[Copyright Stephen Pirie, 2006]
Excerpt of "Maya Sends Her Love":
Grandfather Johann telling young Maya a bedtime account of humanity's history and development:
Once upon a time the many peoples of Earth were one with nature. They lived in a veritable Garden of Eden ... theirs was an instinctive paradise, naturally engaged and lived.
As many business entrepreneurs appreciate, the really important things in starting and running a business are primarily 'mental' -- it's our vision to make a difference, to do things better and to test ourselves that fuels and motivates.
But what about the people that we employ?
It should be no great surprise that for "businesses that pay most regard to the deeper needs of their employees are the ones that perform best."1
The challenge faced when creating a strong, vibrant culture in a business is the intangible 'mental' dimensions - what we think, feel and believe about our work, fellow employees, customers, the work environment etc.
Given current world circumstances (e.g. the 2008 global economic situation; recent and current controversies in the USA over the teaching of "Intelligent Design" and recent demonstrations against cartoons and books that are deemed blasphemous) perhaps it's timely that we gain a fuller perspective.
It is quite evident there are conflicting views on what is "Truth." Is Intelligent Design a valid alternative to the Theory of Evolution? Is it genuinely blasphemous to create an image of that which is deemed sacred?
How can we see our way clear of the jungle of conflicting faiths and beliefs?
If we are lost in a forest it is wise to climb a mountain or tree to gain some sense of location, and to see potential dangers in the way ahead.
In the contemporary jungle of ideas, facts and faiths, it is likewise helpful to gain a high vantage point in order to see through and beyond the 'prison bars' of religious, scientific and cultural beliefs. These 'prison bars' of belief can be (and often are) invisible to many. Nevertheless they can be as strong and as limiting as any jail cell – blocking and keeping us from seeing and living life more freely and fully.
A philosophical high-ground is gained in part by seeing the broad sweep of historical change of the human race; and how that change reflects our growing maturity as a species, and how that maturity, or lack of, influences how we think and behave.
"The Dynamics of Gender and Life" ebook is now available at https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-dynamics-of-gender-and-life
and at Google books (PDF)
"All in all, a wonderful piece of work, which I earnestly hope will reach a vast multitude of readers."
Frank Juszczyk, PhD
Professor Emeritus of English, Western New Mexico University