Suspending Assumptions
I don't know about anyone else, but I find it so easy to go into a situation with preconceived ideas, assumptions, what are called mental models in systems theory. Here's a short post about that.
Imagine…we could even be wrong in our assumptions and preconceptions. I blush when I consider my dogmatism of thirty years ago regarding truth and those issues/beliefs that determined who was in or out of God’s kingdom.
“In dialogue people actually feel as if they are building something, a new deeper understanding…Choosing to view adversaries as ‘colleagues with different views’ has the greatest benefits”(Senge, 2006, p. 228). Bridge building rather than wall building is a crucial tool. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” John 13:35 (Today’s New International Version).
References
Holy Bible (2005). Today’s New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Senge, P. M. (2006). Fifth Discipline: the Art and Practice of the Learning
Organization (Rev. ed.). New York: Currency Doubleday.
Stewart, H. L. (2007, November 22). Suspending Assumptions. Retrieved November 27, 2007, from https://regent.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_42110_1
Hold biblical assumptions suspended. Otherwise, you will be stuck in defense mode and not really hear what the other person is debating...listening to their contradictions to your beliefs, you may learn something new. Holding your assumptions… just means that you are exploring other possible meanings. (Stewart, 2007, Para 5)
Imagine…we could even be wrong in our assumptions and preconceptions. I blush when I consider my dogmatism of thirty years ago regarding truth and those issues/beliefs that determined who was in or out of God’s kingdom.
“In dialogue people actually feel as if they are building something, a new deeper understanding…Choosing to view adversaries as ‘colleagues with different views’ has the greatest benefits”(Senge, 2006, p. 228). Bridge building rather than wall building is a crucial tool. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” John 13:35 (Today’s New International Version).
References
Holy Bible (2005). Today’s New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Senge, P. M. (2006). Fifth Discipline: the Art and Practice of the Learning
Organization (Rev. ed.). New York: Currency Doubleday.
Stewart, H. L. (2007, November 22). Suspending Assumptions. Retrieved November 27, 2007, from https://regent.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_42110_1
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