Introduction to Systemic Theology

Introduction to Systemic Theology Andrew Sears www.techmission.org

The Need for Systemic Theology
World is becoming increasingly complex and interdependent
Systems theory is the scientific response
Systemic theology is the spiritual response
Systems theory only recognizes the what can be quantified (the External)
Traditional theology does not reflect the reality and address the needs of the world today

Traditional Theology =
God only works in the supernatural (breaking natural laws)
Only demonstration of God working is by breaking natural laws
Science and theology operate in different domains and theology is a small domain of knowledge
Puts focus on:
Natural laws because they govern everything except when God decides to break them
Materialism because it can be measured and seen
The exterior vs. the interior
Asking “What is True?”
Takes focus away from:
The Spiritual, Beauty, Culture, Asking “What is Good?”
The Internal experience and the Collective perspective
Causes us to look for God only in the supernatural
Natural Supernatural

Natural Supernatural Science Capitalist Economics Engineering Life Sciences Biology Chemistry Physics Humanities Arts Philosophy Psychology Ontology Cultural Studies Anthropology Ethics Justice Performance Arts Cosmology Social Sciences Epidemiology Sociology Law Socialist Economics Political Science History Systems Theory Ecology Astronomy Fields: Theology Fields:

Principles of Systemic Theology
Systemic theology provides a systems perspective of understanding God
God works at all levels of all systems
God can defy natural laws since He created them
God also influences events at every level of systems without defying natural laws
Systemic theology covers all knowledge: all truth is God’s Truth
Avoid a false separation of the spiritual and the natural
Look for God throughout our lives in the natural and supernatural
Focus on the systemic causes of things to understand their spiritual depth
* Systemic theology should not be confused with “systematic theology,” which is a term used to refer to a complete, analytical approach to theology.

2. Interior-Individual (I/mind) 1. Exterior-Individual (it/body) 3. Interior-Collective (we/culture) 4. Exterior Collective (they/society)

2. Interior-Individual (I/mind) 1. Exterior-Individual (it/body) 3. Interior-Collective (we/culture) 4. Exterior Collective (they/society) Atoms Molecules Cells Plants Animals Mammals Resurrected Bodies Increasing Health & Skill Humans Fields Science Capitalist Economics Engineering Life Sciences Biology Chemistry Physics

2. Interior-Individual (I/mind) 1. Exterior-Individual (it/body) 3. Interior-Collective (we/culture) 4. Exterior Collective (they/society) Atoms Molecules Cells Plants Animals Mammals Resurrected Bodies Increasing Health & Skill Humans Fields Science Capitalist Economics Engineering Life Sciences Biology Chemistry Physics Inanimate Life Perceiving ( Physiological Needs) Impulsive (Establishing Safety) Emotional (Belonging /Healing/Pastoral) Rational (Growing in Truth/ Teaching) Living Your Calling Christ like Spirit Apostolic/Prophetic Fields Humanities Arts Western Theology Western Philosophy Psychology Ontology

2. Interior-Individual (I/mind) 1. Exterior-Individual (it/body) 3. Interior-Collective (we/culture) 4. Exterior Collective (they/society) Undirected Survival Animalistic Survival Paganism Shamanistic Religion Law Based Religion Christian Nationalism Global Living Body of Christ Heavenly Worship Fields Cultural Studies Anthropology Ethics Justice Eastern Religions Performance Arts Cosmology Atoms Molecules Cells Plants Animals Mammals Resurrected Bodies Increasing Health & Skill Humans Fields Science Capitalist Economics Engineering Life Sciences Biology Chemistry Physics Inanimate Life Perceiving ( Physiological Needs) Impulsive (Establishing Safety) Emotional (Belonging /Healing/Pastoral) Rational (Growing in Truth/ Teaching) Living Your Calling Christ like Spirit Apostolic/Prophetic Fields Humanities Arts Western Theology Philosophy Psychology Ontology

2. Interior-Individual (I/mind) 1. Exterior-Individual (it/body) 3. Interior-Collective (we/culture) 4. Exterior Collective (they/society) All Christians Globally Loving their “neighbors” New Heaven & Earth No relationships Broken Relationships Loose Families Tribes (hunter/gatherer) Village (horticulture) Early State (agrarian) Nation State (materialist economy) Fields Social Sciences Sociology Law Socialist Economics Political Science History Epidemiology Systems Engineering Systems Theory Ecology Astronomy Undirected Survival Animalistic Survival Paganism Shamanistic Religion Law Based Religion Christian Nationalism Global Living Body of Christ Heavenly Worship Fields Cultural Studies Anthropology Ethics Justice Eastern Religions Performance Arts Cosmology Atoms Molecules Cells Plants Animals Mammals Resurrected Bodies Increasing Health & Skill Humans Fields Science Capitalist Economics Engineering Life Sciences Biology Chemistry Physics Inanimate Life Perceiving ( Physiological Needs) Impulsive (Establishing Safety) Emotional (Belonging /Healing/Pastoral) Rational (Growing in Truth/ Teaching) Living Your Calling Christ like Spirit Apostolic/Prophetic Fields Humanities Arts Western Theology Philosophy Psychology Ontology

