systems and souls

Last updated on: August 2, 2011 at 3:44 pm by David Hayward

systems and souls 2011-08-02T15:44:24-04:00 David Hayward

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ordinary people, even good ones, can be seduced, recruited, initiated into behaving in evil ways under the sway of powerful systemic and situational forces. (Philip Zimbardo, The Lucifer Effect)

As Philip Zimbardo wrote in his gripping book, The Lucifer Effect, individuals must be held responsible for their bad deeds, but that many times the systems the individuals operate within may receive the burden of responsibility.

Remember that it is not only individuals that stand on the last day, but nations.

Like many people, I have experienced some pretty disturbing things within the church at the hands of those within it. Sometimes the people themselves can be held completely accountable. At other times, the system itself fostered that kind of behavior. I can see how they were victims of the system just as much as I.

It’s a vicious circle. People form a group which requires leaders which turns into a system which takes over seduces the leaders and members into sometimes very dehumanizing behavior which perpetuates the power and authority of that system.

It is naive to think that we can leave an institution and form a new group without institutionalizing or systematizing. We’ve all heard stories of even some of the most radical house church experiments experiencing the same effects as traditional churches. For me it is just a matter of style. We’re tweaking the fashion. That’s all. What matters is who’s wearing the clothes. And that never changes.

It is crucial to admit this and work from there to create wise communities that understand the subtleties of power and diligently endeavor to maintain a community free of its dehumanizing effects.

I published a book of my cartoons! amazon.com, amazon.ca, amazon.de.

Previous Post

August 2, 2011

sealed

Next Post

August 3, 2011 trash your theology

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category art cartoons cartoons 2 freebie music one minute message podcast Sophia teaching technology thought

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 March 2006 February 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What language was the Old Testament mostly written in?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Hebrew Aramaic Latin Greek