We’ve established in principle what the world’s made out of from several perspectives, including phenomenological, cybernetic, narrative, identity, conscious experience, and goal-directed pursuit. These perspectives tie together to explain how reality operates in relation to order and disorder.
Order and Disorder
The world, as we experience it, is made up of two primary domains:
- Order: Where things you want happen when you do them. This domain represents predictability, where everything aligns with your goals.
- Disorder: Where things go wrong. This is the domain of chaos, where things become unpredictable and the structure fails.
These domains have dual meanings—predictability not only reflects progress toward your goal but also confirms that the principles or rules by which you’re operating are valid. When something goes wrong, it’s hard to distinguish whether it’s a strategic error or a complete failure, which might mean that the game itself needs to change.
For example, if a marriage falls apart, can you say the reality of the relationship before it collapsed was real, or was it just a failure of the “game” or framework you were playing? This distinction is difficult to make.
Transition to Narrative and Symbolism
At this point, we move from abstract conceptualization to symbolic representation, which forms the foundation for how the world is described in stories. These narratives, in turn, shape our perceptions, and understanding these patterns can lead us to understanding the religious domain—the deepest level of human experience.
Shallow vs Deep Experiences
The concept of deep and shallow experiences is central here. A profound experience changes the way you see everything, while a shallow experience requires minimal adjustments. A profound change destabilizes the framework of meaning, and this emotional shift reflects something more fundamental.
- Shallow Experience: Requires minor adjustments and doesn’t significantly alter your framework of meaning.
- Deep Experience: Alters your perception and redefines the framework of meaning itself.
The Vow in Relationships
In relationships, particularly marriages, one of the fundamental principles that a marriage depends on is the vow of fidelity. This vow stabilizes the interpretation of the interaction and the environment.
- If this vow is violated, it creates a profound challenge, because the entire framework of interpretation—past, present, and future—falls apart.
This represents a deep problem, one that challenges not only the relationship but also the very meaning of everything involved.
Anomalies and Chaos
Now, how do you account for a betrayal or a collapse in a relationship? This introduces chaos into the equation, but it’s not just chaos like an unexpected event such as your car breaking down. It’s chaos with intent behind it—often a malevolent intent.
- Chaos: Represents the unknown or what goes wrong.
- Malevolent Chaos: Represents the deeper, more intentional form of chaos, like betrayal or moral wrongdoing.
When you encounter malevolence, especially when it’s intentional, it can lead to trauma. Your perception of yourself, others, and the world is transformed, and without a framework to make sense of this, you risk experiencing PTSD.
The Collapse and Transformation
- Profound Experiences: At the religious level, they’re seen as a call to a deeper understanding of good and evil, and they can lead to radical transformation.
- Trauma: Often results in a new understanding of the world, as old frameworks collapse and new possibilities emerge.
Hierarchy of Dependencies
There’s a hierarchy of dependencies in our conceptualizations. Some principles are foundational and form the basis for everything else.
- Deep Experiences: These transform everything they touch, like a betrayal that disrupts a relationship.
- Shallow Experiences: These require minor adjustments, allowing you to move forward without major transformations.
The vow of fidelity in marriage is a foundational principle. If that vow is violated, the whole framework of meaning associated with the relationship collapses. This is a deep problem—a profound challenge to the structure of the relationship.
The Religious Domain
The Role of Chaos and Order
The religious domain emerges when these deep challenges occur, as they force a confrontation with chaos. But chaos, at its core, is not just about unpredictability—it also involves malevolence, which further complicates the process of making sense of the collapse.
- Chaos: Represents the unknown.
- Malevolent Chaos: Represents intentional harm and moral failings.
When something catastrophic happens in your life, especially at the hands of someone else, you often reach for religious language because there is no other way to describe the intensity of the situation. This is the domain where good and evil manifest, and where transformation is most needed.
The Potential for Transformation
If you encounter malevolent chaos, while it can be traumatizing, it also opens up the possibility for a radical transformation. In the context of faith, this means having the courage to face these challenges, knowing that they can lead to growth and a deeper understanding of the world.
- Faith: The belief that whatever happens as a result of facing the truth is the best outcome, no matter what it looks like.
This is the foundation for overcoming chaos, particularly in the context of relationships, societal structures, and personal growth.
Conclusion
In summary, to understand the world as it is, we must understand the relationship between chaos and order. The framework that governs how we navigate these domains is often shaped by our relationships, the vows we make, and the stories we tell about ourselves and others. When confronted with chaos, whether it’s personal trauma, betrayal, or societal upheaval, we must not only face the unknown but also transform ourselves in the process. This process can lead to a new game—a new path forward. But in order to do that, we must pay attention to the truth and embrace the chaos with a spirit of transformation and faith.