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“It’s all invented
anyway, so we might as well invent a story of a framework of meaning that
enhances our quality of life and the life of those around us “, Michael
Gazzaniga, The Social Brain
As I began to engage myself in the first four chapters of
the Art of Possibility, by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin
Zander, this particular quote struck my world view that quite frankly
gave me a little pause. Being a Christian and reading this book I found myself
having a hard time allowing my imagination to loosen the binds of what my faith
tells me is real.
Eight years ago I began a great journey in believing in what
Jesus, whom is called Messiah, said and did as it is written in the Book.
Before that, I let the wilds of my own imagination run with every whim of the
wind that would take it. I must say, at that time, life was not easy. Since
coming to believe what the scriptures say as being true, my life has taken on a
sort of peace that passes my understanding. Things just make sense now, simple
and true.
That is not to say, that I don’t have trials and struggles
in this life. because I do. But by the
putting of my faith in what the Bible tells me is real, gives me hope, and a
sense of security that can’t be shaken away.
There are promises there that I have come to trust, and that have pretty
much allowed love, joy, peace, and patience to become manifested in what has
before been a very chaotic life.
When the authors pointed to the notion that it is an evolved
structure of the brain that constructs our perceptions, and that our constructs
have little to do with the world, I just flat out disagreed. We all share the
same fate. We live, breath, feel, hope, and die. We all want to belong, and be
loved. We all share some pretty strong
realities. The cold hard fact of the matter is, death has a perfect track
record, that we all share.
I used to think that putting my belief and pointing my
worldview towards something more concrete than my imagination would have
limited the experiences of life. However, just the opposite is true. Now,
things make sense, and are born out in my reality, and I no longer have to make
excuses for my shortcomings. Fear is gone.
There is part of Gazzanga’s quote,”It’s all invented
anyway”, that I will agree with. However, I like to think of it being said in a
different way.
“Let there be light”.
I read your post several times. I thought that a few parts were worthy of discussion if you don’t mind sincere questions. I often get confronted with anger over sincere questions when I don’t share a belief in particular religion. So if you don’t want to answer I will understand.
ReplyDeleteFirst you mentioned, “Being a Christian and reading this book I found myself having a hard time allowing my imagination to loosen the binds of what my faith tells me is real.” I often see this and am curious. When a different hypothesis is put forward in science, the attitude is somewhat similar. Scientists have a knowledge base just as religion does, so new ideas can often be met with raised eyebrows. But this is where the similarity ends.
Science then lowers the eyebrow and says, “Can you prove this? Can we test it? Is it repeatable?” Once the evidence is verifiable, science says, “I was wrong.” When you approach religion with new information, one often finds that they will ignore every piece of evidence provided or fall back on sayings like, “we can’t know that…. science is always changing its mind…. god is mysterious…well I feel like it’s true.”
I’d ask why religious people have trouble saying, “I might have been wrong all along” but I can’t ask you to answer for everyone. So I will just ask you, is there any amount of evidence that would make you say, “I may have been wrong about these beliefs”? Again, I’m just curious about your thoughts.
You also mentioned, “When the authors pointed to the notion that it is an evolved structure of the brain that constructs our perceptions, and that our constructs have little to do with the world, I just flat out disagreed.” I was hoping you could expand on this so that I can understand your position a little better. I too agree that the perceptions we form in our mind have little to do with reality. I think fear and conditioning have everything to do with how people form opinions and that is specifically the reason I embrace logic and reason. The more I want something to be true, the more I realize that I will be willing to deceive myself; so I rely on empirical evidence.
Thoughts?
Greg -
Deleteawesome blog, as I was reading these same chapters and statements I never thought about it that way, in that context. I took it very lightly and just as suggestion of attitude. But I can see how you can spin that this way too. It's nice to hear how your faith has given you a rock and a peace that transcends all understanding.
Chris - some great points - and I hate that your questions about religion have ended up with anger or resentment from people, that's a true shame. I love to discuss my faith and hear people's questions and to discuss their beliefs too. I've been asked science questions like what you stated above - I believe in Intelligent design/Creationism. Often I hear to where people say they will always side with science because it can be seen. The question that always pops up in my mind is this "Isn't the "big bang" technically an assumption? It has never been "tested" nor "re-created" - no one has created life and planets or anything else out of matter floating around. So essentially Can you prove this science is reliable? Is all science repeatable? Does that make science a type of faith? Do scientist just "feel like that was true?"
I guess what I am saying is that the questions we ask can't be answered soundly by science nor by religion. So it all comes down to what you want to put your faith in and Faith by definition is "belief not based on proof".
Chris, I am so glad you asked me those questions. I am sorry you have met up with christians that have left you unsatisfied with there answers. I love to discuss why I believe.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I am a finite being. I have a beginning, and an end. My days are numbered so to speak. Being human I also have a very finite understanding of universe in which I live. I am forced to make choices in what I believe and what I need to further consider. I may agree with you that the ideas put forth about the christian story sounds absolutely absurd at its face. However, In my case it is the absolute overwhelming preponderance of evidence that allows me to put my faith in who Jesus is, while also allowing me to trust what he said.
The entire Bible is written to display the relationship between God and Man. I have to admit that it absolutely hits the nail on the head when it describes who I am. Also, the bible describes God as a being that is really unknowable. Think about it, the Bible says that God created the Heavens and the Earth, that He has no beginning and no end. He has been around for it all, and has seen everything. I think that is pretty big, and completely unknowable.
You asked me if there was anything that I could be presented with that would force me to say "oops I was wrong all along". I would have to say sure, If you could produce the evidence that God Doesn't exist, that he didn't write the history of mankind in advance as found in the bible, and it didn't happen just the way he said it would, the second law of thermo-dynamics doesn't really exist, Jewish people aren't real. You can prove that secular historians, who wrote about Jesus and the miracles he performed, were just kidding.
You see Chris it is like this. At the end of the day I have to make a choice. I have to roll the dice. In fact we all do. Am I going to believe what science tells me, or am I going to believe what the Bible tells me? I have to weigh the evidence. Then I have to make a choice, or as I see it a leap of Faith.
If I am wrong, well then I have to figure you and I will end up at about the same place. However, If Jesus was right, then that is a whole other matter to consider. I choose Jesus.
Oh, and one more thing to consider, Science tells us that speed of light is about 300,000,000 miles / second. So, when the bible says let there be light, I bet that was a pretty Big Bang.
Obviously you've touched a chord with your classmates. I think that it's good to have this dialogue between those who share your faith and those with whom you can have meaningful conversation who might not have shared your experiences. I think that there might be common ground in that the authors are sharing that finding meaning and purpose is essential toward making life more than just living and breathing and eventually dying. You've found comfort and meaning in your faith. That's a good thing, in part because it lifts your eyes to issues more meaningful than just satisfying the appetites and possibly considering the welfare of your friends and associates. You are awakened to the concerns and struggles of the "We." That's a good thing. I'm always drawn to the notion, once the veil has been lifted from one's eyes, how then should one live? My way of thinking is that that question has to be answered in a way that's more wholistic than just arguing with non-believers and getting butts into pews. So the question remains, how then should one live?
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