On Religious Belief
Francis Bacon says in an essay that "It is true that a little philosophy inclineth a man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion." In the large, I would say that he is right. However, given the condensed nature of Bacon's writing, it would seem that some clarification (and perhaps some correction) is needed.
When I reflect on religion I have generally looked down on it as being superstitious and not all that important in this day and age. It seems that we should be able to move beyond it. However, current reflection leads me to amend that view to something closer to that which Bacon says, although not precisely the same.
Perhaps a metaphor would work to start with. For me, reflection on religion and religious matters is akin to a spiral staircase, where with every floor you climb you find yourself looking at the same spot as that which you started at, only from a higher point. When we start we are at the level of faith, a level that many choose to stay at. Religion is a life story, an acceptance of a set of beliefs and a way of living that falls in with those beliefs. Here we are at the level that Bacon would describe as being before philosophy: Religion, in short, is the truth.
Later on, should we engage in philosophic reflection, we find ourselves almost struck dumb at the way in which we blindly assumed many of the "truths" that fall in line with our religious story. We have climbed the first floor of the staircase and entered a realm of skepticism. Invisible beings in the sky that cause worldwide floods or wield thunderbolts sound absurd, and to follow their commandments seems arbitrary. Religion becomes an excuse to oppress, and to rise above the dogmatism of the masses is the enlightened ideal and the sign of the wise man.
Bacon, however, would disagree. So would the common conception of the wise man, but then again the skeptic cares little for that. So, why does Bacon find fault with atheism? I would be inclined to say that he was what is called "a man of the times." For someone who ridicules those who follow "false idols" in attributing causes where we know none, he seems to be making quite a leap here. However, he wrote hundreds of years ago, and people didn't question like they do now. Also, he was a man who wanted political power, and so we have motive. However, I don't believe Bacon was so naive as to not notice such an idol, and I believe we can find value in his statement yet. Where we find that value is on the third floor of the staircase. We find that we are again even with the door where we started, yet now we are looking not only down at the religious, but upon the skeptics as well. From here we see their sneers and their laughs and wonder how they can be so foolish.
When I say foolish, I don't mean that they are wrong. I mean that they are missing the point. Reflection on the world outside does indeed lead to atheism, as we see groups all as fiercely committed to their own gods as we are to ours, who reach radically opposed conclusions that are all "divine truths". However, religions aren't just about big floating people in the sky. Religions reflect ways of living. With religion one finds purpose. There comes a sense of unity and a consistent way of viewing the world.
It is not simply pragmatic, either. If you walked up to a Catholic priest and asked him if heaven and hell are real, if angels and demons are among us, and if witchcraft, the plagues, the flood, and all that stuff are real and can be proven, and that if they can't then the prophets were wrong and the Bible is a load of crap, I like to believe that a wise priest would say that that isn't the point. With time comes the knowledge. Knowledge that perhaps the stories we were told as children were simply that, stories. Knowledge that perhaps the stories were told for a reason. There was a point, and that point was that (in the Christian case) a man came about one day and asked us to look at ourselves and ask, "What's really important? This shirt? This gold? Or yourself as a person?" that this man was followed by those who understood, and that he sets an example to this day. This is religion. A way of life, just like before. But not a way of life that focuses on divine wrath and the parting of seas and whatnot. A way of life that focuses on what it means to be human.
So when Bacon says that "depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion," I don't think he is simply talking about seeing that "God is in the details." He is talking about religion as a tie that binds humanity, and that, for all the pain and destruction it has caused time and time again, remains as the rope that ties us together and ties us to ourselves so that we might be able to walk the earth with drive and purpose, instead of shouting forlorn into the sky.
When I reflect on religion I have generally looked down on it as being superstitious and not all that important in this day and age. It seems that we should be able to move beyond it. However, current reflection leads me to amend that view to something closer to that which Bacon says, although not precisely the same.
Perhaps a metaphor would work to start with. For me, reflection on religion and religious matters is akin to a spiral staircase, where with every floor you climb you find yourself looking at the same spot as that which you started at, only from a higher point. When we start we are at the level of faith, a level that many choose to stay at. Religion is a life story, an acceptance of a set of beliefs and a way of living that falls in with those beliefs. Here we are at the level that Bacon would describe as being before philosophy: Religion, in short, is the truth.
