Kinds of Displays

1/22/2020

Craig, a reader of this blog, took this photo after he had stepped out of his backdoor the other day. He kindly forwarded the image to give me a sense of "the kinds of displays God puts on" for those living in Colorado. I have to admit, that's quite a breathtaking display.

Though I appreciate the photo, I appreciate Craig's sentiment even more. It served to remind me of how much more explicitly wonderful and beautiful the world became after I fully re-acknowledged that it was indeed a part of Creation and not merely some random, meaningless mix of matter and chemicals haphazardly thrown together by chance.

When I was a child, I had an unspoken understanding of Creation. I was filled with a deep sense of wonder and awe. It permeated every fiber of my being. Back then, I was aware of Creation and I was aware that I too was part of Creation, but this understanding slowly faded in my late teens and early twenties. I managed to regain my belief in Creation somewhere in my mid-thirties, and it has enriched my life ever since.

When you understand that we live in Creation, things are not merely beautiful, but Beauty-Full. Art galleries house some of the finest masterpieces in the world, but few can compare with the masterpieces that await you everywhere - like just outside your backdoor, for example.

Thanks, Craig.

8 Comments

William James Tychonievich link

1/23/2020 05:32:34

This is something I sympathize with but struggle to deal with philosophically. Even if God created the universe, in what sense can he be said to have orchestrated this particular display? Isn’t it just the natural result of air and water and light obeying the laws of physics?

Francis Berger

1/23/2020 09:04:12

I sympathize with the struggle you expressed in your comment, Wm. It was exactly this kind of thinking that caused me to first doubt, then turn away from the very idea of Creation when I was in my late teens.

I eventually found the answer in metaphysics. I don't believe God orchestrated this particular display in the same sense that an artist decides to paint a landscape - rather that God created the physical elements in the same sense he created us - as alive and conscious.

Bruce addresses this topic in "What I assume: the metaphysics of everyday life" where he uses a walk in the country to elaborate on this idea:

A walk in the country

The vital importance of metaphysics in everyday Life can be seen by considering a typical walk in the country - first from the perspective of mainstream modern metaphysics, then from how things ought to be.

How modern metaphysics demeans life

Imagine walking on a beautiful day through beautiful countryside - and how everything that is experienced is undermined by our typical modern metaphysical assumptions...

The sky is a glorious, electric blue... and I feel elated; until I reflect that this apparent blueness is some kind of perceptual illusion caused by the interaction of the earth's atmosphere with light from the sun.

The sun is warm, and very air feels soft between my fingers and I am at peace... until I reflect that 'really' the sun is merely a ball of incandescent gas, of terrifying temperature; and the softness of the air merely an effect of some specific combination of moisture and temperature acting on the nerve endings of my skin.

I feel filled with well-being... until I recognise that this must merely be due to some combination of neurotransmitters and hormones, a product of ancestral evolution which was shaped merely by traits that led to reproductive success.

That magnificent beech tree, with its translucent green leaves outlined against the blue of the sky, seems like a wise companion to this walk... until I reflect that it is just a plant with no feelings; and the leaves are only that colour due to the chlorophyll which is used in photosynthesis.

That sandstone boulder has a remarkable shape, which seems significant... until I reflect that it is just a dead lump of inert unconscious matter - shaped randomly by the forces of wind and water...

You get the idea? Modern metaphysics works to destroy the validity and significance of our best and highest moments - reducing them to contingent, random or merely-causal effects; and reducing our own responses to similarly meaningless factors.

Our metaphysics is that everything that happens is either merely the inevitable cause of something equally meaningless that happened before; or some random and pointless event. The ideas of meaning, purpose and the notion that any of this has anything significant to do with me and my hopes is written off as a delusion - a delusion that may be explained only in similarly meaningless terms.

But suppose we had a better metaphysics? How might things look then?

A better metaphysics

I walk in the country and I know that everything I perceive, everything I think, has meaning - even when I do not know what that meaning is exactly; even when I cannot understand it ever - I know that there is meaning.

I know that the meaning has to do with a divine purpose - that this world around me is in fact a creation - not just a collection of arbitrary stuff.

I know that the divine purpose has the unity which comes from creation being the product of a personal God - what is more, a God like myself, a God of whom I am a child.

And that, because I am a child of God; I too share in divinity; and indeed share in some knowledge of God's nature and purposes - I know that I can know enough of these matters such that I can lead my life well.

What, then, of all the specifics I have mentioned above - sky, sun, warm air, physical sensations, tree and rock? I know that they have meaning, purpose and relevance... but what, exactly?

Well, I don't necessarily know their individual meaning and purposes, and especially I don't know exactly. But I do know in a general sense that they are all alive in some shape or form; all conscious in some way and degree; and that they are all potentially beings with whom I can have a personal relationship of some kind.

I know this because they are all creations; and all of creation has to do with myself specifically, as one of God's children generally - our fates are interwoven.

