Editor's Section




Self-Similarity

Self-similarity is, in my view, one of the most powerful analytical tools to come along in a lone time. As we upgrade our mathematical metaphors with the previous covered aspects of complexity theory, we can tuck self-similarity into our bag of tricks.

A quick web search will provide a lot of information about self-similarity in mathematics. However, to save time, let me suggest you either draw or just imagine a square. Then, divide a line vertically through the mid points of two opposite sides and do the same with the other two opposite sides. Keep doing this with each of the smaller squares and you will soon see self-similarity.

Every one of the smaller squares, no matter how small, is self-similar to the original larger one.

You can do the same thing with an equilateral triangle.

We can use self-similarity as an updated mathematical metaphor to upgrade our tools of perception. In other words, self-similarity can help us see things clearly and not be fooled by the old shell game.

Moving from mathematics to sociology and theology, we retain the factor that within a system we may find small and large versions of the same thing. It helps to think of branching on a tree.   The very smallest branches are self-similar to the largest branches.

This is scaling. Self-similarity over different scales.   Applied, for example, to male dominance we can see similar characteristics operating at different scales in different systems. However, here we are actually looking at the same system, not different systems. This is where we shift our focus, as in The Bumblebee Book.

And we see through The Gentlemen's AgreementThe Gentlemen's Agreement:

We agree not to see what is there.

We agree to see what is not there

. So, no, we don't agree to see what is not there and not to see what is there.

With male dominance, we see that wherever men dominate women they are in the same system. You might think that trafficking in women is not on the same scale as dominating women in a church environment - but it is.

In my view it is far worse because it overthrows the intention of the Lord. As we will see in the section on gender, bible translation, interpretation and application of certain passages deliberately suppress women.

As Christians we hold that the root sources of this world's problems are theological. We hold that the solution to the world's problems are also theological. It is vitally important, therefore, that the Christian community gets the initial conditions right.

Self-similarity can help us see the domination of women over different scales. We can and must determine we won't participate in the domination and remind ourselves that Jesus has something to do with Christianity and that the servant is not, and may not be, greater than the Master.

Self-similarity helps us see things clearly, enabling us to direct our energies more appropriately. It also, and this is very important, provides us with a powerful tool for our personal self-critical exercises.

For women, it illuminates the horrid path to enslavement. For men, it illuminates the equally horrid path to dominance.

Once we see these paths we can say to ourselves (if we have the freedom), 'Don't go there!'