“Reinventing the Sacred”

Reinventing the Sacred by Stuart A. Kauffman

If you’re one who enjoys deep, philosophical reflection, meaning-of-life-type books then Reinventing the Sacred, by a renowned biologist and complexity theorist, may just be for you. This book addresses the limitations of rationality (and reason) in the face of an evolving, creative universe. It’s heavy, yet helpful:

“One view of God is that God is our chosen name for the ceaseless creativity in the natural universe, biosphere, and human cultures. Because of this ceaseless creativity, we typically do not and cannot know what will happen. We live our lives forward, as Kierkegaard said. We live as if we knew, as Nietzsche said. We live our lives forward into mystery, and do so with faith and courage, for that is the mandate of life itself.

But the fact that we must live our lives forward into a ceaseless creativity that we cannot fully understand means that reason alone is an insufficient guide to living our lives. Reason, the center of the Enlightenment, is but one of the evolved, fully human means we use to live our lives. Reason itself has finally led us to see the inadequacy of reason. We must therefore reunite our full humanity. We must see ourselves whole, living in a creative world we can never fully know.”  - Stuart A. Kauffman, Reinventing the Sacred

Whew! The translation you ask? Here’s my take in 87 words:

Reason and intelligence have limits that the most reasonable and intelligent among us, by definition, have to concede. To declare that we “know” what is impossible to know is unreasonable and the ultimate ignorance. We cannot know what we do not understand. Yet we understand that some things are unknowable. Moving forward through life we make our way while taking our best guesses at how things will play out. When we’re right, we say we knew it; when we’re wrong, we should say we knew that too. BUY the book.

Why is it…? #5

When a group of like-minded individuals gather together that the perceived believability of the group’s rhetoric goes up? 

Why is it…?

lost and found

Many religious adherents applaud those who claim to have been “lost” but are now “found” - this is viewed as good. 

Their system is set up to save the lost and free the found. The lost are herded into the confines of the flock where they are shown the way… the right way; the only way, some say. They join the team and begin to identify with the like-minded, previously lost, but now-found-fellowship. Their new-found conviction now requires the recruitment of new converts. And on and on it goes…

But what about those who claim no need for some brand of spiritual group identification or belonging? There are many well-adjusted people who have no need to be affiliated with some group to know who they are - and no need to be told and sold what to believe in. This is viewed as bad because these folks (according to fellowship), are still lost - blindly believing they aren’t. See how it works? The only true way is their way… those who “believe the good stuff” as I’ve heard it said. You cannot win otherwise. And “winning” of course means an eternal spiritual victory and everlasting life because you chose the right team.

This is self-serving, circular reasoning that initially appears very compelling, but is hardly true. One’s identity need not be produced from some group ideology. As soon as one has to belong to a group to really belong, the purpose of the group is now defeated and its value diminished.

Here’s a thought:

Instead of “lost” → “found”

How about ”learning” → “growing” → ”fulfilled”

Works for me…

Photo - July 17^th, 1963: A collection of bibles at a lost and found area at a Jehovah’s Witness convention. (Photo by Reg Lancaster/Express/Getty Images)

Why is it…? #4

That some assume enthusiasm equals evidence?

That so often feelings get confused with facts?

That some adhere to religion at the expense of reason?

That so many attempt to make science out of that which is only speculation?

Why is it…?

Why is it…? #3

That those with the greatest natural need to convince and convert - usually claim something supernatural as their source? 

Why is it…?

Why is it…? #2

That so many don’t realize that separation theologies thrive because they are cleverly promoted and consumed as inclusionary, when in reality, they’re extremely exclusionary?

Why is it…?

Why is it…? #1

When a person is not regularly bowing to, worshipping, or even idolizing some collective, man-made creation, that those who are adherents, arrogantly assume and insist that this person must be “lost,” backsliding, or deceived?

Why is it…?