See listing of Recent and Most Popular articles on the Home Page

Senior Moments

Category: General / Topics: Choices and Decision Making

Either/Or

by Dan Seagren

Posted: September 21, 2014

One of the misused and abused traits is the either/or complex…

Life can get complicated at times whether social, industrial, economic, religious, academic or political to mention a few. One of the misused and abused traits is the either/or complex. First off let's recognize its positive dimension. There are times when it is important, even vital, to use the either/or approach to various matters.

It can start early in life when a parent tells a youngster that it is either our way or no way and continues on throughout life. But it can be abused and that is our concern at the moment. When a CEO lives with a do it my way or else it can be understood but detrimental to a harmonious relationship. The same goes for a teacher or professor, a lawyer or a congressional leader, a car dealer or the clergy.

A recent discussion was held with a church musician referring to congregations with the present-day dichotomy of both traditional and contemporary worship services. His experience with a number of congregations led to a discussion of the possibility of a blended service, either regularly or on occasion. He insisted that it won't work because the contemporary mindset is either our way or no way while the traditional attitude he discovered was more open.

Whether proven or not, his experience bore this out which caused me to pen my thoughts as an elderly retired clergyman who has experienced both mental attitudes, constructive and destructive. For congregations experiencing both contemporary and traditional approaches to worship as well as conservative and liberal leanings and other variables, a hardened, intransigent, untempered orientation is often counterproductive.

If either/or is unfamiliar with or hostile toward both/and, the result is a given ultimately if not sooner. Even so, blended may not even be an adequate compromise or solution. Compounding the either/or proposition also involves various dichotomies such as church sanctuaries or auditoriums, come as you are or dressing appropriately (go to meeting attire), sacred or secular, segregated or inclusive, pews or chairs, and even reverence (awe, respect) or carefree. Either/or is neither irrelevant nor irreverent but it is often an inevitable process that must not be ignored or overlooked.



Search all articles by Dan Seagren

Dan Seagren is an active retiree whose writings reflect his life as a Pastor, author of several books, and service as a Chaplain in a Covenant Retirement Community.

E-mail the author (su.nergaesnad@brabnad*) Author's website (personal or primary**)

* For web-based email, you may need to copy and paste the address yourself.

** opens in a new tab or window. Close it to return here.


Posted: September 21, 2014   Accessed 131 times

Go to the list of most recent Senior Moments Articles
Search Senior Moments (You can expand the search to the entire site)
Go to the list of Most Recent and Most Popular Articles across the site (Home Page)