Uphold Orthodoxy: G5

Peaceful Coexistence

The heart of the school lies in its doctrine, which is held to be of great importance as well as being unique, special, and exclusive. The emergence of the school into the glare of public interest and approval is therefore a two-edged sword.

Outsiders feel no loyalty to the school and will water down core ideas, reject some as invalid or unacceptable, and subtly amend other principles to conform to social sensitivities and current fashion.

These dangers of G4-recognition can only be kept in check by a determined upholding of the orthodoxy, and this can be achieved by adding a 5th adjacent level to form pentads.

The orthodoxy is upheld by all genuine adherents who can take on one or more of three different public identities as explained below.

The orthodox position may be unambiguous, but adherents need to be sensible in how and when it is argued and communicated. The qualifier, sensible warns against being rigid, inflexible, intolerant and generally insufferable.

Adherents, without yielding to pressures, need to accept the diversity in society and wield theire orthodoxy in a firm but mindful, reasonable, judicious, astute, and prudent fashion. Otherwise new adherents could be discouraged and the benefits of recognition could be lost. Even existing school members can become disaffected if a guardian takes up a position viewed as extreme—as described previously in an example.

Psychosocial Pressure

Upholding orthodoxyis likely driven by a pressure for acceptability, which is why it must be handled sensibly. This pressure ensures that guardians do not always stick to the letter of the doctrine or rules of the school.

This aligns with the general finding for G5 in structural hierarchies as investigated for Domain Fundamentals and Controls.

Alternatives:ClosedSelflessness cannot be primary because the orthodoxy is tied to personal expressions of a desired identity, and well-being seems to be irrelevant. Considering previously assigned pressures: Certaintyseems important as a secondary pressure, while autonomy, understanding, performance do not fit as drivers.

Expressions of Identity

Professed Believers (G51)

Adherents are commonly open about the doctrine, claiming the fundamentals are based on their awareness as well as reasoning and evidence. They do not necessarily "believe in" the doctrine because this is about a faith that transcends reason and evidence. To outsiders and sceptics, however, the adherents do seem to have a mysterious faith and present and as unscientific or impervious to evidence or alternative theories.

Serious adherents take the school's orthodoxy seriously, reject criticisms and stand up for the principles as they understand them and as they have become meaningful for them.

Professed believers g1-genuinely assert and uphold the L1-fundamentals, g2-forcefully engage in L2-mentoring, g3-resolutely participate in L3-dissemination opportunistically or when requested, are g4-overtly listed as a L4-member of the school's association, and g5-sensibly recognize L5-guardianship as essential for continuance.

Professed believers do not necessarily engage with L6-revisions or pay attention to L7-applications.

Dedicated Evangelists (G52)

Some adherents go beyond simply asserting their belief and seek to convert others to orthodox beliefs of the school. They want to generate more adherents for the school and its membership body.

This evangelical identity is associated with intense enthusiasm and a desire to share what they have realized. They preach and proselytize, initiate interactions with non-adherents, provide materials, and offer various forms of assistance and mentoring.

Dedicated evangelists offer L2-mentoring g1-genuinely, L3-disseminate ideas and materials g2-forcefully, build up the L4- membership association g3-resolutely, recognize L5-guardianship and the orthodoxy g4-overtly, and g5-sensibly adopt L6-revisions to stay abreast with developments.

Dedicated evangelists take their own L1-realization for granted, and do not need to attend to L7-applications.

Acknowledged Popularizers (G53)

Then there are adherents who wade into the public domain and work to spread the doctrine within society and without expecting or wanting to enlarge the school. If effective, they are typically acknowledged by insiders and outsiders. Popularization without violation of orthodox principles or generation of public controversy requires an immersion in the doctrine combined with a feel for social life.

The popularizer needs to remove jargon or obscure technical references so as to write in a direct appealing style that can be immediately understood. Well-chosen examples can bring life to the doctrine. So do links to contemporary concerns and a focus on benefits that can accrue simply by taking the ideas seriously.

Acknowledged popularizers g1-genuinely pursue L3-dissemination via writing (books, blogs) and speaking (videos, lectures, Q&A). They g2-forcefully assert their membership of the L4-association and are g3-resolute as L5-guardiansof the orthodoxy. Finally, they g4-overtly incorporate relevant L6-revisions in their communications, and g5-sensibly L7-apply the doctrine to deliver social benefit.

In this identity expression, L1-realization is taken for granted and L2-mentoring is not pursued.

Transition

Orthodoxy is essential but insufficient for a school to thrive. Unless the school is able to develop its doctrine further, it is in danger of stagnating or becoming out-of-touch as the years pass, the founder becomes history, and society's conditions, potentials and problems change.

The school must therefore actively permit development of the doctrine, and this is made possible by adding an additional level to form hexads.

Originally posted: 28-Apr-2024