Presence: A Global Conversation for a New Earth.

Doug and Cody discuss the difference between 1st and 2nd tier perspectives. Even though Postmodernity has brought greater inclusion and higher values to human rights, it still resists the leap into 2nd tier. In Christianity, postmodern level consciousness would be recognized as progressive or perhaps emerging. But post modernity still attaches to Form, as do all 1st tier levels. Even this interpre...

The Presence message continues to grow. Activity is at an all-time high. In fact, our growth has led to some exciting new additions to our efforts. Presence is pleased and excited to welcome Cody Deese and his wife Katie as our newest members. Cody will be serving as the new President of Presence and I (Doug King) will take the position of CEO. Cody brings 15 years of experience in the non-profit...

Presence has a guest at our Atlanta facility in this episode. Danny Haas, visiting from Kansas City, joins us for a personal conversation of his journey. Danny is certified in Level 1 and 2 Spiral Dynamics and is a student of Integral Theory as well as the Enneagram. He has been teaching in the prison ministry for 15 years and has been using our material on Integral Theology. We really enjoyed hav...

This episode is the conclusion of our discussion with Andrew Lombardi and Stephen Durkota who were our hosts on their Laity Podcast. We discuss in more detail the movement up the Spiral meaning how evolution works with regard to spiritual consciousness. The movement into 2nd tier consciousness is not away from the first tier levels but rather a new perspective of those levels. 2nd tier thinking is...

In this episode we participate with Andrew Lombardi and Stephen Durkota in their podcast entitled The Laity Podcast. Andrew and Stephen also live in the Atlanta area with their wives and young children and they are providing a space for those who find themselves questioning their journey and growth in understanding God identity. They reached out to us because of our work in Spiral Dynamics and the...

Our continuing discussion of postmodernism takes up the aspect of disagreement versus attacking. The advent of Progressive Christianity within postmodernity has brought about sharp disagreement with the worldview of the Traditional level. At the same time, Postmodern progressives are now under critique from those who are seeking an Integral approach. Social media is now a manifestation of the chal...

This episode takes a closer look at the way Post Modernism is situated compared to the Traditional and Modern levels. A comparison of science and religion is made regarding the shared trajectory of both as humanity moves into 'Green Space' (Post Modern Level of Consciousness in Spiral Dynamics) and positions itself for the leap into formlessness. And Post Modernity is examined for both its transce...

As we continue our discussion of Postmodernism, we are joined by Cody Deese for today's episode. Cody is Pastor of Vinings Lake Church in Mableton, GA. A few months ago he was kind enough to invite me into his group for a 4 Sunday series on Spiral Dynamics and the Narrative which is posted on our website. He and his wife Katie have become close friends of ours and it's always inspiring to hear fro...

We begin a look at the last level of first tier in Spiral Dynamics; Postmodernity. The postmodern level or stage reacts against the shortcomings of modernity. That is, humans can enter periods of deconstruction for a while, but they eventually long for a reformation of community or reconstruction. Post moderns do not want a regression to the older, Traditional definition of community. Rather, they...

This episode features the chairman of the board for Presence, Robert Costa. Robert hails from Australia and shares his personal journey and experiences in Christianity from Catholicism to the Reformed Church, and now, beyond the boundary driven interpretation of Jesus as a religion. Presence is very blessed to have Robert's wisdom, business acumen and energy. This interview once again points to th...

We conclude our discussion of the Modern level or stage. Modernity began a deconstruction of Christianity that continues to this day. It was Martin Luther who introduced Modernity to the paradigms of Christianity. At the heart of his deconstruction was a new approach to human authority and God identity. Until Luther, no one questioned the egoic basis of the Christian religion. And after 1500 years...

Presence board member Rob Hunter concludes his thoughts on Modernity and the idea of "better." Rob points to the work of Steven Pinker, "The Better Angels of Our Nature" to begin this session. We should be aware that better does not mean avoidance of threats and challenges. Nothing better can evolve without chaos and deconstruction as part of the process. Rob moves to the question of WHY things ge...

