER

QUANTUM - ENERGY


AgapeAgape(Descendant) (Descendant) Lower contained in higher, but not

vice versa (at least, recognizably)

Physics > Biology > Psychology

Higher levels more inclusive not “better” than lower

Greater numbers at lower levels; fewest at highest

Bacteria > Mammals > Anglicans

Adapted from Ken Wilber’s “Sex, Ecology and Spirituality”

Particulars within universals

6 billion humans: a spectrum of meaning-making frameworks with identifiable distinctions

Mixed uniquely in each of us, and expressed in infinite ways

Seeing What Others See

Our understanding of mindsets helps increase our empathy for the views of others.

Levels that transcend and include

Increasingly complex waves of differentiation and integration

“Invariant” unfolding

With rare exceptions, we crawl before we walk, we walk before we run. Each of us begins at the start, but we may end very differently.

A wine-tasting

First, simply notice what arises in you…

…neither rejecting nor embracing – fully tasting and letting go…

…returning to NOW over and over

Symbiotic

Undifferentiated/Instinctive“Survive by automatic responses”

A state of natureAct much as other animals

Tension and release100,000 years ago

infrared

Symbiotic groups

“Leaderless”herd behavior

Symbiotic “spirituality”

Pre-verbal, undifferentiated “faith”

Nearest to “ground of Being”Virtually no intentional sense of spiritual engagement or interpretation“Trailing clouds of glory” but primarily biological or instinctual responses

Seeks God in…

No awareness of God; instinctual draw to source of food, water, sex, warmth

May be vested in hunter or caretaker or biological stimuli

What Do You Notice?

What emotional or physical response did you notice?What thoughts or images arose? How does this show up in your family, church or work situation?Two or three questions…Cleanse your palette, please…

Phase transition

• Awakening of sense of dependent self• Experiencing mysterious and frightening

world• Being with others is safer than being

alone

magenta

Impulsive

Safety in our clan’s ways

Magical, animistic thinkingImmediate needs gratification

Powerful shamans, wisewomen50,000 years ago

magenta

Impulsive groups

Focal point: center of circular structure of clan, tribe or family

Impulsive spirituality

Intuitive-Projective MagicalFaith closely associated with priest, minister or other leaderEarthly leader makes ritualistic requests of magical God to secure safety and security for the people. Drawn to powerful symbols, especially of good and evilNeeds dependable ritualDeeply influenced by examples, moods, actions and stories of powerful others

Seeks God in…

Little choice: Threatening world of mostly magical forces and lack of fully separate “self” cause embeddedness in family, church group

What Do You Notice?


Phase transition

• Awakening of one’s sense of agency• Experiences of powerlessness • Testing the bonds of family/clan safety• Budding sense of one’s individual

power

red

Opportunistic

Express self, blind to the self-hood of others

Egocentric/exploitativeImmediate pleasure/pain responses

Power focused10,000 years ago

red

Opportunistic groups

Volatile packs led by “empire-builders”manipulating lieutenants

Opportunistic Spirituality

Mythic-Literal faithTransactional: Granted prayer requests signs of God’s approval“God of power and might” as source of fear, respect, strengthDivinity may have location and physicalityInspirational symbolism taken as literalDesire to internalize relationship with God leads to story-telling narrative as path of understanding

Seeks God in…

Anthropomorphic, stern but just “parent”Discovery that myprayers have powerStory and narrativePhysical, emotional confirmation

What Do You Notice?


