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INTRODUCTION
POWER OF BELIEF SYSTEMS
Individual belief systems acquired during our short life spans exert great power over us. Belief systems have the power to make us happy or unhappy, live productive or destructive lives. Many of our beliefs are based on assumptions and hearsay rather than factual knowledge gained through personal experience. From time to time we each need to critically examine our deepest assumptions if we are to actualize our fullest human potential.
Assumption: For example, there is one strongly held assumption in Western society that has profoundly shaped and structured modern Western culture and continually affects our daily lives. It the assumption that the traditional scientific method of analyzing physical reality and solving human problems is sacred. The question is, are we so stuck in the current scientific methodology of seeing and responding to physical reality that humanity and the environment ultimately suffers?
Getting unstuck: The fundamental belief system underlying modern science is based on reductionism, i.e. the breaking down of physical reality into individual discrete parts for study. We could instead alter our on-going inquiry into the nature of reality by first starting with the assumption of unity, connectivity, rather than separation, i.e. by combining the science of reductionism (the breaking down into parts) with synthesis (the putting back together of the parts).
Synthesis: Reductionistic science provides data on parts of reality whereas synthesis requires knowledge of the relationships between the parts, i.e. how the parts fit and work together as a whole. Reductionistic science describes the different so called nonliving parts of reality and synthesis describes the dynamic working or living relationships between the different elements that comprise our reality.
Understanding: We cannot truly understand ourselves and the physical reality we are imbedded in without information. Understanding requires having first, informational data and second, knowledge of the relationships between the elements within that data. Data can only give us stationary segmental, or cross sectional snapshots of pieces of physical reality. Knowing the working relationships between parts of reality provides us with an ongoing moving picture of reality as a dynamic whole. Since physical reality is not static but is continuous activity, understanding cannot come without knowing the lawful working relationships between the elements that power this activity.
Relationships: The relational process is applicable to any investigative endeavor. For example, having a parts list of all the items that go into an intricate mechanical clock does not tell us how those parts go together. In order to assemble the clock from those parts, we must discover the functional relationship between each part. After each part is correctly fitted together we have one active functioning clock composed of many interdependent parts. Having a list of parts does not provide understanding. Understanding occurs when we discover the relationships between the parts. The parts are visible, physical forms. Functional working relationships between the parts are invisible laws of process controlling activity and ongoing changes in forms. Relationships always have to do with the hidden energetic forces that power our physical reality.
Wisdom: It is sometimes said that knowledge is power. But knowledge without wisdom may be self destructive. Wisdom requires good judgment in actions derived from understanding, and understanding comes from knowing relationships. Belief systems based on understanding through knowledge of relationships can lead the individual and society toward health and creativity.
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