Podcast - Episode 0157 - Applying Graves Model Spiral Dynamics To Christianity

In this episode Joel and Antonia apply the Graves Model Spiral Dynamics to Christianity and show how the religion has moved up the levels through history.

In this podcast you’ll find:

• Initial Graves Model Podcast
• Podcast 155 – Stratified Levels Of The Graves Model Spiral Dynamics
• Podcast 156 – Conditions For Moving Up Graves Model Spiral Dynamics
• We wanted to explore something through the Graves model that we have seen evolve and change over the eons.
• Christianity – Judeo-Christianity – Protestant branch.
• This podcast isn’t an indication of the truthfulness of any specific religion.
• There was a period in history when most cultures were animistic – Graves 2 – looking for explanations and strategies and turning to superstitious beliefs to explain the unexplainable.
• Abraham likely graduated from Graves 2 to 3 when he started serving the God, Jehovah. He had a personal relationship with this deity. Not a detached animistic kind of worship.
• There was still a mystical quality to the relationship between Abraham and Jehovah. A likely straddling of 2 and 3.
• The Abrahamic tribe grew into an entire nation of 12 tribes. A coalition.
• By the time the Judges and Kings came on the scene, the 12 tribes of Israel was a warrior culture.
• “I want so I take.”
• All the early history (Pentateuch) was recorded by Moses long after the events. So the history was orally passed down to a large extent.
• A lot of the cultures at that time were heading into Graves 3.
• Not a lot of compassion during this stage. Lots of people getting killed, horribly.
• While Abraham transitioned to Graves 3, his family/tribe would have been Graves 2. He would have been their leader.
• “Worship the creator not the creation.”
• Moses covenant arrangements would have been very late Graves 3 moving into 4.
• The people would still have been Graves 2 and 3, so there was a lot of grumbling and complaining and insisting upon their rights. Ego.
• Judges would have represented late Graves 2, early 3.
• Adopting codifications and law codes – Graves 4. But the reinforcement of these statutes was still Graves 3 – “eye for an eye.”
• King David came along, and we see the people themselves moving into Graves 3 – a bloody period in history. A lot of conflict and in-fighting.
• Deity gives these cultures the authority to take what they want.
• Lots of building is happening. Temples. Royal Houses. These don’t bring benefit to the people as much as to certain individuals. No practical use.
• Prophetic books of the Hebrew Scriptures indicate a peak into Graves 4.
• Fast forward to Jesus.
• Judaic system very much tied into the Roman political structure.
• Rome is the best example of early Graves 4. They had lots of temples and palaces, but they also had communal structures – aqueducts, public bathhouses, higher educations, welfare system, etc.
• The Jewish system had codified groups – Pharisees, Sadducees, etc. – very Graves 4.
• We can see Graves 3 moving to Graves 4 guilt in the religion of the time. Jesus offered an easier way to sanctify oneself without all the animal sacrifices.
• One Sacrifice covers everything.
• Honor God above everyone else.
• Golden Rule
• When Jesus was put to death, it was procedural – very Graves 4 – he was put through the court system instead of just assassinated.
• His death was because of political/religious conflict – also Graves 4.
• Pilate asks the people who they want to release – Jesus or Barabbas – and the crowd asks for Barabbas. A Graves 4 Democratic action.
• Once Christianity is established, it starts as congregations – small family-like groups.
• Voluntary, shared belief systems – Graves 4.
• Apostle Paul establishes the rules of Christianity through democratic conversation.
• People coming from multiple backgrounds and adopting some old stuff and leaving others behind and creating a belief system that keeps them exclusive from the world – also Graves 4.
• Judaism was in Graves 3 for a long time – the majority of the Hebrew Scriptures.
• Then the modern era begins, as depicted in the Greek Scriptures, and we see the establishing of a Graves 4 civilization sprouting up around the Mediterranean.
• Constantine adopts Christianity in its established Graves 4 framework.
• Most of recorded history, Christianity has been sitting at Graves 4.
• Maybe during the Inquisition, Crusades, etc. we see Graves 4 implementing Graves 3 techniques to move people to where they want them.
• When Rome fell, there was a massive destabilization, and some of the structures may have regressed to level 3 – Dark Ages.
• Catholicism was the Christian religion for ages until Luther came along and started the Reformation. He may have been late Graves 4 early 5.
• Whenever someone comes from a 4 institution and starts making demands it is usually due to bumping up into the next level.
• Luther was very achievement oriented. Very driven.
• He wasn’t rebelling violently, like Graves 3, he was using structure and reason to change the system to work for the people – Graves 5.
• Graves 5 really kicked off during the First Great Awakening (the 1700s).
• Zeal for evangelism. Conversions. Missionaries. New church leaders. New church belief systems.
• The Reformation introduced Christian competition between ideologies.
• Competition itself is very Graves 5. So the religion itself may have been moving into Graves 5, even if the vast majority of the people were not.
• Late Graves 4 and early 5 can appear very aggressive and pushy.
• During these Great Awakenings, the Enlightenment is also growing. Printing, transportation, literacy, inventions, potential.
• 20th Century saw the commercialism of Christianity. TV Evangelists. Merchandise. Pilgrimages.
• One of the reasons this religion has survived as a dominant force is its ability to adapt.
• We are now seeing pockets of Christianity peaking into Graves 6 because people from the developing world are peaking into 6.
• Love Wins by Rob Bell – There is no hell fire. There is no need for conversion. God allows for everyone.
• Shock waves throughout Christendom.
• Christianity is still very much Graves 5, but there is a Graves 6 scene emerging and it is creating some conflict.
• All levels of the first 6 tiers are represented within the Christian faith.
• More in-fighting than ever before because of differing ideologies.
• In the U.S, if you go to a church that believes in snake handling it is likely a Graves 2 culture. Most people are related. Small groups. Snake handling is very mystical.
• Missionaries (Graves 4) that go overseas into a Graves 2 tribal village in Africa may find themselves creating a hostile situation by introducing a destabilizing influence and pushing the Graves 2 tribe into Graves 3. Some missionaries get themselves killed due to this unexpected result.
• Graves 3 Christian culture – Motorcycle Gangs for Jesus.
• The Graves model helps us understand why these conflicts occur.
• Graves 3 developing cultures are moving into 4, and that is why most religions right now are growing in developing countries.
• Religion provides a Graves 4 institutional structure for Graves 3s.
• Just one example of how we can apply the Graves model to structures, corporations, families, etc.

Book referenced in podcast: “Integral Christianity: The Spirit’s Call to Evolve”

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