Systemic Theology = God Operates Everywhere 2. Interior-Individual (I/mind) 1. Exterior-Individual (it/body) 3. Interior-Collective (we/culture) 4. Exterior Collective (they/society) Mental Illness, Lies, Abuse & Addiction Sickness & Physical Oppression Religious & Cultural Oppression Political & Economic Oppression & Calamities Spiritual Growth Salvation Physical Healing Revival Social Movements

Systemic Theology = God Operates Everywhere Mental Illness, Lies, Abuse & Addiction Sickness & Physical Oppression Religious & Cultural Oppression Political & Economic Oppression & Calamities 2. Interior-Individual (I/mind) 1. Exterior-Individual (it/body) 3. Interior-Collective (we/culture) 4. Exterior Collective (they/society) All Christians Globally Loving their “neighbors” New Heaven & Earth No relationships Broken Relationships Family Tribes (hunter/gatherer) Village (horticulture) Early State (agrarian) Nation State (materialist economy) Fields Social Sciences Epidemiology Sociology Law Socialist Economics Political Science History Systems Theory Ecology Astronomy Undirected Survival Group Survival Paganism Shamanistic Religion Law Based Religion Christian Nationalism Global Living Body of Christ Heavenly Worship Fields Cultural Studies Anthropology Ethics Justice Eastern Religions Performance Arts Cosmology Atoms Molecules Cells Plants Animals Mammals Resurrected Bodies Increasing Health & Skill Humans Fields Science Capitalist Economics Engineering Life Sciences Biology Chemistry Physics Inanimate Life Perceiving ( Physiological Needs) Impulsive (Establishing Safety) Emotional (Belonging /Healing/Pastoral) Rational (Growing in Truth/ Teaching) Living Your Calling Christ like Spirit Apostolic/Prophetic Fields Humanities Arts Western Theology Philosophy Psychology Ontology Spiritual Growth Salvation Physical Healing Revival Social Movements

Ways We Get Separated
“ We see through a glass darkly”
The glass is different colors for different people
Most people only see one part of one quadrant
Each person’s personality and culture predisposes their lens on the world
Big Picture = Collective
Detail Oriented = Individual
Thinkers = External
Feelers = Internal
Western Culture = Individual and External
Eastern Culture = Collective and Internal
Conservative = Individual
Liberal = Collective
Secular = Exterior
Religious = Interior
Protestant = Individual
Catholic = Collective

The Difference Between Academic Knowledge and Action/Experience
All Fields in all four quadrants are only academic knowledge of the External of those areas
“ Psychology will never tell you what Pizza tastes like.”
All growth comes from action & experience
Achieving health vs. Medicine
Healthy relationships vs. Psychology
Creating healthy culture vs. Anthropology
Creating a just society vs. Political Science
To address systemic problems, you need to:
Understand systemic causes in all 4 quadrants
Implement action plan to address causes in 4 quadrants

Understanding Addiction (knowledge)
Biochemistry of addiction
Medical Treatments
Hereditary predisposition
Easy access to drugs/addiction
Lack of physical care of bodies
Biophysical emotional predisposition
Unemployment
Lack of emotional intelligence
Personal isolation/broken relationships
Spiritual emptiness
Wounds from abuse
Separation from God
Cultural devaluation of emotion,
spiritual, relationships, etc.
Subcultures where addiction is norm
Drugs, alcohol, sex, food & materialism
promoted in Mass media
Current cultural oppression (racism, etc.)
Cultural inheritance from past oppression
“ Worship” of sex, hedonism and other
“ gods” permeates culture
Breakdown of family
Lack of jobs
Systemic Oppression (Racism, etc.)
Political priorities
Economics of drug trade
Global exploitation
Failed States/Governments
Globalization of crime

Addressing Addiction (action)
Get on proper psychotropic medication
Remove access to addictive item
Avoid HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired)
Get a job
Go to Counseling
Get healthy friendships
Form identity
Establish physical & emotional safety
Pursue spiritual fulfillment
Get healing from wounds of abuse
Get connected to God
Spiritual revival
Pursue or create subcultures that value emotion, spiritual, relationships, etc.
Avoid Subcultures where addiction is norm
Avoid triggering mass media
Pursue groups that help to cope with cultural oppression
Pursue groups that positively address
cultural inheritance from past oppression
Immerse in culture that Worships God
Restore and build up family
Support groups that are addressing addiction, oppression, promote policies addressing addiction, and addressing global systemic causes of drug trade

Stages of Spiritual Growth & Fivefold Ministry

Spirituality & the Butterfly Effect
Butterfly Effect
Does the Flap of a Butterfly's Wings in Brazil Set Off a Tornado in Texas?
How God affects systems
He knows which butterfly to touch to avoid the tornado
Apostles and prophets
Apostles and prophets are often associated with social movements or revivals (impacting Culture and Society)
Apostles and prophets listen to God who tells them which butterfly’s to touch to create a movement
Prophets identify the movement and apostles lead it
Spiritual Examples
Social: Rosa Parks & Martin Luther King Jr., William Wilberforce, William Booth, etc.
Revivals: George Whitefield, John Wesley, Dwight Moody

