R.K. McGregor Wright

Some of us have wondered why so few people are willing to speak out against hierarchicalism (as Cindy at the end of posting #13).  In my opinion, the main reason is because the idea of arranging everything according to grades of being or of importance, etc., is just a reflection of what I have dubbed the “generic pagan” worldview called the Great Chain of Being.  This august model of an evolving reality is basic to Neoplatonism, Aristotelianism, (to mention only two powerful past influences on Christian thinking), Gnosticism, Hinduism, and many other Eastern-derived world visions.  It is also an important component of Darwinism as it frames an evolutionary view of life and human affairs, and strongly penetrates the realms of science fiction and fantasy.  It is one of the most pervasive models of reality ever devised, and permeates much secular thinking also.
If anyone wants to see the three essays I wrote long ago (Cheryl has them), about why the CM&W statement is nonsense, I can send them at request  to my e-mail address   rkwjc@charter.net   I will send them as attachments to be printed off.  The third discusses hierarchical thinking.  They are dated and need to be rewritten, but the essence of my repudiation of Chain-of-Being thinking is there.
Love,
Bob K.