Comments on: Conditioned Reading http://www.microclesia.com/?p=822 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 04:33:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: John http://www.microclesia.com/?p=822&cpage=1#comment-1901 John Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:45:56 +0000 http://www.microclesia.com/?p=822#comment-1901 "there are linguistic-cultural groups where the language itself is biased toward paradox and the entire society processes holistically, predominantly in paradoxes. In that culture, the analytic person is the conundrum." Brad, can you tell me more about these cultural groups? Aboriginal? Peruvian indian? “there are linguistic-cultural groups where the language itself is biased toward paradox and the entire society processes holistically, predominantly in paradoxes. In that culture, the analytic person is the conundrum.”

Brad, can you tell me more about these cultural groups? Aboriginal? Peruvian indian?

]]> By: brad http://www.microclesia.com/?p=822&cpage=1#comment-1870 brad Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:55:54 +0000 http://www.microclesia.com/?p=822#comment-1870 Hi John and Ron, This stuff is indeed interesting! I was studying the concepts of how language shapes perception 30 years ago in my linguistics work, just as the field of psycho-linguistics was starting to take off and there was emerging work on "discourse analysis" to compare how differences in the preferred processing modes of different language groups created conflict in cross-cultural communication. I've tried to incorporate those insights into my current work on paradigms by making "information processing" the integrating point for how the rest of our worldview gets constructed. (And here, I use information processing as a combination of biases from grammar and discourse factors from our native language, plus providential brain-based differences in our learning styles.) In response to Ron's illustration of fundamental and liberal theologies injecting bias, I'd suggest that from an information processing perspective, both of those theologies use similar overall thinking tools: analysis. Both split concepts apart from the whole into its components, or from a paradox into polar opposites. It just so happens that fundamentalists/conservatives consistently choose the individualistic side of the split and liberals consistently choose the social side of the split. But both are based on mental dissection. So, both conservatives and liberals train their children to divide things into pieces, and that is an even more core bias that cuts across everything than the specific values or worldviews these parents might try to instill. Again, from an information processing perspective only, as a paradoxical thinker, I consistently keep the polar opposites together in dynamic tension. I keep the whole alive and intact instead of dividing it into parts. As me for my favorite film and I will have trouble responding because I have many layers of interests related to films and thus many overall favorites depending on the interest/issue - not one final and overall favorite. To a paradoxical both/and person, the either/or question is infuriating. Anyway, I cannot but come up with a completely different set of values or worldview perspectives or theological planks because everything about the way I process life keeps me from becoming EITHER a conservative OR a liberal. If people analyze my values they'd probably say I'm just a messy smorgasbord of both. But that just means they've reduced me to a list ... as is their inherent way as analytic processors. As a paradoxical processor, I'd keep me intact and complex. The intriguing thing is, there are linguistic-cultural groups where the language itself is biased toward paradox and the entire society processes holistically, predominantly in paradoxes. In that culture, the analytic person is the conundrum. Is it any wonder that typical Western conservative or liberal theology "doesn't make sense" in such a society? Okay, well, hope that makes sense. Meanwhile, I sense that my brain now has gaps in it from this outpouring that perhaps coffee will nicely replenish. Have a great rest of the weekend! Hi John and Ron, This stuff is indeed interesting! I was studying the concepts of how language shapes perception 30 years ago in my linguistics work, just as the field of psycho-linguistics was starting to take off and there was emerging work on “discourse analysis” to compare how differences in the preferred processing modes of different language groups created conflict in cross-cultural communication. I’ve tried to incorporate those insights into my current work on paradigms by making “information processing” the integrating point for how the rest of our worldview gets constructed. (And here, I use information processing as a combination of biases from grammar and discourse factors from our native language, plus providential brain-based differences in our learning styles.)