Later on, should we engage in philosophic reflection, we find ourselves almost struck dumb at the way in which we blindly assumed many of the "truths" that fall in line with our religious story. We have climbed the first floor of the staircase and entered a realm of skepticism. Invisible beings in the sky that cause worldwide floods or wield thunderbolts sound absurd, and to follow their commandments seems arbitrary. Religion becomes an excuse to oppress, and to rise above the dogmatism of the masses is the enlightened ideal and the sign of the wise man.
Bacon, however, would disagree. So would the common conception of the wise man, but then again the skeptic cares little for that. So, why does Bacon find fault with atheism? I would be inclined to say that he was what is called "a man of the times." For someone who ridicules those who follow "false idols" in attributing causes where we know none, he seems to be making quite a leap here. However, he wrote hundreds of years ago, and people didn't question like they do now. Also, he was a man who wanted political power, and so we have motive. However, I don't believe Bacon was so naive as to not notice such an idol, and I believe we can find value in his statement yet. Where we find that value is on the third floor of the staircase. We find that we are again even with the door where we started, yet now we are looking not only down at the religious, but upon the skeptics as well. From here we see their sneers and their laughs and wonder how they can be so foolish.
When I say foolish, I don't mean that they are wrong. I mean that they are missing the point. Reflection on the world outside does indeed lead to atheism, as we see groups all as fiercely committed to their own gods as we are to ours, who reach radically opposed conclusions that are all "divine truths". However, religions aren't just about big floating people in the sky. Religions reflect ways of living. With religion one finds purpose. There comes a sense of unity and a consistent way of viewing the world.
It is not simply pragmatic, either. If you walked up to a Catholic priest and asked him if heaven and hell are real, if angels and demons are among us, and if witchcraft, the plagues, the flood, and all that stuff are real and can be proven, and that if they can't then the prophets were wrong and the Bible is a load of crap, I like to believe that a wise priest would say that that isn't the point. With time comes the knowledge. Knowledge that perhaps the stories we were told as children were simply that, stories. Knowledge that perhaps the stories were told for a reason. There was a point, and that point was that (in the Christian case) a man came about one day and asked us to look at ourselves and ask, "What's really important? This shirt? This gold? Or yourself as a person?" that this man was followed by those who understood, and that he sets an example to this day. This is religion. A way of life, just like before. But not a way of life that focuses on divine wrath and the parting of seas and whatnot. A way of life that focuses on what it means to be human.
So when Bacon says that "depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion," I don't think he is simply talking about seeing that "God is in the details." He is talking about religion as a tie that binds humanity, and that, for all the pain and destruction it has caused time and time again, remains as the rope that ties us together and ties us to ourselves so that we might be able to walk the earth with drive and purpose, instead of shouting forlorn into the sky.
posted by Derek at 6:21 PM
3 Comments:
By your analogy, I'm standing somewhere between the second and third levels of the spiral stair case. I definitely identify as a skeptic, but do agree that most are missing the point of religion. I see some value in those belief systems, though the beliefs themselves are of no value.
What keeps me from the third floor, though, is that I still want to sneer at those on the first floor who are also missing the point of their own religion. These are the ones that take the stories as literal and fail to see how the metaphor is meant to teach them about how to live a good life. This leads to strange ironies, like the religious in America voting for greed-friendly Republicans. But you've heard me rant about that enough in the past.
That's what happens to me whenever I get too sarcastic in the RF comments sections. One must always ask, "How did they end up where they are? Are they really that different from myself?" It's all about expanding your perspective, and thus philosophical open-mindedness has been my ultimate quest for a long time now. But as you say, it can be difficult when one's own self sometimes stands in the way.
interesting Snurp, sometimes when i read your blog and your thoughts are of mine. i don't mean to compare myself to you since you are in a sense more intellectual(your life's field of expertise). You say a spiral staircase but i say the human DNA structure, in a way it is like a spiral structure you talk about, yet connect in the image of God. Snurp, unlike you and Sid, i believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ and in this spiral I see the finger print of God.
This is my thought and I hope i have comprehended what you have written.
You said, "There comes a sense of unity and a consistent way of viewing the world."
There is unity in the structure but for me now, it is based on the God's word in seeing this unity. when man does things without God the structure it self degenerates into a perverse structure in which they think is right, is it "foolish". God is in the details if we search with a right heart, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
if what i have said is offense to you-so be it.
Post a Comment
<< Home