By Fr. Glenn Jones:
Almost every day there seems to be a new “hate group” condemned by those who oppose what that group stands for. But if you claim that everyone who opposes your own opinion is “hating”, then who is the true “hater”? And if you claim “hate” for every opinion or stand against your own, then how will you ever consider possible errors in your own position? That’s why criticism can be very helpful: if utilized rather than discarded out of hand, it forces us to reassess, consider other viewpoints, and perhaps refine what and why we believe.
That’s why the phrase “settled science” is somewhat of an oxymoron; true science is always open to new data to refine (or disprove) current theory. For instance, Newton’s law of gravity was “settled science” until Einstein came along, and even after Einstein published his theory of relativity, a great number of scientists publicly contested its veracity. Oops. And how many theories of the universe been “settled science” until more accurate data were had? And then there’s diet! Eggs bad, eggs good. Coffee bad, coffee good. Fat bad; fat good. Meat bad, meat good. Carbs good, carbs bad. Etc. Round and round she goes…
Changing gears … last week our family lost the last of our parents’ generation—an uncle who finally succumbed to life’s inevitable end. While we’ve lost some of our own generation already, it’s always a sobering thought when yours is “next in line” to cross the Jordan. It creates a renewed urgency to “tidy things up” in life.
By happenstance, I had been watching a Viking series in which the main character dreams of a beautiful meadow and beholding the golden halls of Valhalla filled with departed comrades and family feasting and merrymaking. But, as he starts toward them, the doors begin to close, slamming shut just as he reaches them. Barred from Viking heaven for all eternity.
Remember the 1990 movie “Ghost”? When the main character Sam (played by Patrick Swayze) was murdered, he beholds a bright light calling him to Heaven, but he hesitates because of his ties to the earthly. The light fades, and yet not permanently; it comes to him later. But when “bad guys” are killed, growling dark shadowy figures emerge to drag the terrified miscreants’ souls to Hell. Forever.
Yikes! Imagine the despair and wretchedness of such a fate—dragged inescapably to the absence of all joy, all happiness … all love … forever… with no possibility whatever of succor—Dante’s “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here” scenario. All because one’s own bad choices in life.
Of course, some will say: “Ahhh, that’s movies! … based on religious delusion!” O skeptic, but are you so confident as to wager eternity upon it, especially if you have not explored the possibility? Seems like an awfully dangerous—indeed, foolhardy—presumption.
As far as disparities among religious beliefs, Christians believe that God inexorably leads humanity toward truth, despite Man’s strong efforts to the contrary, as well as its divergent and exploratory paths—we Catholics, of course, proffering only somewhat teasingly, that “all roads lead to Rome” (why else BE Catholic?) Regardless, made in the image of God, mankind cannot but desire the truth that God IS, and being in that image of God, all have the responsibility to seek sincerely absolute truth. Indeed, this is incumbent duty of each person, lest he waste the great gift and primary purpose of reason with which he is imbued. Of what purpose is reason but to seek truth, and therefore to seek the good? Even ancient non-Christian philosophers recognized this—that seeking truth and virtue is the highest good and calling for mankind. For, as Jesus said: “…truth will set you free.” (John 8:32).
Set us free from what? From doubts … about pursuing that which really matters. About the self. About eternity. For if one follows absolute goodness, what greater expectation can anyone—ourselves, family, friends, or outsiders … or even God—have? And if asked to do that which is NOT good, is it not the requestor who is in error? After all, is it not forays into things that are evil—greed, lust, hatred, inordinate pride, gluttony, etc.—which upset our peace … our souls? And while the passions are good and even necessary for our human existence, like highly spirited horses, when uncontrolled and allowed to stampede, they run roughshod over us … and over others, even those whom we love.
It requires no religious affiliation whatever to see the carnage that evil wreaks in the world; we see it in the news—and often experience it—daily. So, seeking truth and goodness seems as the sole beneficial principle by which to live human life; indeed, that’s what makes us truly “human”. And as to “religious delusion”, O skeptic, is it not wise to seek truth even in faith? Does the “technically challenged” disdain technology, or does he enjoy its benefits nonetheless? Likewise, even if one not understand God and faith, can he not rejoice in the virtues it promotes—charity, graciousness, kindness? Love? And perhaps come eventually come to the possible truth of faith?
“I believe only what I can see, hear, and feel!” some will protest. But…is truth limited to the human senses—to the perceptibly empirical? Or even to human reason? Do the stars exist if a blind man cannot see them? Or, to utilize a hackneyed phrase, does a falling tree make a sound if one cannot hear it?
Is it not wise to explore faith which has a verifiable historicity? Few historians would propose that Jesus did NOT exist, given even non-Biblical sources and the influence that an otherwise insignificant workman has had in the world for the last two thousand years. And, as Pascal wagered, even if one cannot find It within oneself to believe, is it not better to live a life of virtue? Certainly the great philosophers so believed; in fact, that’s a reason to call them “philosophers”, as that very descriptor means “lover of wisdom”.
A lover pursues his beloved, and so the wise and the good seek truth, even if it takes him to those regions where human pride and presumption are loathe to venture. At the end of life, undeniably all will experience truth of what comes after. Let’s tidy up, lest we be found wanting.
Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.