The
Second Church
Every church is a group of people who profess
similar beliefs, their dogma. The second church is a
supplement. Its purpose is understanding. The players of
the church play the game of understanding. It is hoped that
understanding leads to love and peace between churches (and
governments).
If the need to convert others to your primary church
or your politics is more important to you then the exchange of
understanding, then you are not welcome to play the game. The
game is peacemaking conversation.
It is necessary to recognize that we all have our
moments of evangelism. Hence peacemaking conversation is
frequently not peaceful. It involves talking about
disagreement. The tools make it possible to disagree with
understanding. The "rule" avoids the use of anger.
The second church is not designed to be a primary
church. It has no bureaucracy. There is no need for a
bureaucracy that calls itself "the Second Church" ever to exist.
It is a concept of an inclusive churchdum.
When the church succeeds people talk about important
things without loss of face by conceding truth to belief so that they
can talk as equals.
The mathematics of the game of
the second church
Principle
By refusing to talk about politics and religion with
people with whom we disagree we give up the chance to understand them.
Axiom
If we engage in peacemaking conversation then we
will increase our understanding of each other thereby reducing our fear
of each other.
A postulate for peacemaking conversation
1. Any player proposes a new well specified principle. It
can be a rework of a previous well specified principle.
2. Everyone accepts or rejects the principle.
3. If everyone accepts;
A. Insert (as an authority) "We believe that"
... onto the principle.
B. Go to 1.
4. If some players accept;
A. Insert (as an authority) the names of those
players.
B. Go to 1.
5. If none of the other players accept;
A. Insert (as an authority) the name of the
player.
B. Go to 1.
Principle
A player can change his mind.
Axiom
If a player changes their mind and anyone finds it
necessary, then go to the beginning and redo everything.
Criteria for a player
A player accepts all the other players as
equals. Hence there is no "you are wrong and I am right".
A player tolerates all the other players’ beliefs
(principles) either by extending the benefit of doubt or bearing the
burden of disbelief.
The players purpose in playing is to reduce man's
inhumanity to man begun by understanding each other's beliefs.
From time to time the player talks.
Transparency is favored.
The player gives as much consideration as he can to
the principles of others.
Criteria for well specified principle
The principle has the form of a principle,
principled axiom or principled postulate. It includes its
authority.
The terms of the principle are specified basically
(common understanding), by secondary definition or by criteria.
Axiom
If the need to convert others to your church or your
politics is always more important to you than the exchange of
understanding then you are never a player.
Axiom (the rule)
If you temporarily do not fit the criteria of a
player, then keep silent.