How do we know reality? How do we know we’re touching an elephant? If we’re all somewhat blind, how can we know anything?
I was listening to Rainn Wilson on BFNP today, and I’m wondering how much spiritual insight Rainn, who’s not Christian, can bring to people with a Christian perspective. I heard a quote by Thomas Aquinas recently that “theology is the queen of the sciences”, but this assumes truth is knowable.
Rainn’s Baha’i faith rejects the core distinctives of Christianity. For us to incorporate the opinions of those who reject our opinions will lead to some type of Unitarianism that can’t believe in objective truth.
I can’t get my mind wrapped around the idea that reality is largely unknowable.
Gosh we are coming from such different places… sometimes I forget. ;) Isn’t every known thing based on a presumption? No one is not taking some leap. I don’t think that Aquila’s quote (without context here so idk) requires a knowable truth. Science itself is based on unknowing… that is the cornerstone of experimentation. Good scientists say truth is an ever-moving target.
I don’t understand why Wilson couldn’t offer *any* truth unless you two were in total alignment. Surely there is much he knows that you don’t? It’s a very all-or-nothing view.
How would you describe the different places we’re coming from?
I was listening to an interesting podcast this week about the beatific vision and how all Christians should have a goal to “see God”. I thought that was a good common ground pursuit for Christians. Perhaps the root cause of intra-Christian disagreement is because we trust different sources of knowledge for our understanding of who God is.
But if we believe that we have gained any knowledge about who God is, we all will view certain opinions (ie Rainn Wilson) as being less helpful to guide us toward seeing God better.
I just really appreciate your line of thinking! I would love to hear your thoughts on the fear of leaving, (or transcending but also including), one’s tribe, whether it’s, religious, conservative, liberal or any kind of tribe, when one’s insights or values no longer fit within the parameters of one’s tribe.
“American education poorly equips us for real-world decision-making…” YES. I am so scared of this. My transition to real-world decision-making was so rough, and I was a straight-A kid. Both my kids are doing well in school and I sort of grimace, like: “goddess grant me the wisdom to impart useful skills, because their reading aptitude ain’t gonna cut it!” 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Lindsey, I hope you keep writing because you give me (and I imagine many others) hope. If you can open that steel door, so can others. Myself included because I, too, am blind.
How do we know reality? How do we know we’re touching an elephant? If we’re all somewhat blind, how can we know anything?
I was listening to Rainn Wilson on BFNP today, and I’m wondering how much spiritual insight Rainn, who’s not Christian, can bring to people with a Christian perspective. I heard a quote by Thomas Aquinas recently that “theology is the queen of the sciences”, but this assumes truth is knowable.
Rainn’s Baha’i faith rejects the core distinctives of Christianity. For us to incorporate the opinions of those who reject our opinions will lead to some type of Unitarianism that can’t believe in objective truth.
I can’t get my mind wrapped around the idea that reality is largely unknowable.
Gosh we are coming from such different places… sometimes I forget. ;) Isn’t every known thing based on a presumption? No one is not taking some leap. I don’t think that Aquila’s quote (without context here so idk) requires a knowable truth. Science itself is based on unknowing… that is the cornerstone of experimentation. Good scientists say truth is an ever-moving target.
I don’t understand why Wilson couldn’t offer *any* truth unless you two were in total alignment. Surely there is much he knows that you don’t? It’s a very all-or-nothing view.
How would you describe the different places we’re coming from?
I was listening to an interesting podcast this week about the beatific vision and how all Christians should have a goal to “see God”. I thought that was a good common ground pursuit for Christians. Perhaps the root cause of intra-Christian disagreement is because we trust different sources of knowledge for our understanding of who God is.
But if we believe that we have gained any knowledge about who God is, we all will view certain opinions (ie Rainn Wilson) as being less helpful to guide us toward seeing God better.
Saving this response for family vacation. Hehe.
I just really appreciate your line of thinking! I would love to hear your thoughts on the fear of leaving, (or transcending but also including), one’s tribe, whether it’s, religious, conservative, liberal or any kind of tribe, when one’s insights or values no longer fit within the parameters of one’s tribe.
“American education poorly equips us for real-world decision-making…” YES. I am so scared of this. My transition to real-world decision-making was so rough, and I was a straight-A kid. Both my kids are doing well in school and I sort of grimace, like: “goddess grant me the wisdom to impart useful skills, because their reading aptitude ain’t gonna cut it!” 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Lindsey, I hope you keep writing because you give me (and I imagine many others) hope. If you can open that steel door, so can others. Myself included because I, too, am blind.