13 February, 2007

Always under construction

About Graeme Couch

(Click on list item):

• What I do - Professional - a fragmented, but consistent and most fortunate career;
  'It is my present objective to participate in the development and application of understandings that I have gained and continue to gain, and that are needed for thriving in our interesting, emerging, "chaotic" world'.
  • Summary Background
  • Qualifications & Learning
  • Affiliations & Interests
  • Work History
  • Couch & Associates Pty Limited
    • Management services
    • Corporate values

• Family, Community & Friends - "Tell me whom you love and I will tell you who you are" - 

  • Four Couch generations (Login)
    • My parents - John & Betty (deceased)
    • My wife Robyn, children Rebecca, Michael & Simon, and their partners
    • Our Grandchildren - Finn Michael and Ethan James
  • St John's Anglican Church (Dee Why) community
  • Good friends, including those among our Clients, Associates, Church and Family, many of whom have influenced me greatly in different ways over the years.
  • See family snaps

• My Personal Values 

  • What I believe - My Christian conviction
    Many of my friends' reactions are that Christianity is totally irrational or at best a curiosity. Here I try to explain why I believe it is important:
    • Of all the great guiding traditions, the Christian ethos represents for me a unique combination of liberating ideals:
      • Great essential simplicity and clear goals; 
      • Guidance on personal attitudes that drive behaviour (rather than on rules of behaviour and practices themselves); 
      • Emphasis on active Social Responsibility; 
      • Permission to enjoy life; 
      • Focus on "the ideal" and a healthy means for resolving "shortcomings"; 
      • Space for transcendence, contemplation, meditation, inspiration; 
      • Scope for diversity and freedom of belief and practice; 
      • A rich tradition, with promotion of beauty, art, creativity; 
      • Interconnectedness with a world-wide community of others who are like-minded; 
      • Inclusiveness for all; 
      • It is also part of my personal & cultural legacy; 
      • Compatibility with science and other learning disciplines -  "Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind" - Einstein memoirs 
    • I see the essential Christian "way, truth & life" as the ideal (but often neglected) path to personal fulfillment and universal well-being:
      • The principal rule:
        • Love of the "Divine" 
        • Love of "Neighbour"
      • Other supporting elements:
        • Understanding of "perfection" (through Received Wisdom; Stories of Jesus, his background, teaching and the early church; Examples and wisdom of others; Contemplation and inspiration);
        • Processes for continuing inspiration, personal development and forgiveness/correction;
        • A transcendent, contemplative and inspirational dimension; 
        • Belonging in a mutually supporting, open community; 

  • What I do not support in the expression or practice of "Christianity":

    • Unfounded superstition:
      • Scripture as literal "word of God" or the end of wisdom; 
      • Using Scripture as a substitute for history, science or reason; 
      • A God who supernaturally/arbitrarily controls/intervenes in affairs and can be persuaded to do so; 
    • Religious perversions:
      • Imposition of rigid rules of personal belief or practice in the name of religion; 
      • Claims of narrow / exclusive insights to truth; 
      • Inconsistent alliances, manipulation, abuse or  exploitation, unfair discrimination.

• My contact details

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