As we began our discussion of the Modern or Orange Level of evolution, Rob Hunter joins us for a 2-part discussion. In part 1 today we introduce Rob who now serves on the Board for Presence. Rob shares his background and what lead him to be part of Presence. As a successful business person, his insights are particularly valuable with relation to Spiral Dynamics and the Narrative. You will most lik...

Today we complete our discussion of Empire by tracing the role and function of Kingdom through the Narrative. We start with the prophet Samuel who sees Israel's desire for a King as a problem. The nature of kingdom evolves from self/ego as source to God as source. The battle is on for obtaining power. The Narrative integrates with the Spiral in the sense of transcend and include; meaning that ther...

This session concludes our introductory discussion of the Traditional worldview or Blue Meme perspective. The element of empire evolves at this level and Israel wants to be like all of the other nations/empires. She asks for a king. This desire was an amplification of Adam. It symbolizes the unhealthy manifestation of desire; coveting. Both Adam and Israel covet power; specifically, they covet pow...

Doug and Denée continue the discussion of the 2 major elements of the Traditional Level in the Biblical Narrative; Empire and Institution. Both of these have in common the development of Law. In both cases there arises the need for control and the execution of judgment. We note how these foundational principles have continued until our own time. Today's emphasis is on Institution and its relations...

We continue the discussion of the Blue Traditional Stage. Two of the themes in this worldview were Empire and Institution. Although we note that empires were part of the historical record in the Narrative (Egyptian, Babylonian, Roman) the discussion begins with Institution. Specifically, we investigate religious institution as it come on to the scene through Moses and the Law. We note that Law req...

In Part I of our conversation regarding "Leaving Church" we laid the groundwork for today's segment by introducing the Enneagram and the 9 types. Earlene shared on overview of the Type 2 also referred to as "The Helper" while Denée shared her type, a 7, also known as "The Enthusiast". If you are not familiar with The Enneagram we will, again, share some resources we use and recommend. Earlene, Den...

We're going to introduce another tool or map called the Enneagram that is a beautiful complement to The Spiral Dynamics model. The reason we are layering the Enneagram into the conversation is, while we may be experiencing life from the same collective world-view, such as a Traditional or Post-Modern, our own unique motivations and reactions will come into play especially when we encounter change....

Today we introduce one of the primary levels of the Spiral, the Traditional Level. This level was present when Jesus appeared on the scene. It creates the concept of Law in order to move away from the Warrior worldview. Jesus, Paul and the other Apostolic writers will start all of their teachings on the foundation of Moses - Law and Traditional principles but then move beyond to even higher levels...

Today we discuss the Warrior level of consciousness as human world-views evolved from the more simplistic, Tribal level or stage. Once again, we refer to the work of Don Beck and Chris Cowan, "Spiral Dynamics" as the basis for our discussion of the Biblical Narrative in lieu of world history. Israel's interpretation of God and God Identity was shaped through the red lens (warrior) of power and dom...

We conclude our discussion of Jerusalem and its continued history of controversy. While the cross was the eschatological moment of transformation for Jesus the individual, it was Jerusalem that symbolized transformation for the collective known as his body. From the cross to Jerusalem's end are the first century bookends of a total transformation and restoration of all things. We look at Peter and...

Why did the president's announcement regarding recognition of Jerusalem cause such an uproar? Why is this ancient city still in the middle of political and religious conflict on a world-wide scale? In this episode, we build upon the 3 part discussion of Abraham just concluded. Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker was God. (See Hebrews). Is that city the Jerusalem located in today's mi...

The Genesis of human consciousness has 2 elements: Self as Source and Spirit as Source. Archaic Adam has an eye opening experience of Self. Abraham has an experience of Spirit as Source through living by faith. The Tribal level of Abrahamic consciousness points to different cosmologies. Tribe will evolve from the particularistic (Nation, singular) to the universal (All Nations). God is Source of I...

We trace the evolution of faith as it existed in Form initially and then the movement into Formlessness. The promise, given to Abraham, reached fulfillment in its universal manifestation. The promise was fulfilled by God's action—not human action. Christ fulfills and delivers. Formless = God as Source of Identity. The faith of Christ pointed away from Self and at the same time toward God. Trans-Fo...