Axiom # 1 – God Exists
Humankind did not create itself. It can procreate but it cannot create. True creation, by definition, means to bring something into existence out of nothingness. Humanity only discovers what is already there and then employs that discovery to its advantage which may be considered as creation after the fact or, more precisely, the manipulation of that which already exists. Humankind does not create anything but is, rather, creative with the knowledge it acquires. Therefore, something other than humankind created not only it, but also the universe and everything within it, whether living or inanimate, or whether visible or invisible.
God created the universe and all it contains including humankind. God exists with or without our approval. God exists despite our denial or rejection of Him. God exists even when the arbitrary actions of those who do believe in Him would lead us to wish that He did not exist or, at the very least, that they did not. God exists even when the arbitrary actions of those who profess to be His representatives would impel us to cast him, with fury and contempt, from our hearts and minds. God is independent of His creation and His existence does not depend on the action or inaction of His creatures. God can dispense with His creatures but His creatures cannot dispense with him.
God is a term constructed by humankind to identify that which created it and the universe. God is a word whose reach far exceeds its grasp. A word, though it may be perfect unto itself, is a product of a contingent world and can never hope to exceed the limitations imposed on it, and, however much it may aspire to rise to heights beyond its reach, cannot define or describe an absolute nor can it capture a single attribute of God. God is an absolute and possesses all attributes to an absolute degree which is what makes Him God. Humankind possesses all of God’s attributes but each to a limited degree which is what makes him human.
Words and descriptions are products of a contingent world in which there are no absolutes only reflections and images. We do not pay tribute to God in our language or sing praises of His attributes because this tribute or praise is capable of describing His essence but, rather, to indicate what God is not.
We do not call God All-Loving because we are capable of expressing or envisioning an absolute love but because we wish to show that He is incapable of the least degree of enmity or malice. We do not call God All-knowing because we are capable of grasping absolute knowledge but, rather, to show that He is incapable of the least degree of ignorance.
It has been said that nothing is impossible to God but this is manifestly untrue for it is impossible for him to be both God and not-God. It is impossible for God to be both All-loving and hateful. It is impossible for God to be All-knowing and ignorant. It is impossible for that which is absolute to be contained by that which is limited. It is impossible for that which is Almighty and All-powerful to be afflicted with weakness. It is impossible for that which is All-pervading and Omni-present to vacate the entire universe and to occupy and be contained by that which is limited, frail, and weak. Such a notion is preposterous, offends all logic and reason, and seeks only to create God in the image of man.
It is not for the theologian or believer to prove the existence of God. The entire universe and all of the laws to which it is subject and which it must obey stand in testimony to the existence of a Creator. It is for the atheist to explain how a creation can exist without a Creator. It is, hence, for the atheist to prove that God does not exist. To a believer all existence is proof of God whereas to an atheist non-existence is necessary to justify their disbelief.
It is possible to know of God without actually knowing God but it is impossible to know God directly since this would require that we be co-equal with Him. We know God exists because we did not create ourselves or the universe within which we live. We know God exists because of the irrefutable evidence that abounds in our universe that attests to His existence. We know God exists because all of the laws of the universe so far discovered, and all of those yet to be discovered, presuppose something greater than themselves that created them and maintains control over them. We live in a finite world in which there are no absolutes, otherwise, it would not be a finite world. God is the only Absolute, without beginning or end, without imperfections, without limitations, and Who does not make mistakes. God is not human, rather, He created humanity in His ‘Image and Likeness’ which simply means that we possess all of God’s qualities to a limited degree whereas God possesses all of His qualities to an absolute degree.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Religious & Scientific Axioms:
Why is it that ‘Good Guys’ possess a treasure that ‘Others’ cannot purchase and can never own?
The answer to this question is securely imbedded in self-evident truths. The erroneous belief is often advanced that fame, power, and wealth are the surest and most dependable rungs on the ladder to recognition, respect, and pleasure. This false belief ignores the fact that even in the absence of fame, power, and wealth that ‘Good Guys’ already possess a recognition, respect, and pleasure that is more enduring, more satisfying, and more rewarding than anything that ‘Others’ could pursue or achieve. It also disregards and fails to take into consideration the fact that it is only a tiny percentage of humanity that enjoy fame, power, and wealth and that the greater mass of humanity are conspicuously deprived of these achievements. It also fails to recognize that the ranks of those who are the recipients of fame, power, and wealth are as replete with family and emotional disunity, and as torn by spiritual dissatisfaction, as the ranks of those who are not favoured with fame, power, and wealth.
The answer, however, requires that we divest ourselves of the garment of imitation and disrobe ourselves of the cloak of blind and mindless acceptance of the assumed expertise of others who are themselves clothed in these selfsame limitations. It requires that we retreat into that abundance of self-evident truths that are universally recognized and accepted by the most unschooled, unlettered, and humble members of humanity as well as by the most erudite scholar and scientist. These axiomatic truths are recognizable by the human intellect and are the common property of all without exception.
An axiom, by definition, is a self-evident truth, a maxim, a postulate, a universally accepted law or principle upon which may be constructed a framework of reasoning.
Life, from beginning to end, is a process by which we discover a series of axioms that advance our intellect and shape our attitudes and upon which we construct a framework of behaviour that is consistent and in general harmony with these axioms. All science, all philosophy, and all religions derive from these discoveries and whether it is an axiom of science or an axiom of religion it is always a self-evident truth that can be recognized by all.
