The Religion Paradigm Problem
Today I have decided to try something different. I wrote my thoughts and then had ChatGPT rewrite them in the style of C. S. Lewis. I hope you will enjoy.
In the realm of theological contemplation, let us embark upon a discourse concerning what I shall refer to as the “Religion Paradigm Problem.” I shall, for the moment, set aside my customary exploration of scripture lessons found within the pages of the “Come Follow Me” manual. The forthcoming week shall bring a discussion of the Book of Hebrews, a text that diligently contends that our focal point, our very lodestar, should unswervingly be the esteemed figure of Jesus Christ.
In recent days, I have dedicated myself to the contemplation of erudite voices expounding upon the existence of God through the prism of scientific discovery. These venerable scholars, their ranks comprising both avowed atheists and erstwhile disbelievers, and a solitary individual who maintained an unshakeable faith throughout. What they articulated was nothing short of captivating, lucid, and indeed, persuasive. Their discourse transcended the trifles and acrimonious contentions often encountered in debates concerning the divine vis-a-vis the secular and atheistic worldviews.
Yet, I perceived a commonality in the paradigms of thought to which they resorted. These paradigms, which one encounters ubiquitously in the literature and philosophies pertaining to God, Christianity, and religion, seemed to pose certain constrictions, thereby hindering their elucidation of certain matters. In no way do I intend to impugn the earnestness of these esteemed panelists, be they champions of faith or skeptics, for they earnestly grapple with the boundaries of their knowledge. What captivated my imagination was the direction of their intellectual pursuits.
In elucidating these limitations, the panelists alluded to the works of Charles Darwin concerning the evolution of species. They expounded at length, explaining how Darwin, with the tools of his age, arrived at his conclusions. Moreover, they contended that, had he possessed access to the modern scientific apparatus that graces our age, his conclusions would have indeed diverged substantially. The core of my exposition today lies in this: if these scholars of erudition were to entertain the notion of modern revelation, akin to our scientific advancements, their convictions regarding God and His creations, the virgin birth, and resurrection, would surely traverse novel terrain.
For a protracted period, I have harbored the belief that anyone embarked upon the journey to apprehend God and divine comprehension shall invariably succeed. The odyssey to discern the divine is made arduous by the entrenched paradigms of belief that dominate our thinking. An impediment to cognizance arises from the legacy of wisdom propagated by experts and illustrious thinkers who have expounded their views on the matter. Herein lies the crux of the matter, for they seem to accept conclusions despite their avowals of incomplete knowledge of God. It is often lamentable that some profess God to be unknowable, yet assert this as a certain fact.
Chief among the stumbling blocks for certain individuals lies in their acceptance of Christian doctrines like the virgin birth and the resurrection of Christ. Faith alone, it appears, underpins their acceptance of these tenets. However, I dare posit that the very reality of these events finds a solid footing in as yet undiscovered scientific theories. In other words, the physiological enigma of immortality beckons our examination. The foundations for such an exploration are known, but the methodologies to attain this sublime state remain elusive. Above and beyond the beguiling discoveries of science, stands the perennial font of continuing revelation.
A singular paradigm shift holds the potential to render atheists believers and to prompt the scientific community to accept the presence of God. It is a shift most uncomplicated: to conceive of God not as an ethereal, bodiless force, but as an exalted human being possessing profound knowledge of the innermost workings of the natural world. The acceptance of God as a tangible, cognizant entity, cognizant of every facet of His creations, in no way strains credulity when we consider His capacity to fathom the mysteries that grant perpetuity to the physical realm. When one then peruses the sacred scriptures, which declare that we are crafted in His image, that we are His progeny, the practice of prayer becomes logical, and the notion of an afterlife follows as a matter of reason.
This paradigm shift, once embraced, fosters an atmosphere where logic and reason may be judiciously applied to the exegesis of scripture. The nebulous and enigmatic passages are thereby divested of their ambiguity. Permit me to exemplify this through the opening chapters of Genesis, where God proclaims, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Without the belief in a corporeal deity, one is compelled to undertake a convoluted journey through symbolism and metaphor. However, with the affirmation of God’s corporeal nature, these sacred verses manifest a pristine clarity, guided by the twin torches of logic and reason.
In the course of my musings this week, a facetious inquiry crossed my path. An astute observer queried, “Why do depictions of Adam and Eve consistently portray them with navels?” Unbeknownst to the humorist, their jest inadvertently bore a kernel of truth, suggesting that Adam and Eve, as offspring of an immortal Father and Mother, might indeed possess navel-less physiques. Whether the eminent artists who crafted these classic depictions were privy to the depths of religious doctrine is a subject for conjecture.
An erroneous paradigm, pervasive in contemporary Christianity, asserts that the Bible encompasses the entirety of God’s instructions, leaving no room for further revelation. While there exists a sound argument against the tampering of the sacred teachings enshrined within the Bible, it is of note that Judaism acknowledges the Hebrew Bible as its sole scripture. In contrast, Christianity embraces both the Old and New Testaments, though it holds the latter in higher regard. Thus, the question emerges: what delineates the boundary of divine revelation, and who are we to impose limitations upon God? I postulate that a shift in one’s perspective to acknowledge that God is not reticent but continually converses with individuals, both directly and through His chosen prophets, unfurls a panorama of possibilities for both logic and faith.
In the conclusion of our meandering discourse, let me proffer a thought that lingers in the shadows. It is a simple paradigm shift that has the potential to engender a profound transformation in the understanding of the divine. It beckons us to alter our conception of God from an abstract, ethereal force to a glorified human being who comprehends the intricate tapestry of nature. In such a visage, the acceptance of God becomes a straightforward proposition. For when one is assured that God is an embodied being, intimately acquainted with His creations, the notion that He holds the key to everlasting existence assumes a mantle of reason. When one further intuits the scriptural teachings that we are fashioned in His image and that we are His progeny, the practice of prayer assumes a mantle of logic, and the prospect of an afterlife becomes a matter of reasoned faith
As I draw the curtains on this discourse, one final notion beckons for our contemplation. The underpinning of our faith and understanding does not rest solely within the confines of ancient texts, fixed and immutable. Instead, it stretches forth into the realm of living revelation. This revelation is not an artifact of a bygone era; it remains a dynamic force, a conduit for divine communication, an avenue through which the omniscient Creator imparts His wisdom to willing souls.
In shifting our perspectives, embracing the tenets of a deity who walks the corridors of understanding and beckoning logic and reason to illuminate the paths of our faith, we partake in a transformation that transcends dogma. Our faith gains depth, our understanding broadens, and our communion with the divine transcends the limits of tradition. It is my hope that as we traverse this intellectual terrain, we may unfurl the sail of modern revelation to catch the winds of divine insight. In doing so, we navigate a course toward a deeper, more resonant understanding of the divine mysteries that have captivated humanity through the ages.