Early on in our work along the path of potential, even before the emergence of the living philosophy of potential, the intuitively knowable truth, “if love is not present in the process, love will not be present in the outcome,” became an anchor point, and a true source of discernment for that which was pursued or joined with. This truth, along with the understanding of there being intent, and intended ways of working (the process perspective of design), became both cornerstone and keystone for the work of the living philosophy of potential. Given this cornerstone of love, it is not surprising that when the time came for us to reflect from the perspective of the living philosophy of potential on the manifested intent we commonly think of as the word, we would turn, for the most part, to the Gospel teachings of Christ… Christ, the process of Christ, being understood to be the exemplar in matters of love, and peace as well, even by many of those who have no religious or belief system orientation towards his teaching. We also recognized that it was not the work of the living philosophy of potential – at least through the authors’ reflection and writing – to deal with the totality of the revealed word. That work, we expect, will take place through ongoing reflection and reflective dialoguing within community. The particular Gospel teachings that we were drawn to are those that we have come to think of as the “going forward” teachings, the teachings we were intended to strive to live and work from in a going forward way after Christ returned to the Father, teachings that themselves are anchored in the two Commandments:
“Love God” and
“Love one another as I have loved you” (Cf. Mt 22:37; Jn 13:34).
Both of these Commandments have significance to the cornerstone of the living philosophy of potential, “if love is not present in the process, love will not be present in the outcome.”
Now, while we lack the life experience to be authentic in regards to the interpretations of the revealed word brought forth by the world’s religions, we do have an experience, a commonly shared experience, that is for many of us a true source of hope. Our experience is that when people come together with a shared aim of advancing our humanness, an aim bolstered by a conviction of this being the necessary work of our time – this time of potential, this time of moving towards wholeness and away from that which divides – that which was previously thought of as impossible, becomes possible… or more accurately, what emerges through reflective dialogue is beyond what we had imagined or hoped for. In this work, religion – the various religious faiths of those involved in the dialogues – rather than being a cause of separation, is both an enriching source… and that which is enriched through reflective dialoguing where love is present in the process.
Throughout history there have been expressions of wisdom and understanding in regards to the complementary working of faith and philosophy, of religion and science, etc. Pope John Paul II and Albert Einstein, for example, were quite clear in their reflections on this complementarity. One notion that seems to have particular relevance at this time is that faith without philosophy risks becoming a myth.7,8 Without doubt, reflection and reflective dialoguing on this wisdom would yield much seeing in regards to this essential complementarity, a seeing beyond the scope of this writing. We can, however, if we hold in mind the critical issues (peace, ecology, poverty, for example) facing humankind and all of life on earth, see the usefulness of a philosophy that is intentional in its orientation, and whole enough such that we can come together to move towards wholeness and away from that which divides… a living philosophy, a practice-able philosophy that, given its cornerstone of love in the process, can be an enriching source of reflection, as well as an enabler of oneness, wholeness and completeness to those whose faith is anchored in love emanating from a single Source. And too, experience shows the living philosophy of potential can be an equally enriching and inspiriting source of reflection for those who are not drawn to organized faith, but are drawn towards advancing our humanness, our moving towards wholeness, those whose efforts and intentions demand an understanding of the essence of our humanness… an understanding of compassion, in particular the compassion of equality… the nature of compassion called for at this time of potential.
7 Cf. Pope John Paul II, Fides et Ratio; on the Relationship between Faith and Reason. (Boston: Pauline Books & Media, 1998), 48.
8 ”Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind.” Albert Einstein. Science, Philosophy and Religion: a Symposium, 1941.
