The following excerpt passage down below was my email reply to my sociology college professor I sent regarding his "faith" in something more than the interworking of human society back in 2013 when I attended Skagit Valley Community College.
I emailed him previously about the "deeper" issues concerning mankind such as humanity's SIN NATURE.
Although, he replied in good spirit he seemed to disregard my inquiry into the "corruption of mankind" as "religious matters" and not supported by factual "scientific proof" and therefore not relevant enough to look further into.
I pray for this elder man's SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST and to know the true WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE that is only found in God Almighty, LORD JESUS CHRIST!
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~Thanks for the reply!
(Long letter, read whenever you have time.......)
I agree with your premise, however, I must say in addition to these human "issues" there is a much deeper conflict within the human condition besides the corruption of humanity's flawed constructions (i.e. the institutions, social groups of community, etc.). It is not something "material" or "physical" that can be fully observed in a scientific method - it's a "spiritual" conflict in the human condition.
Say, with all our knowledge, data and information this hasn't necessary changed our world for the better. Petty human vices like greed, jealousy and selfishness run rampant in any man-constructed thing - this is what always gets in the way of fulfilling, say, the "ideal type". Our flawed humanity prevents the greatest possible outcome provided by our knowledge and data.
Humanity is on a different plane than mere animals; we have higher thoughts of processing, can overcome our base instincts, learn wisdom and attain higher levels of consciousness and understandings as we go through live and age. "Sin" as is called humanity's "offenses" in the Christian bible attests to our flawed nature and how this causes our various moods in life and gives us a way to repent (through Jesus Christ) and baptism in His Name so that we live a life of Truth & Meaning and can overcome our human vices as above.
I am fully aware of how "religious" responses to "real" phenomenon can be "subjective" and I wasn't always "sure" and devoted to Faith until recently rather. I am a skeptic in all things I am presented with, but part of being a skeptic is accepting new information once it has passed your "test screenings". And it has for me, many times. Faith cannot be measured by logical means - that's the whole thing that Faith is not about. It's about "believing" in something whether your have "proof" or not that it exists. It's a practice which has meaning throughout life even if it doesn't have a measurable extent.
I've looked and speculated a lot, but the time came for me to believe after it was proven to me without a benefit of a doubt (though I still doubt in times of anxiety) - it's not a "coincidence" that I've lived this far given how much things I've experienced in my life thus far..Something or Someone has literally been guiding me in the actions I've taken.
Though I wouldn't call the "Buddha" (Siddhartha Gautama) and "Jesus Christ" "mythical" (since there's historical evidence out there that proves both were "real" individuals that existed), I suppose it's say to say that the "religious" side of them can be a "subjective" practice. However, a distinction must be made between religious "churchianity" than the true spirituality of the faith.
I'm not the kind to go out of my way to convince you otherwise or insult you for different beliefs, but I'm curious: Are you agnostic or atheist? Do you have a faith or not?
I've had atheistic/agnostic thoughts in my early to mid teens and still have them occasionally but what turned me away from them wasn't the harsh reality or life or denial of mortality - I wanted more meaning and inspiration to live. With atheism I could just see no moral judgment for actions. You would just die and be the end of it, so what really mattered...Family? I suppose if one has one that's good but if not, what of those without? (P.S. I have a family in case you have "those" thoughts!)
Life is more than pre-described notions of living based of man's flawed character. Something created everything and though some call it the "Big Bang" and whatnot I learned towards the idea of "Intelligent Design". Where did consciousness, knowledge and very "existence" come from? This source can have many names but it's usually summarized in the three-letter form: GOD. God is a the eternal, Almighty spiritual entity; he encompasses everything and everyone. He's not seen; this could be described as "Nothingness" but He is There.
I really understand the connection behind human evolution theory and where we are today. It definitely makes more "objective" sense than the story of Genesis in the bible. In many ways I think our continual creation stemmed from human evolution than Adam & Eve. They are both conflicting perspectives though their may be some truth in it both ways.
But the main theme of the Holy Bible (however you view it) is about the wickedness of man as in prone-corruption and how this manifests as "sin". "Sin" is the spiritual equivalent of a "crime offense" that tarnishes the soul. Because all human beings, (from the "Curse" in Genesis) are born "sinful", uncleaned, we are in danger of being punished for our unrepented sins. Through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we are given a Bridge to be accepted by God through Jesus Christ's holy sacrifice to be cleansed off sin by accepting him as our Lord & Savior AND being baptized ("reborn") in His Name to live a "proper" (meaning good "moral") life. Developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Beyond that, anything else is "religion" and that's NOT what the root of Christianity is. Christianity at its core is about Repentance, Faith and Devotion to the ONE TRUE GOD and living a righteous life according His words in the Holy Bible. Most of what you see by "religion" nowadays is "churchianity" which is simply subjective, inauthentic "ritualism" (as you could call it) that is now genuine to the Faith; just a vacuum people use for their own purposes.
I can't really change your mind (and that wasn't my primary purpose) you've lived much longer than I have and so have more experiences to recall and affirm your beliefs but one thing I understand from all this is "Logic" is a very limited way of understanding and discovering our world. In life, we can't always make hard decisions by practical logic; sometimes in certain situations we can only take a chance and hope things work out our way. That's called Faith. Sometimes the outcome is confused with "luck" but I know better. If you get through things or have favorable things happen to you at your benefit when you least expect it; it's not really a coincidence - it's a blessing.
Dr. M., it's always good to question things to discern truth, reality and facts. Evidence. But at the end of it, what's the total sum goal? To prove or disprove? When information or experience comes to the contrary of your suspicions do you accept it as it is or how you wished it would be? Would you accept new information that changes your point of view if it has been proven false?
Now that's more of a "personal" thing, but when new knowledge OR experience has proven my old perspectives wrong, false, misleading or inaccurate I take on the truth that is the truth regardless of my ideas/opinions.
Someday (soon) I hope you take the idea of "spirituality" as a credible source. For it is. Our physical world is but one dimension and how can we be "certain" that "spirituality" is not a different level or dimension of reality that we aren't able to "actively" observe? If there's one recurring theme in Life it's that it is Big, Mysterious and Complex with things we don't and may never understand. Not everything can and will be explained or measured. Nor does that mean it doesn't exist based on "our" human limitations. Perhaps life is experienced on different levels for different life forms? We will ever know? Who knows? But all I can say is I consider everything with a measure of merit until proven otherwise and that even what's proven "wrong" may not be "wrong" based on a different system.
I won't lie. I really wish you do come to know our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ and His Truth, Light and Love. Maybe you will maybe you won't. It's your decision. However, I challenge you to take a different approach beyond "logical analysis" and see if something "different" is revealed. Time to change the "lens" so-to-speak.
~Jed
