sociatry41709

[Adam Blatner]

Re creative process in psychodrama.
           Yes, the process of questioning, probing, challenging has always been the catalyst. Ivo's point is right, that even religion is evolving, a point made by Whitehead in his book, Religion in the Making, and more recently by Ken Wilber in his book, Integral Spirituality. 
      Nowadays so many people conflate religion with its more conservative exponents, and fail to recognize that there are many at the forefront within denominations and in the general trans-denominational frontiers of consciousness- and spirituality- development who also should be recognized as pioneers in the promotion and exploration of spiritual intelligence. 

      In a broader sense, all institutions have many facets reflecting different ways subgroups approach it---in education, psychology, therapy, religion, politics, etc.
         And all institutions suffer from the frailties of any social organization---and also thrive because of the strengths of social organization

    What excites me is the introduction of psychology---which includes social psychology and sociometric thinking---into the mainstream. My estimate is that modern psychology has penetrated or become a vital force in culture at presently about -- what?--- 5-15% max, and more than half of that is pop psych on television and self-help;  most folks still don't trust the business of becoming more conscious. "They're just tryin' to mess with your head." 

    Social psychology--- closer to 1-3% in my estimation. Too weird. And our tools are still weak. But I'm open to your comments about my intuitive estimation of this. 

     The good news is that we have our work cut out for us: The job has only just begun.
        The bad news is that it may take several generations of dedicated pioneering to make much of a dent. 
                   
         Warmly, Adam

        
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: thana ag 


  Hey All,
  Even   the discussion we are engaging in is part of the evolution. The breaking of the status quo starts with questioning it.
  And questioning is what every spiritual path or a scientific endeavor ask of us. Would there be  spontaneity without the freedom to question.?
  anath


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:18:52 +0100
  Subject: Re: "feet of clay" and the cannon of creativity
  From: ibanaco at gmail.com
  To: sewell.2 at osu.edu
  CC: list at grouptalkweb.org; ablatner at verizon.net

  Bravo Regina. If it wasn't clear my thoughts on the subject, you put it in a brilliant way. Thank you. 


  Just a quick note to add that, in my opinion, we can't escape institutions, structures, cultural conserves like religions, habits of some sort and so on. The way you talk of religions for instance give the impression that they are bad. In my opinion they are not as any kind of cultural conserve in itself is not. The problem is the stuckness of the conserve, the inertia, the rejection to move on in the natural process of evolution.


  Ivo   


  On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 5:57 PM, REGINA SEWELL <sewell.2 at osu.edu> wrote:

    Adam, Ivo,

    I am struck as I read your discussion about Moreno and the potential flaws in the theory or possible feet of clay because it reminds me of what Huston Smith says about Buddhism becoming an established "religion" or "practice" or at the very least, "system."  Religion, Smith argues, has six common, core aspects (what we would consider components of it's cultural conserve):  * a structure of authority in which some people attain more knowledge or skill and are sought out by others for advice as well as the establishment of an institutional/organizational side; *ritual, especially for dealing with celebration and bereavement which functions to relieve a sense of isolation; * speculation about where we come from or where we are going; * tradition; * grace -- the belief that Reality is ultimately on our side;* a sense of mystery.  

    Buddhism as originally set forth was almost entirely free from all of these. 

    From what I understand, Moreno saw getting stuck in the cultural conserve problematic both for the individual (they become robotrons) and society (which gets stagnate and corrupt).  We are encouraged to be spontaneous something adequate in a new situation or somethind different and adequate in a familiar situation.  As I understand (I could be wrong so *please* correct me or fill in the blanks here) he was opposed to the institutionalization process we now have  with the board of examiners and the current certification process, etc.  

    Part of the problem is that we live in a world that requires us to become ever more rational and effecient.  This means institutionalization almost had to have happened, just as it was inevitable for Buddhism.  And we find ourselves, strugglling with drawing from the cultural conserve because there is great value there, and creating new forms, new ideas, applying new theories, etc out of necessity in some cases, awareness that forms that were created in another time are not as relevant or at least realistic (ie 3 hour psychodramas in a therapeutic setting or the new information relating to brain neurobiology or the widespread availability of less than completely incapacitating pharmaceuticals) in other cases, and the spontaneity of the moment in other cases still.  

    And in answer to any questions about psychodrama as a religion, I don't see psychodrama as a religion, though it certainly contains many of the components of religion listed by Smith.  And it seems to me that in some ways we are suffering from some of the malaise that mainstream protastant churches are suffering from in terms of dwindling membership that is becoming older and older w/ fewer young people jumping in to.  The other thing is that, like Buddhism is bigger now than the Buddha, psychodrama has grown beyond J.L.  We have many other people, including Zerka (who I think made more of a contribution than she often gets credit for)  who are continuing to make significant contributions to our understanding of the field.  

    Peace,
    regina sewell, Ph.D.





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