Phase transition

• Exhausted by the impossible task of relentless energy expenditure and alertness

• Questioning the reasons for life and death• Being drawn by desire for clarity, direction,

meaning or purpose

amber

Diplomat

Serve according to higher authority

Purpose in causesAbsolutistic, ethnocentric; by the Book

Guilt-based sacrificeBelongingness/Group Approval

5,000 years agoamber

Diplomatic groupsHierarchical structures reliant on protocol to fulfill mission through

deferred positional authority

Diplomatic Spirituality

Synthetic-Conventional faithInternalized mythos woven into all aspects of life as cohering orientation“By the Book” consistent, but non-reflexive ideologyGod loves “us,” but you can join usGood and evil clearly defined but redemption is possible

Seeks God in…

Divine authority speaking through positional earthly authorityThe One Truth that offers answers delivered through a chain of command Trust in purpose, duty, honor resident in authority of churchThose who are “nice” or “good”Experiences God largely in interpersonal terms

What Do You Notice?


Phase transition

• Noticing that some truth resides in self• Renewed sense of independent self• Increasing pragmatism challenging higher

authority• Scientific experimentation, research into other

possibilities

orange

Expert/Achiever

Individual striving to better the self and society, and to live well

Determine best among many approachesSelf-directed, goal-oriented

Empirical, materialistic, multiplistic300 years ago

orange

Achiever groupsOrganized around efficient access to proven expertise. “Authority” earned and conferred.

Achiever Spirituality

Individuative-Reflexive faithLate-conventional stage translates inspirations into actionable conceptsEarlier constructs examinable; self beyond rolesDoubt, opposition are non-threatening; critical reflection seeks the defensible construed as demythologized insight“Attainment” aspect can lead to spiritual materialism; overconfidence in reductionist, rational mind leads to minimal attention to non-conscious or transpersonal factors

Seeks God in…

Study and other rational analysisPersonal relationship with JesusInspiration by charismatic or otherwise socially influential ChristiansExternal evidence such as prosperity theologies, science or verifiable historical support

What Do You Notice?


Phase transition

• “How can everyone else be wrong?”• Rational self noticing “non-conscious”

hungers, voices and guidances, or disruptions

• Emerging sense of the truth of the other

• New openness to subjectivity

green

Individualist

Everything is relative;many perspectives reveal more of reality

Socio-centric emphasis on consensus, sensitivity to feelings and human needs

Everybody’s experience is equally validPluralistic perspective taking

About 150 years ago

green

Individualist groups

Pluralistic, like-minded “circles”of mutual regard

Individualist Spirituality

Conjunctive faith Post-conventional, non-rational reunion with conceptual meanings: “re-mythologized”Open both to many “selves” and recognizing the “truth of the other”More porous, permeable boundaries capable of accepting paradoxesWorldcentric freedom gives rise to catalyzing transformation in others Complex, creative pluralism can lead to spiritual dilettantism

Seeks God in…

Any source of peace, love, growth and harmony, including – if not privileging – non-Christian, Eastern or indigenous traditionsNeo-pantheistic nature mysticism; “web of life” or “Indira’s net”Dialogue, social justice, non-violent activism, liberation Increasing self-awareness; greater empathy and tolerance

What Do You Notice?


Phase transition

• “Are there no enduring principles?”• Noticing new paradoxes that relativism

can’t resolve• Process-weary, “compassion burn-out”• Inquiring, interdependent self emerging• Lessening interest in approval; urgency lies

elsewhere

teal

1st Tier, 2nd and 3rd Tier

Stable non-dual statesEgo-aware

CentaurStrategist

IndividualisticAchiever

DiplomaticOpportunistic

ImpulsiveSymbiotic

First tier Second tier

Second tier Third tier

Distinguishing 1st and 2nd Tier

The first-tier “tyranny of should”Our meaning-making frameworks themselves finally become an object to our subjective selfWe act mindfully on behalf of the health of Spirit-in-action as our way of beingFully post-conventional, heading for post-conceptual, transpersonal

Strategist

Autonomously responsible agents expressing as instruments of

adaptation

Paradox and ambiguity as sources of inspiration

Reflective action in the face of multiple time horizons, complexity, & change

Parabolic languageAbout 50 years ago

teal

Strategist groups

Situational, competence-based “flex-flow”

What’s needed when and for how long?

