Lexicon: Dynamic Religion

The Etymology

Coined by Henri Bergson in The Two Sources of Morality and Religion (1932). It stands in opposition to Static Religion (Social Cohesion/Rules).

The Definition

If Static Religion is the "Social Instinct" that keeps the tribe safe (Closed Society), Dynamic Religion is the "Mystical Impulse" that pushes humanity forward (Open Society).

• The Static: Circular. It repeats the past. It loves the "Us" and fears the "Them."
• The Dynamic: Directional. It leaps into the future. It breaks the circle of the tribe to embrace all of humanity. Bergson identifies this force in the great mystics (Jesus, Buddha, St. Francis). They didn't just follow the rules; they broke them to establish a higher, more universal love.

The Corporate Application

In business, Dynamic Religion is the spirit of the Founder or the Disruptor.

• The Static Company: "We do it this way because we always have." (Preservation).
• The Dynamic Leader: "We are doing it this way because the world needs something new." (Creation).

The Cycle of Innovation:

1. The Mystic Spark: A founder has a Dynamic intuition (e.g., "Information should be free").
2. The Cooling: To scale, the intuition must be codified into rules (Static Religion/Bureaucracy).
3. The Ossification: The rules eventually choke the life out of the company.
4. The New Dynamic: A new leader must arise to break the "Static" crust and release the energy again.

The Chief Wise Officer's Warning: Do not confuse "Dynamic" with "Chaotic." The Dynamic leader is not breaking rules for fun; they are breaking them because they see a higher necessity. Static Religion protects the company from death. Dynamic Religion gives it a reason to live.