Scattering and gathering
We do not need to consider compromise the only way toward agreement.
This is a scatter diagram. It is something useful in science and engineering. It shows all the degrees of variation with which instances of something occur.
This kind of diagram gives you a picture of how much variation there is in something. An average shows you where the middle of something is. A scatter shows you the opposite: It shows you, all spread out, the variations that go into the average.
Today's Christians are scattered all over the place on what they think about various and sundry matters pertaining to the faith. You could draw diagrams of the variation in belief on things like Holy Communion, the mode of baptism, the veneration of saints, and other things.
I would say that there is just one perfectly true belief about any one of those things, of which our divergent beliefs are variations. That is to say, a maximum of just one belief on any topic can be exactly right. It could be that we are all wrong in varying degrees.
When you consider how a scatter diagram works, it's clear that if each one of us moves, even slightly, toward the perfectly true belief, we will by that act all move closer to each other. The scatter chart will shrink because there is less scatter.
So then we don't really have to achieve a compromise with each other's views to move closer to one another in our beliefs. We need to consider our own views on various matters. That is to say, we do not need to consider compromise the only way toward agreement. If we strive to move our own beliefs closer to the truth we will automatically become closer in our views to everyone else who is doing that.
Sound doctrine, therefore, will of itself encourage unity, to the extent that people adopt it when they hear it. Here's hoping we all have the grace to do that. The poison pill in all this is the kind of church that maintains that all its doctrines are the perfectly true ones, but everyone else's doctrines are corruptions. Because they have nothing to learn they have no motive for improving the fidelity of their own doctrines. Shaking free of that attitude will be a big help in moving toward unity of belief with the rest of Christendom.
This is a scatter diagram. It is something useful in science and engineering. It shows all the degrees of variation with which instances of something occur.
This kind of diagram gives you a picture of how much variation there is in something. An average shows you where the middle of something is. A scatter shows you the opposite: It shows you, all spread out, the variations that go into the average.
Today's Christians are scattered all over the place on what they think about various and sundry matters pertaining to the faith. You could draw diagrams of the variation in belief on things like Holy Communion, the mode of baptism, the veneration of saints, and other things.
I would say that there is just one perfectly true belief about any one of those things, of which our divergent beliefs are variations. That is to say, a maximum of just one belief on any topic can be exactly right. It could be that we are all wrong in varying degrees.
When you consider how a scatter diagram works, it's clear that if each one of us moves, even slightly, toward the perfectly true belief, we will by that act all move closer to each other. The scatter chart will shrink because there is less scatter.
So then we don't really have to achieve a compromise with each other's views to move closer to one another in our beliefs. We need to consider our own views on various matters. That is to say, we do not need to consider compromise the only way toward agreement. If we strive to move our own beliefs closer to the truth we will automatically become closer in our views to everyone else who is doing that.
Sound doctrine, therefore, will of itself encourage unity, to the extent that people adopt it when they hear it. Here's hoping we all have the grace to do that. The poison pill in all this is the kind of church that maintains that all its doctrines are the perfectly true ones, but everyone else's doctrines are corruptions. Because they have nothing to learn they have no motive for improving the fidelity of their own doctrines. Shaking free of that attitude will be a big help in moving toward unity of belief with the rest of Christendom.
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