Born: June 9, 1972
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September 08, 2004 at 4:09 pm
Who Controls the Layers?
A Brief and Unstudied Theory Regarding the Historiography of Christianity.
(Leave it up to me to attempt something as whacky as this!)
I’ve been making my way through Lawrence Lessig‘s book, The Future of Ideas, over the last few weeks. The book is described as such:
“With an uncanny blend of knowledge, insight, and eloquence, Lawrence Lessig has written a profoundly important guide to the care and feeding of innovation in a connected world. Whether it proves to be a road map or an elegy is up to us.” 1It’s nothing new these days (especially if you’ve read or listened to his latest book, Free Culture), but I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the history of the internet and the internet’s impact on art, music, international copyright law, and how all of these inspired Professor Lessig (et al) to invent the Creative Commons.
Of course, these issues have little to do with Christianity (at least not directly), but there was one thing in the book really grabbed my attention. It was something called “layers.” Lessig explains how certain layers are inherant in communications (as theorized by NYU/Yale law professor, Yochai Benkler). Layers, Benkler states, help to organize out thought about how any communications system works.
This got me thinking… Communication can be categorized any number of ways — especially when thinking of it as a man-made device. But, what about the original Communication? (Yeah, I capitalized “communication” on purpose there.) What about the Communication between God and man?
From The Future of Ideas:
Following the technique of network architects, Benkler suggests that we understand a communications system by dividing it into three distinct “layers.” At the bottom is a “physical” layer, across which communication travels. This is the computer, or wires, that link computers on the Internet. In the middle is the “logical” or “code” layer — the code that makes the hardware run. Here we might include the protocols that define the Internet and the software upon which those protocols run. At the top is the “content” layer — the actual stuff that gets said or transmitted across these wires. Here we include digital images, texts, on-line movies, and the like. These three layers function together to define any particular communications system. 2Lessig goes on to explain how each of these layers can, in principle be “controlled” or be “free.” To illustrate this fact, he points out three locations in the world (and in history for that matter): Speakers’ Corner in Londons’ Hyde Park, Madison Square Garden in New York City, USA, the Telephone System, and Cable TV. It looks like this:
3Notice the cells in the chart that are marked free or controlled. When one of the layers is free, it means that it is a “commons,” or, organized by the people — in this sense, a free layer is “uncontrolled.” When a layer is controlled, it is, in effect “owned,” or, run by something other than the commons (i.e., a corporation, a private party, a dictatorship, etc.).
To clarify his chart, Professor Lessig explains the different locales and their mix of “free” and “controlled” layers. Of Cable TV:
Here physical layer is owned — the wires that run the content into your house. The code layer is owned — only the cable companies get to decide what runs into your house. And the content is owned — the shows that get broadcast are copyrighted shows. All three layers are within the control of the cable TV company; no communications layer, in Benkler’s sense, remains free.4This brings me to the question of communication layers in our own big “C” Communication with our God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Who controls the layers?
In my example, Chrsitianity has four layers. The bottom-most layer is the “Holy Spirit” (or God’s sovereignty and presence in the world — this layer is given to us and taken away from us by God’s own will). Next up is the “physical” layer (the method in which God’s word is imparted to humanity — i.e., God’s direct contact, the torah, the bible, creeds, etc.). Third is the “code” layer (the interpretation of the physical layer — i.e., Who tells us what to believe or how to act?). Last is the “content” layer (simply put, God’s word).
Now, consider a few (Samoff-fabricated) “vantage points” from Christian history and how each of these layers have attributed to (or disintigrated) the dialog between our Father and the “commons”:
Pre-Fall: I am using the term Pre-Fall to indicate the time before the “Fall of Man,” when Adam and Eve partook of the fruit. During this “Garden of Eden” era, God nearly dwelled on earth with Adam and Eve, speaking to both Adam and Eve frequently, offering paradise and communion with Him. The system of communication was this: the Holy Spirit layer was evident in God’s direct communication and intervention in Adam and Eve’s lives; the physical layer (spoken word) was freely available to Adam and Eve as they lived in the Garden; the code layer (God Himself) occurred as God spoke to Adam and Eve as a father and friend, providing companionship and direction; the content layer (life in the Garden) was freely available… Adam and Eve’s sole responsibility was to obey their Lord-God. All four layers are free.
Note: Some might say that God’s influence (the Holy Spirit layer) is a sort of “control,” I would argue that while this may be correct in its basic definition, the fact that it was freely available to Adam and Eve makes it “free.”
Mosaic: Mosaic is a general term meaning the time between the “Fall” and Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. During this time many different forms of rule were created and destroyed (prophets, judges, kings, etc.). Even so, there was one protocol that was instated that seemed to stick: that of the “holy leaders,” or priests. It was the priests who controlled almost every layer of communication with God — the priests were the ones who held the physical layer (the torah) and the priests who translated the code layer (God’s word) to the people. It was even the priests’ job to determine how the people were to utilize God’s word in their daily lives. During this time there was also a shift in God’s control of His Holy Spirit — He talked directly to people only when necessary, He sent help only when needed; no longer was the Spirit perpetually available to everyone on earth as He had been to Adam and Eve. In this period of time, every layer of communication between the commons and God appears to be controlled.