Instead of nothing having any meaning or purpose - everything has meaning and purpose and is in communication and in relation... even though this is almost-wholly mysterious I know this is true, and that specific knowledge on such matters is possible, at some point or in some circumstances nothing meaningful is unknowable; everything is potentially knowable, experience-able.

That - then - is the difference metaphysics can make: all the difference in the world.

1/23/2020 10:38:30

Thanks for the detailed reply, Frank. I’m already quite familiar with, and sympathetic toward, our friend Bruce’s metaphysics, but I find that it still doesn’t allow me to deal satisfactorily with something like a rainbow or a sunset.

“I don't believe God orchestrated this particular display in the same sense that an artist decides to paint a landscape - rather that God created the physical elements in the same sense he created us - as alive and conscious.”

But do you believe that the physical elements, as conscious and alive, created this particular display on purpose, perhaps to communicate something or out of pure exuberance and love of beauty? If not (and I find it a very hard proposition to swallow), isn’t that particular display still just an accident?

The meaningfulness of beauty poses problems even when we’re talking about human beings and the higher animals, which are indisputably alive and conscious. When I see a tiger creeping through the grass, its beauty is awe-inspiring and certainly feels meaningful — but does the fact that the tiger is alive, and possesses a degree of consciousness and intelligence, suffice to explain that meaningfulness? Did the tiger choose to be huge and sleek and stripey? Does its appearance reflect its consciousness in any way? I don’t see how it could, but if it doesn’t, how is it meaningful?

1/23/2020 11:23:17

I can certainly appreciate the questions you've raised here. Those who question meaning/purpose/Creation often approach the topic from a similar angle, but take the negative position - what is the meaning of the cancer within an innocent child / what is the meaning of a devastating hurricane that kills hundreds, etc.?

I can only approach these questions from an individual within Creation level. If the elements are alive and conscious to a certain degree, then what they display must serve a purpose or multiple purposes within Creation. They surely also communicate something, but what these communications mean, or if these communications are even perceived by other parts of Creation, is not always concretely explicable.

I believe the key is to acknowledge that the meaning in beauty is there, even if we cannot completely grasp/understand what the meaning may be.

Think of synchronicity. Is there a deeper meaning, or is it just dumb luck? Did the universe align itself in such a way to allow for us to perceive something deeper, or is the synchronicity just random? Our attitude to experiencing a synchronicity determines everything.

Believing the synchronicity has meaning is important even if we can't/don't properly understand the actual meaning/purpose behind the synchronicity. Of course, there's always the chance that we may misinterpret/misunderstand the underlying meaning of a synchronicity, but our misunderstanding/misinterpretation does not/should not render the event itself meaningless/accidental.

However, if we look at a synchronicity as nothing but a random/meaningless event, well, everything just comes to a screeching halt, doesn't it?

Even noticing the synchronicity becomes meaningless. I mean if everything is just accidental, what deeper implications could a synchronicity experience possibly offer beyond the "Hey, isn't that odd?" level of interpretation.

Accepting meaning is more important than fully understanding meaning. Does that make sense or am I going around in circles here?

1/24/2020 22:27:52

Yes, it makes sense -- but, yes, we're also going around in circles. I've tried to deal with this maddening issue before -- see my old post "<a href="https://narrowdesert.wordpress.com/2018/05/27/shining-buddha-problems/">Shining Buddha problems</a>" -- but have not been able to find a solution.

Craig Davis

1/23/2020 13:40:20

There is no explanation for our ability to perceive beauty in any materialistic view of the world. Therefore, if we assume the Mormon/Dr. Charlton metaphysics of eternal souls, then the perception of beauty must be inherent to our nature. Following from that, I believe God purposely creates natural beauty primarily as revelation and secondarily to bring joy to our existence. I certainly do not arrogate to the idea that the particular sunrise in my photo was meant specifically for me, but perhaps it was meant for us, as a community, to inspire exactly the discussion we are having now?

1/23/2020 13:58:22

@ Craig - "I certainly do not arrogate to the idea that the particular sunrise in my photo was meant specifically for me, but perhaps it was meant for us, as a community, to inspire exactly the discussion we are having now?"

Hey, now there's an idea I can get behind!

1/25/2020 15:16:53

@Wm - "Yes, it makes sense -- but, yes, we're also going around in circles."

I agree. Your post on the topic is excellent. I was a little concerned about the comparison I made between natural beauty and synchronicities. After I posted the comment, I grimaced a little inside because I was afraid you might think I was attempting to draw a false comparison or was engaging in some conflation. Thus, I was immensely relieved to see you make a similar comparison in your post on the subject.

Yes, this is a maddening issue. I don't know what else I could add at this point. It might be a good idea to raise the topic at NEC. What do you think?

In the meantime, I am going to be at the Narrow Desert reading your conclusions from the great posts you have written over the course of the week.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

Kinds of Displays

Leave a Reply.

Archives