Strategist spirituality

Universalizing faith “Neo-deistic” mysticism prevalent; grounded in particular, open to universal Recognizes partial or attenuated truths, and qualitative differences Integrated “centauric-self”; contagious incarnators of the Kingdom of GodCherishes ritual, myth and symbol as mediators of Being

Seeks God in…

Source of universal principles guiding functional ways to be and coexist as colonists of the kingdom of God On-going process of kenosisDynamic panentheismTranscendent, transpersonal repository of burden for self-integration, self-justificationActive “dark night of the senses”

States: Wilber-Combs lattice

Not simply increasing “horizontal” complexity of spiritual awareness…


…but increasingly stable awareness of and access to states of spiritual experience

Gross NondualSubtle Causal


Gross Subtle Causal Nondual

Nature Diety Formless Nondual

What Do You Notice?


Phase transition

• Awakening of experiential self• Increasingly interested in deep

processes of “being”• Applying knowledge of many kinds to

reconstruct systemic flows• Seeking to add to the creation of new

harmonies

turquoise

Centaur

Ruthlessly compassionate/contemplative self in service of higher Self

Planetary concernsConstruct-awareness

Harmonistic/ContemplativeDeep processes rule principles

30 years ago

turquoise

Centaur groups

Context-dependant, holistic informational networks weaving all previous structures.

Artwork by Alex Grey

Centaur spirituality

“Subtle”or early post-conceptual faithFormless mysticism prevalentGuided by “path of sainthood”Soul experienced as being mediated, as undeniable nature, as flowing stream and the one still unmoving center at the hubEmbodied, transmental, post-conceptual gnosis in partnership with the Divine No longer simply figure imposed on background of being, but also more closely identified with the Divine manifesting as figure

Seeks God in….

Serving as both a gift and a challenge to the “clan of sentient beings”Inspired by prospects of realization for self and othersNon-dual state experiences of mind, bliss or beautyActive “dark night of the soul”

What Do You Notice?


Phase transition

indigo

• “Self” or ego increasingly anchored transpersonally

• Increased humility and acceptance of joy/pain; perfection/disharmony and other paradoxes

• Increasing experiences of pure awareness and resulting “no-perspective” wisdom

Ego-aware

indigo

The Way can be known, but not by conceptual mind alone

Fully emptied presence and boundless radianceSubject-object duality transcended

Still center as source10 – 15 years ago?

Ego-aware “groups”

Relative realm: All previous structures (AQAL)

Absolute realm:Formless awareness or “the simple feeling of Being”

Ego-aware spirituality

Non-dual “faith”Post-conceptual unity awarenessFormless to non-dual mysticism prevalentOne-taste, ego-death Christ-consciousness embodied as changing states of awareness within timeless SpiritRecognize that any further gifts of insight and development are not achieved nor pursued, but arise as the will of the Divine

Seeks God in…

Magnetized by twin movements of agape and eros as vessel of evolution for later generations God-head: No-self, no-God, no-“thingness” – subject-object duality transcendedWitnessing “suchness” as flux and emptiness; awareness just another phenomenonDark night of the self

What Do You Notice?


Distinguishing 2nd and 3rd Tier

Post-conceptual, fully transpersonal Subject/object duality transcended: “not one, not two”Stable access and navigation of gross, subtle, causal and non-dual states

Stable non-dual statesviolet

Increasing awareness, experience and gnosis of formless awareness: “no-perspective”

3rd tier spirituality

Instrumental injunction:“If you want to know this, do this…”Intuitive apprehension:Direct experienceCommunal confirmation(or rejection): Check with those who have adequately completed the injunction

This presentation is deeply indebted to the pioneering work of Ken Wilber, Susann Cook-Greuter, James Fowler, Robert Kegan, Don Beck and Chris Cowan to whom we are profoundly grateful.

an integral approach to faith developmentfiles.meetup.com/604601/levels of faith.pdf · invitation...

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