Faith & Western Culture
HOW THINGS WORK - BOOK II SCIENCE & RELIGION – CONSIDERATION #163
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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2024
“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”
– Thomas Aquinas
PREFACE
Welcome Everybody!
This newsletter originated as a “Reality by a Thread” post introducing our consideration of Book II, which I realized was also the perfect transition into Book III for the weekly newsletter subscribers as well. Now that we have completed the first two books, we can formulate a “reality equation” reflecting our current understanding and experience of Western reality:
THE WESTERN REALITY EQUATION
Old Testament + Greek Physics & Metaphysics + New Testament (Christianity) + Enlightenment Philosophy + The United States of America + Natural Science + Quantum Science = Current Western Reality.
– Frank Elkins
The common component that all of these factors constituting our current experience of reality have in common is faith. However, it is not simply blind faith, it is rational faith. It is essentially a deep faith that if we genuinely ask the right questions, we can expect to get rational answers to them. There is a rational logic that is “knowable” and “tangible.” This faith has been manifested through a duality of science and religion reflecting the duality of rationalism and empiricism.
“This leads to a faith in a rational universe…”
We have a rational faith in a higher rational conscious power. This leads to a faith in a rational universe, that can be comprehended by a rational mind. We, as human beings, can understand the reality of the universe because it is a rational universe, and we have a rational mind. A rational universe infers a rational purpose set into motion by an even more comprehensive rational mind, a.k.a. God.
Thus, a trinity of faith: faith in a rational higher power, faith in the rationality of that higher power’s manifestation of the universe, faith in our capacity to empirically and rationally understand this higher rationality; and therefore, the empirical universe, or reality.
CONSIDERATION #158 – The Influence of Faith on Western Culture
This reality equation is manifested through a series of key critical influences; each providing a vital link to our current perception of Western reality.
“…the empirical nature of Abraham’s covenant with God becomes manifested through Moses and the Law.”
Old Testament Faith is reflected through a higher rational power, or consciousness, that is attempting to guide us through empirical reality. The dichotomy, or dualism, of rational faith and empirical actions are established through Abraham. Later in the Old Testament, the empirical nature of Abraham’s covenant with God becomes manifested through Moses and the Law. Faith in God is reflected through obedience to his word, or law. Faith is directly connected to empirical actions. The Old Testament is an expression of empirical actions and consequences.
“Jesus reflects the ‘perfect balance’ of empirical and rational faith…”
New Testament Faith focuses on our rational connection to this higher power or consciousness, through a consideration of how empirical consequences are connected to abstract rational thoughts; thereby expanding our rational and empirical experience of morality into a new hybrid spiritual reality. Jesus reflects the rational aspect of Abraham’s covenant with God as the actual fulfillment, or embodiment, of the empirical Law of Moses.
From a Christian, or Western perspective, Jesus reflects the “perfect balance” of empirical and rational faith, an empirical manifestation of God’s rational covenant with Abraham. In Jewish terms; the Messiah. In Christian terms; the savior of all mankind. In Western terms; a new heroic archetype of sacrifice.
“This ubiquitous expression of rationalism led to Enlightenment philosophy and science.”
Enlightenment Faith connects a rational Western God to Christian theology through Greek physics and metaphysics that function based on rational, or natural, laws. Because the universe operated based on natural rational processes, or laws, it could be rationally understood by a rational mind. This ubiquitous expression of rationalism led to Enlightenment philosophy and science. The empirical expression and manifestation of this new “Age of Reason” was the establishment of a new nation, in the new world, with a new “enlightened” form of government, The United States of America.
“…each individual is unique in themselves and deserves respect…”
American Faith becomes manifested through an abstract concept called the American Dream. The essence of this “enlightened dream” is that each individual is unique in themselves and deserves respect; each individual is born with natural rights given to them by the Creator. The American Dream reflects the faith that these rights allowing for the pursuit of individual happiness (think Aristotelian happiness) will lead to stronger and happier individuals, thereby leading to a stronger and happier overall society, or nation. The Age of Reason and the creation of the United States of America reflect a shift in focus from the Old Testament “Hobbesian” approach to managing human behavior, to a more, New Testament “Locke” approach based on individual rights and responsibility.
These factors led to a dynamic revolution in science and technology that eventually leads to quantum mechanics and the development of quantum computers, resulting in the manifestation of Artificial Intelligence. Thus, my reality equation:
Old Testament + Greek Physics & Metaphysics + New Testament (Christianity) + Enlightenment Philosophy + The United States of America + Natural Science + Quantum Science = Current Western Reality.
It could be argued that it was this inherent faith that led to our landing on the moon, and space exploration in general. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed that it was in our nature as Americans to attempt the impossible or to do the “hard things.” A faith that “given the chance” we could do anything!