In response to Ron’s illustration of fundamental and liberal theologies injecting bias, I’d suggest that from an information processing perspective, both of those theologies use similar overall thinking tools: analysis. Both split concepts apart from the whole into its components, or from a paradox into polar opposites. It just so happens that fundamentalists/conservatives consistently choose the individualistic side of the split and liberals consistently choose the social side of the split. But both are based on mental dissection. So, both conservatives and liberals train their children to divide things into pieces, and that is an even more core bias that cuts across everything than the specific values or worldviews these parents might try to instill.

Again, from an information processing perspective only, as a paradoxical thinker, I consistently keep the polar opposites together in dynamic tension. I keep the whole alive and intact instead of dividing it into parts. As me for my favorite film and I will have trouble responding because I have many layers of interests related to films and thus many overall favorites depending on the interest/issue – not one final and overall favorite. To a paradoxical both/and person, the either/or question is infuriating.

Anyway, I cannot but come up with a completely different set of values or worldview perspectives or theological planks because everything about the way I process life keeps me from becoming EITHER a conservative OR a liberal. If people analyze my values they’d probably say I’m just a messy smorgasbord of both. But that just means they’ve reduced me to a list … as is their inherent way as analytic processors. As a paradoxical processor, I’d keep me intact and complex.

The intriguing thing is, there are linguistic-cultural groups where the language itself is biased toward paradox and the entire society processes holistically, predominantly in paradoxes. In that culture, the analytic person is the conundrum. Is it any wonder that typical Western conservative or liberal theology “doesn’t make sense” in such a society?

Okay, well, hope that makes sense. Meanwhile, I sense that my brain now has gaps in it from this outpouring that perhaps coffee will nicely replenish. Have a great rest of the weekend!

]]> By: John http://www.microclesia.com/?p=822&cpage=1#comment-1858 John Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:23:47 +0000 http://www.microclesia.com/?p=822#comment-1858 Hi Ron. Sure, we inject inherited biases into our subjective readings (religion, soft sciences, ethics, politics at all levels..). But what I find more interesting than the biases themselves are the justifications behind those biases. Looks like we won't be at Orcas Kindlings next month. We'll miss everyone. Hi Ron. Sure, we inject inherited biases into our subjective readings (religion, soft sciences, ethics, politics at all levels..). But what I find more interesting than the biases themselves are the justifications behind those biases.

Looks like we won’t be at Orcas Kindlings next month. We’ll miss everyone.

]]> By: Ron Malzon http://www.microclesia.com/?p=822&cpage=1#comment-1853 Ron Malzon Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:10:46 +0000 http://www.microclesia.com/?p=822#comment-1853 Hello John, Do you think these ideas of viewing carry subconsciously into our interpretation of biblical text? Even if someone is trying to be open to God's truth will that person battle with their past influences, say from childhood. If I was raised in a fundamentalist church as a child, and now reject that theology, is my interpretation biased by my parent's teachings anyway? Even when I seek unbiased truth. Or say an opposite type of liberal religious upbringing and its results. I suppose each of us brings a unique perspective to the table in communion with one another. I also suppose that each of us have unique demons which we battle daily stemming from our previous experiences and mental programming. This is interesting research. I wonder how I might be programming my five year old son right now for his future modes of interpretation. That can be a scary thought. I suppose that's where you just have to do your best and leave the rest in God's hands. Take care, Ron Hello John,

Do you think these ideas of viewing carry subconsciously into our interpretation of biblical text? Even if someone is trying to be open to God’s truth will that person battle with their past influences, say from childhood. If I was raised in a fundamentalist church as a child, and now reject that theology, is my interpretation biased by my parent’s teachings anyway? Even when I seek unbiased truth. Or say an opposite type of liberal religious upbringing and its results.

I suppose each of us brings a unique perspective to the table in communion with one another. I also suppose that each of us have unique demons which we battle daily stemming from our previous experiences and mental programming. This is interesting research. I wonder how I might be programming my five year old son right now for his future modes of interpretation. That can be a scary thought. I suppose that’s where you just have to do your best and leave the rest in God’s hands.

Take care,

Ron

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