From: Wim Nusselder (wim.nusselder@antenna.nl)
Date: Tue Apr 06 2004 - 10:42:35 BST
Dear Platt,
I asked you 29 Mar 2004 23:27:30 +0200:
'- You describe yourself as an atheist and defined an atheist as 'someone
[who] doesn't believe in God'. What God do you deny? Given your appreciation
of DQ, you probably deny the same (interpretation of) God as I do. Would you
also describe yourself as an atheist when faced with a religion that
interprets God as DQ?
- What are the practical results of your 'pursuing Dynamic Quality by
creating and contemplating art as well as by pursuing beauty in all [your]
endeavors'? What are the static patterns of value left in its wake in your
life and/or that of others? Does this Dynamic Quality operate on the social
and intellectual patterns of value you participate in? Does it induce them
to 'migrate towards DQ'?'
You answered 30 Mar 2004 09:04:19 -0500:
'[I deny] the God of organized religions.
I don't know of any organized religion that interprets God as DQ.
[The practical results are that] I'm happy.
I have no idea [what static patterns of value DQ leaves in its wake because
of my pursuing it].
I hope so [that it induces social and intellectual patterns of value I
participate in to migrate towards DQ].
Don't mean to appear brusque, but I can't detect the assumptions behind your
questions. If you can expand on your thinking that prompted your questions,
I'll try to be more forthcoming.'
You suspicious old man! (-: Can't you simply see my questions simply for
what they are: open-minded attempts to understand more of the religion you
nominate for best utilizing the MoQ vocabulary we share?
You claimed to be pursuing DQ 'by creating and contemplating art as well as
by pursuing beauty in all my endeavors', but didn't tell how you do that and
how you know that it is really DQ you are pursuing. As the newness of the
patterns of value that it leaves in its wake is the only criterion I know
for recognizing DQ, that's what I asked for.
You evaded my question whether you would call yourself atheist if (there is
a religion that allows) you (to) interpret God as DQ. Not knowing such a
religion is no excuse not to answer that question. You could create one. I
have however described one to you: Quakerism. I'm always willing to explain
if my description didn't make that clear enough.
I'll add something more personal to explain my interest in 'pursuing DQ by
creating and contemplating art as well as by pursuing beauty':
I am working for the European Cultural Foundation. I have nevertheless
little affinity with 'Art' and its larger brother (sister?) 'Culture' that's
often mentioned in the same breath. I recognize it as a possible way to
pursue Dynamic Quality, but I am more conversant with 'Religion' and -to a
lesser extent- with 'Science' as alternative ways to do so.
Working for the ECF (and intending to do so for quite some time to come) I
do need to develop more affinity with art and culture, however. Maybe you
and the connection you make between art and religion can help me in this
respect.
When they hired me 1,5 years ago as administrator, I accepted the job NOT
primarily because I like bookkeeping and related types of work (I have a
talent for it, but my heart is not in it). I did because the idealism of the
ECF appealed to me and because I prefer to work for organizations I can put
my heart in.
What appealed to me was primarily Denis de Rougemont's vision after the 2nd
World War of a Europe that would not only be an economic and a political
entity, but also a cultural entity. The ECF was founded in 1954 to help
create a European identity by promoting cultural cooperation and an open and
unified Europe, where cultural diversity can flourish and enrich everyone.
It seeks to foster a sense of belonging for everyone emphasizing the
importance of cultural concerns for maintaining human rights and democracy.
It does so by promoting (with grants and own programmes) artistic and
cultural initiatives of a socially motivated and innovative nature in Europe
and across its borders. It also lobbies at the European level for the
importance of arts and culture. It is financed primarily (I'm ashamed to
admit) with Dutch lottery income and has a budget of some 4 million Euro a
year (approximately 5 million USD).
Back to your nomination (13 Mar 2004 08:59:41 -0500) of 'pursuing Dynamic
Quality by creating and contemplating art as well as by pursuing beauty in
all my endeavors' for the 'Religion Idols' competition I proposed.
You wrote 4 Apr 2004 17:06:38 -0400:
'Unfortunately, either I'm not very responsive to DQ or DQ has passed me by.
I have no philosophical ideas to offer other than
1) Sometimes take a chance and do nothing because there's no cost and always
the possibility of a beneficial outcome, and
2) Create works that will be admired for their beauty.
As you can see, nothing new there.'
Are you aware that this doesn't particularly strengthen your case in the
'best religion' competition?
But let me help you out: I guess you are not the only one practicing that
religion and seeing it as a way of 'pursuing DQ' (even if other may not use
the term 'DQ', not knowing the MoQ). You can present the combined practice
of all practitioners of your religion and the new patterns of value that the
DQ pursued leaves in its wake.
So:
What are the practical results of Art & Culture (in the sense in which Denis
de Rougemont used it) in general? What are the static patterns of value left
in the wake of DQ pursued in this way? Does this Dynamic Quality operate on
social and intellectual patterns of value? Does it induce them to 'migrate
towards DQ'?
With friendly greetings,
Wim
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