“We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own… But why, some say, the Moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?We choose to go to the Moon... We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.”
John F Kennedy – We Choose to go to the Moon speech (September 12, 1962)
The concept generally known as “faith” has always been an inherent aspect of the American Dream.
We diminish the concept and influence of faith when we limit it strictly to religious philosophy. In the West, the development of a rational “empirical faith” in reality leads to the discipline of science. There could be no natural sciences in an irrational universe. Our “faith in the individual” leads to a bold experiment in government called the United States of America. Faith in our own unique abilities gives birth to a concept called the American Dream. The American Dream is a direct expression of individual rationalism; it is possible to make your individual dreams come true. You can manifest your own individual reality.
“From a Western perspective strong faith, or conviction, leads to strong actions…”
Faith, unlike other concepts such as hope or belief, is related to empirical action. Individuals take actions when they have faith in themselves and those actions; a certainty that they are doing the right thing. From a Western perspective strong faith, or conviction, leads to strong actions; faith is the unshakeable rational certainty that moves us forward into taking empirical action based on only possible or potential results. It is the cornerstone of modern Western reality.
POSTSCRIPT
In the modern narrative, Star Wars, the concept of an all-powerful, all-encompassing unified consciousness known as “The Force,” is the central focus underlying a high-tech science fiction adaptation based on the Christian mythology of King Arthur. In the Arthurian legend Arthur conquers the chaos of the world with a divine sword of power called “Excalibur.” The power of this sword is directly connected to the power of the individual wielding it. Arthur leads an army of knights into victory and the establishment of peace as reflected in the creation of Camelot.
“…peace is maintained in the galaxy by the Jedi Knights, who wield a sword of total power…”
In the Star Wars saga, peace is maintained in the galaxy by the Jedi Knights, who wield a sword of total power, or energy, called a “lightsaber;” which is constructed by the Jedi knight wielding it. Like Excalibur, each lightsaber is connected to the power of the Jedi Knight who constructed it. King Arthur pledges his allegiance to Christianity; the Jedi Knights pledge their allegiance to The Force. The Jedi Knight must come to “have faith” in the force before they can access its power. In the first film Obi-Wan encourages Luke to take such a step: “Use the Force, Luke! Let go…”
“The basic story and plot are as ancient as the Biblical, Greek, and Roman narratives and heroes that inspired it.”
Star Wars, like the Arthur legend and many other Western narratives, focuses on the epic and eternal battle between good and evil. The basic story and plot are as ancient as the Biblical and Greek narratives and heroes that inspired it. However, in Star Wars, the reality of these ancient narratives are embedded within the scientific influences of our time; such as space travel, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
“…their power to balance this empirical dualism is maintained through a divine powerful weapon of immense energy…”
It is not surprising that this modern narrative is based on “science fiction” given that science has been the central focus of our modern world. However, it should also not be surprising that the heart of the story focuses on the spiritual nature of our struggle to understand reality. The Jedi Knight, like the virtuous Greek, must maintain a rational “balance” between the light and dark sides of the force. And like Arthur, their power to balance this empirical dualism is maintained through a divine powerful weapon of immense energy that reflects the character of its owner. All empirical actions are directly connected to the rationality behind them.
Star Wars reflects the inevitable modern link in a long causal chain of Western reality. It reflects a cultural product based on a reality equation that logically results from a society based on Old Testament Faith, New Testament Faith, Enlightenment Faith, American Faith, and Scientific Faith; experienced in a sci-fi reality that seems completely disconnected from any of these ideas and concepts. But it is not.
“…the essential struggle is not with our enemies; it is within ourselves.”
Star Wars represents the basic Western idea that there is a higher unified rational power that is responsible for a rational universe, and that we as rational human beings are connected to this higher rational power, and that we gain strength and insight from this rational higher power. However, the essential struggle is not with our enemies; it is within ourselves.
Although the symbol of divine power is manifested through a unique sword, or light saber, its ultimate power comes from the connection between the individual wielding it and their connection to that higher rational power. The weapon of power is simply an extension of the power initiated through the actions of an individual who has “mastered” not only the weapon, but themselves as well.
We tend to think of Star Wars as a story about the future. However, it is clearly a mythology about the past. Our past.
“A long time ago, in a galaxy far away…”
Next week a consideration about what Quantum Computers are and how they work…
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Excerpt From This Week’s “Reality by a Thread” …
“The ancient Greeks believed that reaching a balance between the apparent incongruities of reality brought wisdom through virtue. Virtues were often encapsulated in stories called fables. Aesop is perhaps the greatest of the Greek fable-tellers. One of his most well-known fables, The Ant and the Grasshopper, reflects the virtue of putting off immediate self-gratification for long-term survival.”
– Frank Elkins (Reality by a Thread: November 21, 2024)
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