Living With Simplicity and Complexity: From Social Comment and Scientific Epistemology to Christian Understanding

Abstract

This paper draws a distinction between simple and complex causality models and briefly examines their role in the social, natural, and spiritual dimensions of life. Complexity itself is multidimensional and may take the form of feedback complexity, statistical complexity, or quantum-mechanical complexity amongst others. Simple modelling has a very important role in initially establishing a pattern for understanding which can later be refined to accommodate additional data. When Jesus identified himself as the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy, he was encouraging believers to move beyond the simple models that were important for their initial development and adopt models which allowed for deeper spiritual growth.