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Home Theology Power - the way to deal with it
Power - the way to deal with it
Written by Division by Zero   
Wednesday, 10 November 2010 10:50

Power is a strange thing. From being able to move things to pear pressure to politics. Power is able to free or to suppress.

Power - Original by Neil T

But what is power exactly. There is a lot to say about power. First it is a form of measurement. Power measures the ability to control your environment.  Be it things or people. In the case of social context there are several sources from which power is given or claimed. Bertram Raven argues that there are five bases for power. Think of power given by experience, age or charisma.

There are many examples of power abuse. Religious cults for example or political positions. A well known political philosopher is Machiavelli who describes cunning ways to gain and keep power. He's not afraid to use ethical questionable ways, like deception, to reach his goals.

But what is the best way to handle the power that you have? Well... In my opinion the best way is a Biblical way that is universal applicable. It's the way that Jesus handled power. A well known passage in the New Testament is John 13 where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. He, as their teacher and master, does the most humble job. Using power by serving.

In my opinion this rule “Power by serving” is the universal applicable rule. A manager of e certain department will e the most successful  if she or he serves her or his employees. Serving means doing every bit of work to make sure his employees have the means to do their job and be happy. Parents should serve their children. Politicians must serve the inhabitants of their country. In every level of power using this power to serve others will gain the most for everyone.

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+1 # Rem 2010-11-13 12:41
I find power the greatest of paradoxes.

Power is universal in that nothing and nobody can get away from it. Even the hermit under the hill has to face the power of nature or the power of politics when they want to put a shopping center where his home is. Having to face (often overwhelming) power is a given, how to handle it is the question.

A common saying is "power corrupts". While there's a million examples of it, there's few on the other side. Why is this? I thik it's because people that can handle power, don't need neither the acceptance of others nor the glory. This is why power generally has a negative feel to it I think.

While I agree to your statement regarding "power by serving" and have applied and apply the approach in my management jobs, I do think it requires a pious or free man to be able to uphold it in all situations. I'm not afraid to say that I have not achieved this level of freedom/enlightenment yet and think it will take me quite some time, if ever, to do it. Ambition seems to conflict with it, as ambition is often nothing but trying to acquire more power.

Today, I think the greatest power is that of the media. Not so much about their message, but mostly because of the blind acceptance of 95% of humanity about what the media have to say. Bertram Raven omits this form of power, unless you'd catalog it onder the "positional power" perhaps. In this sense, power taps into the concept of truth. We often assume or accept someone has a power, but do they? It requires an almost Buddhist approach to see how this power has been acquired, how it affects the one in power, how it affects me, how it affects those around me and how it affects the world in general. Only by analysing the entire situation, can we decide if this power exists or if this is a bluff.

The problem is, we generally cannot see all facets and thats exactly what most people in power abuse to influence others.

Power corrupts, but how fast will you let it corrupt you...
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