Although, at present, all knowledge is divided into three general categories, that is to say, we know what we know through the disciplines of science, philosophy, and religion, nonetheless, if we push far enough back into the past we will arrive at a time when these convenient divisions of knowledge were non-existent. However, it is evident and clear to any and all that our lack of knowledge, or the lack of clear, convenient, divisions by which to deal with it, in no way alters its truth or its eternal presence. Universal truth pre-exists humankind. You cannot discover what does not already exist. All our knowledge, all our philosophy, and all our science presuppose their existence before we discovered them and it follows, further, that we can only take credit for the discovery and not for the creation of the knowledge that we uncover.
Why is it that ‘Good Guys’ possess a treasure that ‘Others’ cannot purchase and can never own?
The answer to this question is securely imbedded in self-evident truths. The erroneous belief is often advanced that fame, power, and wealth are the surest and most dependable rungs on the ladder to recognition, respect, and pleasure. This false belief ignores the fact that even in the absence of fame, power, and wealth that ‘Good Guys’ already possess a recognition, respect, and pleasure that is more enduring, more satisfying, and more rewarding than anything that ‘Others’ could pursue or achieve. It also disregards and fails to take into consideration the fact that it is only a tiny percentage of humanity that enjoy fame, power, and wealth and that the greater mass of humanity are conspicuously deprived of these achievements. It also fails to recognize that the ranks of those who are the recipients of fame, power, and wealth are as replete with family and emotional disunity, and as torn by spiritual dissatisfaction, as the ranks of those who are not favoured with fame, power, and wealth.
The answer, however, requires that we divest ourselves of the garment of imitation and disrobe ourselves of the cloak of blind and mindless acceptance of the assumed expertise of others who are themselves clothed in these selfsame limitations. It requires that we retreat into that abundance of self-evident truths that are universally recognized and accepted by the most unschooled, unlettered, and humble members of humanity as well as by the most erudite scholar and scientist. These axiomatic truths are recognizable by the human intellect and are the common property of all without exception.
An axiom, by definition, is a self-evident truth, a maxim, a postulate, a universally accepted law or principle upon which may be constructed a framework of reasoning.
Life, from beginning to end, is a process by which we discover a series of axioms that advance our intellect and shape our attitudes and upon which we construct a framework of behaviour that is consistent and in general harmony with these axioms. All science, all philosophy, and all religions derive from these discoveries and whether it is an axiom of science or an axiom of religion it is always a self-evident truth that can be recognized by all.
Although, at present, all knowledge is divided into three general categories, that is to say, we know what we know through the disciplines of science, philosophy, and religion, nonetheless, if we push far enough back into the past we will arrive at a time when these convenient divisions of knowledge were non-existent. However, it is evident and clear to any and all that our lack of knowledge, or the lack of clear, convenient, divisions by which to deal with it, in no way alters its truth or its eternal presence. Universal truth pre-exists humankind. You cannot discover what does not already exist. All our knowledge, all our philosophy, and all our science presuppose their existence before we discovered them and it follows, further, that we can only take credit for the discovery and not for the creation of the knowledge that we uncover.
Garden of Eden
It is self-evident that the chronicle in the Bible of the Garden of Eden is symbolic not literal. At least an overwhelming majority of those who lived at that time were illiterate and it would be expected that the way to advance a concept or principle would be to couch it in a graphic story that those to whom it was being told could relate. The intent of the story is to offer an explanation of how humankind came to be the dominant organism on this planet as well as the only organism with the ability to distinguish between right & wrong or good & evil. One outstanding characteristic of knowledge is that it casts us forever out of the Eden of ignorance. Once you come to know something it is impossible to then return to a state of ignorance.
Adam is not an individual, rather, he is the human species at that point in its evolution when it is able to recognize that it has a Creator and is able to distinguish between right & wrong & good and evil which by its very nature casts him forever out of the Eden of ignorance.
Eve represents the emergence of those characteristics by which he is in the 'Image & likeness' of his Creator i.e. virtues, principles & lofty attributes.
Cain and Abel represent the ongoing battle of the physical against the spritual for dominance and control of the heart & mind. The 'Mark of Cain' will always be the physical cravings that derive from our body and occupy our thoughts such as the lust for power and the acquisition of wealth. The Mark of Cain is always present.
The garden of Eden story is just that - a story - meant to convey a spiritual truth and which is clothed in the garment of graphic physical illustrations that appeal to the understanding at the time that it is related.
Adam is not an individual, rather, he is the human species at that point in its evolution when it is able to recognize that it has a Creator and is able to distinguish between right & wrong & good and evil which by its very nature casts him forever out of the Eden of ignorance.
Eve represents the emergence of those characteristics by which he is in the 'Image & likeness' of his Creator i.e. virtues, principles & lofty attributes.
Cain and Abel represent the ongoing battle of the physical against the spritual for dominance and control of the heart & mind. The 'Mark of Cain' will always be the physical cravings that derive from our body and occupy our thoughts such as the lust for power and the acquisition of wealth. The Mark of Cain is always present.
The garden of Eden story is just that - a story - meant to convey a spiritual truth and which is clothed in the garment of graphic physical illustrations that appeal to the understanding at the time that it is related.
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