| Re: 0
I have an idea of what you mean to infer by "paradigm" but I looked it
up anyway and find that perhaps I don't! My dictionary says "A list of
all the inflectional forms of a word taken as an illustrative example
of the conjugation or DECLENSION (woe, I didn't know that such a word
existed) to which it belongs; 2)An example or model". So I imagine you
are using it in the final sense of "model", but the word still seems
inappropriate...please explain since it is used several times in your
basenote. The subject seems excellent otherwise...
Playtoe
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| re .2
I had heard of the word paradigm, but I am still not 100% sure about
it's meaning. However, using your definitions in .2 I would say that
Jesus' life and ministry as recorded in the 4 Gospel accounts is a
paradigm for Christians to follow. By using Jesus' example we can see
how one can be pleasing to God. 1 Peter 2:21 reads "In fact, to this
[course] YOU were called, because even Christ suffered for YOU,
leaving YOU a model for YOU to follow his steps closely." ( YOU is
in capitals to show it is plural) In context with verse 20, Peter
showed that following Jesus' steps would show that one is doing good
and that this would be agreeable to God.
From a Christian perspective this pattern of Jesus' life and ministry
is important as a paradigm. Reasons being:-
1) Christians should not use as role models those who are esteemed as being
wise and knowledgable by this world, compare 1 Corinthians 1:20,21
2) Christians need a pattern as role model for their own lives, for
Proverbs 3:5-7 NWT reads "Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do
not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him,
and he himself will make your paths straight. Do not become wise in your
own eyes. Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad."
3) The Scriptures tell us that one should follow Jesus' pattern, 1 Pet 2:21
Once one begins to meditate on Jesus' life and ministry one can then
start to see things through Jesus' eyes as it were. Through taking
in knowledge of the Gospel accounts in the Bible, one can then use
discernment as to wether or not Jesus would do the things that we
do in our every day lives and then through application make adjustments
so as to follow the steps more closely. As knowledge increases one can
then begin to use intution and through this people will begin to see
the godly qualities reflected.
But, it takes time and like the Ehopian eunuch we all need directing
to accurate knowledge. There is a book entitled "The Greatest Man
Whoever Lived" this goes through the 4 Gospel accounts of Jesus'
life and ministry in chronological order, and is in a format that
makes reading it a very enjoyable experience with many colourful
illustrations. Also the questions that it poses after each chapter
helps one to meditate on the Scriptures . Any Jehovah's Witness
anywhere should be able to obtain you a copy, it is very inexpensive.
Phil.
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| Re: Basenote
I don't know that "paradigm" explains "why", but is surely outlines the
"process" or "how" of rejection. The why of it is has to do with the
particular ideas, or content of the "paradigm". The why also gets into
other aspects above and beyond mental models, but gets into character
and personality traits. We could see that a mentally handicapped
person has a "mental model of life/paradigm" and because of it rejects
"such and such", which would be crass, but we could say that. It would
be ridiculous to say that is the basic reason "why" that person rejects
it, however. One's personal paradigms is not adequate as reason why
one rejects something, though we might settle for that as a reason out
of respect for a person's privacy and independence. But because we
have this privacy and liberty/freedom rights does not mean that such in
turn makes ideas emanating from the "social contract" scientific fact
or a "natural principle".
It's a broad and far reaching matter. But the Paradigm should probably
be discussed in a relative and individual sense and not so much the
collective.
To a great extent Leaders rejected Galileo and Jesus because of
perceptions of "power" displacement...not somuch because they were
trying to preserve their personal views of the world. They had systems
and operations set up based upon the people believing certain things,
and the feared if other ideas came into play people might do things
differently, or at least desire to.
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