%TEST PERSONAL EXPERIENCE POWER CORRUPT ADDICT 930816
Generalizations seek to point to what is in common
among many situations in spite of what is unique to each
situation. Generalizations in the sciences often point to
the common consequence of some common set of conditions;
describing "laws" of nature. Such generalizations say in
effect that if certain conditions are set up, then certain
consequences will follow---to the extent that conditions
are duplicated with sufficient accuracy to permit
predictions of meaningful accuracy.
Generalization may be descriptive, as is the case in
scientific descriptions of how natural objects behave in
"obedience" to natural "laws". One of the most accurately
predictable patterns in nature is the pattern of the
motions of the planets of our own solar system. Yet, not
even the future positions of the planets in the solar
system can be predicted with meaningful accuracy for 60
million years into the future. The accuracy of
predictions depend upon the level of complexity, the
accuracy of known initial circumstances, and how far into
the future the attempt at making predictions points.
Generalizations may be prescriptive in character
based upon some descriptive statements about consequences
of particular decisions, actions, and generated
circumstances. Prescriptive generalizations are often
based upon the conviction that descriptive generalizations
are accurate and reliable. Certain things should/not be
done because we think we know what the consequences of
them are sure to be. Other prescriptive generalizations
are made to be matters of ultimate concern, and are
treated as gods or idols; not to be questioned or tested
in the light of the experiences of real unique humans
talking about their own personal experiences openly and
honestly within secure contexts.
When prescriptive generalizations are made matters of
ultimate concern and divorced from being tested honestly
in terms of human experiences, those who are ultimately
concerned about the prescriptive generalizations engage in
idolatry. They contend that the prescriptions shall be
obeyed even if the consequence of such obedience is the
destruction of all forms of life on planet earth. They
disallow the possibility of discovering that the
prescriptive generalization is disintegrative of personal
and communal wholeness, health, and well-being. The
commands of prescriptive generalizations are, in their
view, given to us to obey without question in selective
scriptures which have been carefully chosen to meet the
needs of the people who abuse the scriptures to meet their
own personal needs.
Descriptive generalizations and prescriptive
generalizations are individually and/or collectively
regarded as the essence of God; or as what God wants for
us, desires for us, or issues as commands to us. It is
idolatrous to threat them as such. People who do treat
them as such often set themselves up as self appointed
legislators, administrators AND judges in God's Kingdom;
and arrogate to themselves excessive powers without
restraints---and become intolerant, unforgiving, abusive
and violent people who try to dictate how others should
behave, or else. Such people occasion much estrangement,
misunderstanding, and alienation; and so help to create
many evil relationships.
(c) 1997 by Paul A. Smith in
"Search for Integrity and Honesty"
(On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)