Messianic: While the Messianic period is probably the most important period in the history of Christianity, it remains one of the most transitional. Jesus Christ lived among humanity as God and man and was ultimately sacrificed for the Sins of Man. Christ’s presence was similar to the Pre-Fall era in that God’s wisdom and love was once again available to anyone who would listen; no more to be controlled strictly by appointed holy men. During this time, the ways of the old were done away with and the future was being forged. While Jesus Christ lived, the physical layer (Jesus Christ himself) was freely available to all. This also opened up the other layers, code and content — Jesus’ held God’s word within him, explained it to humanity, and offered it to those who asked. This era was free except for one layer: the Holy Spirit layer. While Jesus was on earth, the Holy Spirit (the Helper) was still controlled by God in a way that utilized His power only when needed. Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection still needed to take place inorder that the Holy Spirit become completely free again.
First-Century Church: The First-Century Church directly followed Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. During this era, God’s word — though guided by God’s Holy Spirit — was once again placed into the hands of mankind. But this was a different, special time. During the Christian Church’s first-century, all of the freedoms inherant in the Messianic period remained available while, at the same time, the Holy Spirit was made free to all who believed in Jesus Christ as Messiah as well. Of course, this is when the New Testament in the bible was written and many amazing miracles took place. The Apostle’s were still alive and God’s power was plainly evident. Like the Pre-Fall era, all four layers of communication with God appeared to be free for the commons.
Catholic (Pre-Protesant): Mankind’s control of God’s communication layers began to take over during the time following Christ’s death. In time, the physical (bible), code (the interpretation of the bible), and the content (God’s written word) layers all begin to fall under the control of the Pope and his priests — the laity were largely uneducated and could not read the bible for themselves (and probably appreciated the control as presented by the Catholic Church). The Church was also forming their own content layer in the form of creeds and catechisms, etc. Despite the freedom of the Holy Spirit, the layers that were made available by Jesus Christ were quickly being taken away from the commons and given to “appointed” men.
Protest: One of the positive outcomes of the Protestant movement was the freeing of the content layer of communication with God. Bibles began to pop up in many different translations and were becoming available to a large section of the commons. Still, though, the physical layer (bibles) was not available to all — many people still relied on Sunday church-going as their sole opportunity to hear (not read for themselves) God’s word. For this reason, the code layer (God’s word as interpreted by pastors, preachers, chaplains, and other various forms of clergymen) was still under the control of those clergymen who guided Sunday worship. Of course, the Holy Spirit was still available and free, but the God’s imparted word may have still been under much control.
Evangelical (Modern): The Evangelical period began sometime in the mid 1900s (maybe even as early as the late 1800s/early 1900s in some parts of the Western world) and continues to this day. The Evangelical period can be marked with an emphasis on organized Chrisitanity to the extent that while we are all free to hear/read/interpret God’s word, a pastor (or educated leader/teacher of some sort) is still the expert and go-to for matters relating to the faith. The Holy Spirit was still free and maybe even moreso for those who attended seminary or went on extended missions trips. The physical layer (bibles) became widely available to most everyone during this time, but a lot of people still relied on church leadership to interpret the bible (the code layer) and filter the content (God’s word). It seemed that during this era people didn’t trust the Holy Spirit layer enough to free every layer of communication (hence my use of the word “limited” in the chart). During this time many denominations sprouted up, each claiming to have “more freedom” concerning the various layers — this, in turn, being another sort of control.
Emerging (Postmodern): What do we have to look forward to in this burgeoning Emerging Church era? We know that the Holy Spirit will remain free for those who believe — some might even say that He is available to those that don’t believe. But what of the other three layers in our communication with God? The physical layer remains available and is becoming more available to those around the world every day. Already I am sensing a freedom in my own (and others’ ) interpretation of the code and content layers as well. Many churches are seeing a blending between their leadership and laity — from taking care of matters of the church to getting up and preaching sermons. I have been reading a lot about a shift back to the ways of the First-Century Church, where control was left up to the commons. I have been hearing talk of a Church that doesn’t dwell in the success of “programs” and schedules but in the organic and liquid permeation of our communities through the lives that we live as Christians. I am seeing a trust in the Church’s laity that I have never seen before.
Only time will tell where our freedoms lie.
I realize that there is much to be said about my little outline here. I haven’t studied too deeply into the history of the Church, but only rely on my memory and the things I have read and heard over time. I would love to hear anyone elses interpretation of what I have written here. Let me know if something I have said makes little (or a lot of) sense or if you think what I have said is a load of B.S.
I don’t expect that this will provide any answers to any questions, only provide some perspective on where our interests, as Chrisitans, may lie.
1 The Future of Ideas Official Website (http://www.the-future-of-ideas.com/)
2 Lawrence Lessig, The Future of Ideas (Random House, New York, 2001), p.23
3 Lawrence Lessig, The Future of Ideas (Random House, New York, 2001), p.25
4 Lawrence Lessig, The Future of Ideas (Random House, New York, 2001), p.24
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This is a really good discussion you have started. There is truly a lot of interest in open communication; as you state it, in who ‘controls the layers’. The interesting point to consider is that, just as in the networking realm from which you drew your metaphor, there have been some frustration on the part of those who once controlled the network. As technology grows beyond central control it necessitates new forms of structure. In the same way, things are happening in the Church, as you so rightly point out. I would love to hear you explore your perspective on the implications of these changes a bit more.