As a followup to a previous post on the subject of Peak Oil, I notice it’s come up at Kuro5hin; more detail there.
The catch phrase “Peak Oil” refers to one predominant theory of what will happen as the world’s oil supplies begin to dwindle. You can read more about it also on Wikipedia. Apart from the Deep Hot Biosphere types, we all know that there is a finite amount of rock oil under the earth, and that sooner or later it will run short or run out. The big questions are when we would run out, how the situation would look when we ran out, and what we could do to continue living comfortably come that day. The peak oil theory was first spelled out in a paper published in 1956 by the oil geologist M. King Hubbert, who took a probabilistic look at the oil exploration and extraction process, and with it predicted the way oil supply would act in the future.
Continue reading in loc cit….
I think this is crucial aspect of the postmodern/emergent journey that needs to be processed before the movement can mature. However, I am not sure we are engaging the issue on the right terms. First, the word/concept “structures” might be part of the problem. Structures is often defined as a construction of something and the arrangement of its parts. This reflects our continued dependence on a mechanistic paradigm. Rather, I believe we need to conceive of structures from a more organic, systemic paradigm. This will not only mean a reexamination of our continued use of “clockwork” thinking, but also a exploration and experimentation with more natural models for organization.
The other thing that worries me is that, as we attempt to remove authoritarian leadership, we too often rid ourselves of authority altogether. Hierarchy is more of the issue, with authority being a central aspect of the teaching, life and impartation of Christ. In our pendelum swing response to authority abuses in the church and our culture, we risk abandoning the authority that has been giving us all.
Authority and leadership begin to develop their true role within the Body of Christ, IMHO, when we begin to embrace true community. This process, however, is a costly one that will surface the best and worst of us all. However, I believe this is a foundational necessity to achieve the organic movement that we seek to be.
Peace,
Jamie Arpin-Ricci
http://www.emergentvoyageurs.blog.com
Ok, strange. I posted this comment at the “leadership” post, but it posted here. Odd…
Jamie