Spirituality and Materialism
Materialism is a lens/worldview/religion that focuses only on External, reductionist answers
Assumptions of materialism form a lens that distort reality in a way that leads to spiritual regression
External lens only shows the External quadrants by definition
Reductionist lens gives preference to the center by definition
Creates hostility between religion and science
Sub-Branches of Materialism
Scientific method: only values what can be measured & reproduced
Capitalism & Communism: societal progress is in only what can be measured
Objectivism: philosophy that only objective truth is important
Evolution: assumes that humans are the same as animals
Humanism: humans determine all truth and good using only rational thought without God

Understanding the Limits of Science
Each “level” has its own science with different sets of laws & models
Only simple examples accurately follow models
Most systems are too complex to be solvable
Math: ratio of solvable problems to unsolvable problems is zero
Physics: Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle provides fundamental limit to knowledge
Chaos Theory: these limits and system complexity create fundamental limits to knowledge in other fields
“ We still do not know one thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed to us.” – Einstein
Chaos Theory is likely to prove that we can never know more than that

Why is the World Powerless Against Modern Problems?
Our Internal and Collective perspectives are underdeveloped
We lack the tools needed to address the world’s most important problems:
Addiction, Cultural Degradation, Racism, Climate Change, Terrorism
Need a systemic view that understands complexities of multiple causes
Bias toward academic understanding rather than action and experience

Growth in Spirit and Truth
John 4:23-24 “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.“
Knowledge of External = Academic = Truth
Primarily comes through teaching and learning
Scientific method applies to External
Growth of the Internal = Spirit
Primarily comes through Individual or Collective experience
You can study about Internal things, but growth comes from the experience
Emotional healing vs. studying psychology
Scientific method does not apply to Internal by definition

Replacing the Scientific Method
Scientific Method
Systemic Method
Focus: only on the External
what can be measured/replicated
Finding Truth
Scientific Method
Reductionist
Question
What is true?
Goal
Expand proven knowledge
Focus: on all four quadrants
Finding Truth
External: scientific method
Internal: five-fold ministry
Holistic
Questions
What is true?
What is helpful?
Goal
Grow in truth
Increasing health (life)

Systems and the Demonic
Atomic Model Example
No one has seen the atomic model, but it accurately describes what you can observe
Are atoms real? Yes
Demons
Individual Translation: addiction & abuse
Collective Translation: systemic & cultural oppression
You may not see it, but it accurately describes what you can observe
Are demons real? Yes
Biblical & historical examples

Fundamental Systemic Problems of our Age 2. Interior-Individual (I/mind) 1. Exterior-Individual (it/body) 3. Interior-Collective (we/culture) 4. Exterior Collective (they/society) Addiction Systemic Health Effects Cultural Exploitation in Media Exploitive Politics & Globalization

Cultural Exploitation in Media
Modern worship: Corporations use images of sex gods, youth, alcohol, drugs, materialism & violence, & those gods will bless them with increased profits.
We participate by consuming media which numbs us, keeps us occupied and creates a steady diet of sex, youth, alcohol, drugs, violence & materialistic consumption.
Those images affect us by causing us to put too much of our focus on those things (i.e. worship those things)
We become in bondage through addiction, debt, work commitments, etc.
Cultures are exploited and degraded often with major social consequences: women, hip hop culture, developing countries

Exploitive Politics & Globalization
Our system rewards politicians and companies that get things for you.
These politicians and companies aggressively try to get things for you.
They end up exploiting those with less power .
You benefit through reduced prices and increased benefits.
By supporting those politicians and companies you are contributing to systemic injustice.
Examples: unjust wars, economic exploitation, de facto segregation, racism, sexism, slavery, etc.

Understanding God
Imagine the entire universe (all systems) exists in God’s “brain” or consciousness
Like the movie the Matrix
God exists outside of space and time because they are created by His consciousness
Natural laws function like a computer program governing things, but God can modify the program at any time
Study of all laws/knowledge is the study of spiritual laws/knowledge
This perspective helps to reconcile science and religion (evolution)

Vision for Systemic Theology
Domain: Systemic theology covers all knowledge and experience that promotes spiritual growth
Goal is to promote spiritual growth
All truth is God’s Truth
Includes all fields
Internal “knowledge” must be experienced
How do we create systems that promote spiritual growth?
Will come from people with experience and knowledge across all four quadrants
Examples
UrbanMinistry.org : Wiki of knowledge promoting Individual and social spiritual growth
ChristianVolunteering.org : directory of experiences that promote spiritual growth

References & Credits
Scripture from New International Version (NIV)
The 4 quadrant framework and some of the levels of systems were drawn from A Brief History of Everything , Ken Wilber
Idea for using the term “Systemic Theology” came from a discussion with Doug Hall
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs
Thanks to TechMission staff who provided feedback on these ideas.

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Introduction to Systemic Theology

by Andrew Sears on Aug 26, 2009

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