On Purpose-driven life and logical faith
I browse the PPS everyday, well, almost. There really isn't a particular theme or type of post I look for; perhaps its the hodgepodge of thousands of thoughts from a thousand people living a thousand different lives that lend perspective to my own.
The internet has become the ultimate metropolis and you can't even find it on the map. Every second of every day, it's alive with input from people - food and politics, and art and rants, and business and money and sex and little funny anecdotes. I'm sorry, I feel my brain turning to mush in trying to describe the overwhelming flow of humanity that is the internet.
And then I reflect on my miniscule part of the whole, a teeeeny tiny bit that I contribute. I'm talking about my blog, alrite?
Heh. My blog. My self-indulgent rants. My "opinions". My "views". I feel like an imposter on stage in the great play of life, where everyone is reading from a script while I have to extemporize and not very well at that. Come to think of it, that is a pretty good analogy - throw in a few more terms like miscue, off-timing, not connecting with the audience, and er...rotten tomatoes, and voila! you'd have the musical about my life.
"What do I want?" Have you ever stopped for a moment to ponder this?
I started reading this Christian book called Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Actually I'm reading three books simultaneously (doesn't say much for my social life, but now I'm spoilt for choice when I go take a crap).
Anyway, the bold guarantee made on the cover of Purpose Driven Life had me hooked. It said, after reading this book, I will find meaning in my life.
Well, there's no better way of suckering an existential-angst-ridden man like myself, I have to say. But chapter one already threw me off.
The whole tone of that chapter was just too presumptuous. Basically, it said, without God, life is meaningless. Well, if I had already decided that God was the purpose of my life, why on earth would I need that book to tell me that?
Here's an interesting quote: Unless you assume a God, the question of life's purpose is meaningless. I say interesting because it has a sort of circular logic to it.
Because the author is being presumptuous in his conclusion. It's like saying, if you don't assume the number four, then two plus two is meaningless. But the question of God's existence is not mathematically precise because if it was, what use is there for faith?
I interpreted it this way: "If you don't assume the existence of extra-terrestrial life, then all those reports of UFOs and aliens are meaningless."
See, you need to believe in God, then it would all make sense. That's the catch. They should've put it on the cover as a disclaimer "Faith required to make use of this book".
Well, what if I don't have faith? What if don't believe in extra-terrestrial life? I'm still baffled by UFO phenomena but my curiousity is not so easily appeased by the explanation of aliens.
God is but one way to explain the meaning of life. If it works for you, then fine. If not, there isn't any explanation that will change your mind.
Because, like I said, faith is required. Faith is everything. I lack it. And no amount of books, or sermons, or anti-Da Vinci Code statements from the church will ever win in the battle of logic.
Don't people get it? Faith and logic are bi-polar. How can you use logic to build up faith?
Maybe I should write a Christian book. It'll start off like this:
"If you're looking for proof of the existence of God, you're wasting your time. If you want evidence that God created you, and that there is an afterlife, this book is not for you. But if you know that the way to God is solely through faith, then this book can help you. For what is faith but the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen? The way to God is not a matter of two plus two. It's not about using your head. It's not about making sense of it all. It's about believing. And for only RM19.95, I shall show you how to believe."
Okay, I was kidding on the last bit, but seriously, has anybody come across a book like that? That will appeal to me simply because it doesn't treat me like an idiot who'd be convinced by unprovable presumptions or flaky logic.
That being said....I love you all. Every one of you.
And I need a drink.
The internet has become the ultimate metropolis and you can't even find it on the map. Every second of every day, it's alive with input from people - food and politics, and art and rants, and business and money and sex and little funny anecdotes. I'm sorry, I feel my brain turning to mush in trying to describe the overwhelming flow of humanity that is the internet.
And then I reflect on my miniscule part of the whole, a teeeeny tiny bit that I contribute. I'm talking about my blog, alrite?
Heh. My blog. My self-indulgent rants. My "opinions". My "views". I feel like an imposter on stage in the great play of life, where everyone is reading from a script while I have to extemporize and not very well at that. Come to think of it, that is a pretty good analogy - throw in a few more terms like miscue, off-timing, not connecting with the audience, and er...rotten tomatoes, and voila! you'd have the musical about my life.
"What do I want?" Have you ever stopped for a moment to ponder this?
I started reading this Christian book called Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Actually I'm reading three books simultaneously (doesn't say much for my social life, but now I'm spoilt for choice when I go take a crap).
Anyway, the bold guarantee made on the cover of Purpose Driven Life had me hooked. It said, after reading this book, I will find meaning in my life.
Well, there's no better way of suckering an existential-angst-ridden man like myself, I have to say. But chapter one already threw me off.
The whole tone of that chapter was just too presumptuous. Basically, it said, without God, life is meaningless. Well, if I had already decided that God was the purpose of my life, why on earth would I need that book to tell me that?
Here's an interesting quote: Unless you assume a God, the question of life's purpose is meaningless. I say interesting because it has a sort of circular logic to it.
Because the author is being presumptuous in his conclusion. It's like saying, if you don't assume the number four, then two plus two is meaningless. But the question of God's existence is not mathematically precise because if it was, what use is there for faith?
I interpreted it this way: "If you don't assume the existence of extra-terrestrial life, then all those reports of UFOs and aliens are meaningless."
See, you need to believe in God, then it would all make sense. That's the catch. They should've put it on the cover as a disclaimer "Faith required to make use of this book".
Well, what if I don't have faith? What if don't believe in extra-terrestrial life? I'm still baffled by UFO phenomena but my curiousity is not so easily appeased by the explanation of aliens.
God is but one way to explain the meaning of life. If it works for you, then fine. If not, there isn't any explanation that will change your mind.
Because, like I said, faith is required. Faith is everything. I lack it. And no amount of books, or sermons, or anti-Da Vinci Code statements from the church will ever win in the battle of logic.
Don't people get it? Faith and logic are bi-polar. How can you use logic to build up faith?
Maybe I should write a Christian book. It'll start off like this:
"If you're looking for proof of the existence of God, you're wasting your time. If you want evidence that God created you, and that there is an afterlife, this book is not for you. But if you know that the way to God is solely through faith, then this book can help you. For what is faith but the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen? The way to God is not a matter of two plus two. It's not about using your head. It's not about making sense of it all. It's about believing. And for only RM19.95, I shall show you how to believe."
Okay, I was kidding on the last bit, but seriously, has anybody come across a book like that? That will appeal to me simply because it doesn't treat me like an idiot who'd be convinced by unprovable presumptions or flaky logic.
That being said....I love you all. Every one of you.
And I need a drink.
posted by caffeinated at 4:51 PM
6 Comments:
try Osho's The Book of Man. Some good bits especially on tantric sex.
if it make you feel any better, boy i love reading your writing. Even meaningless post like this is a good read. I'm suprised you are not a writer. :>
sic: tantric sex is always a good reason for anything :)
fashionasia: meaningless?!! but thanks for the sweet compliment.:)
i am sure you are a better writer than Rick Warren to alot of people out there. the last paragraph makes sense in its own way^^ peace!
Isn't "logical faith" an oxymoron?
I gave up on the book as well as soon as I realised (instantaneous, as in your case)that it required me to believe in God in order to find meaning.
(...and so the search continues)
hi juei
thanks as always for your unwavering faith.
hey jackie, yeah logical faith certainly is oxymoronic
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