To believe in free thought in order to arrive at a destination where truth abides is not an easy feat and is often mistaken for arguing for argument's sake which more often than not proves inevitably flawed.
In the following video which includes a participating audience, respect plays an essential part in hearing out different perspectives rather than crashing down on them in one fell swoop.
Having listened to it and with respect, as an individual, no more and no less, i voice my deeply considered concerns about focal points voiced therein.
If we are sincerely to believe in One God then it follows our belief that there is One Truth. That Truth may have many if not infinite starting points but only one final destination. Picture an eye with the centre of the pupil being the truth and its circumference comprising all the elements of an eye that integrally aim at producing sight itself. They all work towards one goal.
We do not need to be aware of every detail in order for sight to exist, we need only to be aware that without them we may indeed see no light. Figuratively this applies equally in the way we regard our faith. Faith is us being guided towards the Light. Whatever you name it, it is still nevertheless that One Light and unlike ourselves that Light is a constant regardless of whether we are guided to it or not.
Allow me to explain this point further using the proverbial tree that falls in a forest with no one around. Does it make a sound? Many would say this question cannot be answered since the event has not been witnessed by anyone and therefore if there was a sound it could not be heard by anyone. Only the presence of acumen of a kind, be it one based upon scienctific, philosophical or spiritual aspects of the event can allow us to probe further. Here I use little other than intuitive rationale: Our thoughts are unlimited and in essence free from restriction but only of use to us if rooted in aspiration towards eventually arriving at a conclusion, a destination. Ultimately however, the conclusion stands firmly alone, independent of our perceptions. So, although no one could indeed convince anyone else that the tree did or did not make a sound, the truth of it being one or the other is that which holds supremacy. We do not need to be personally subjected to it in order for it to be so, we do not need to be individually involved in a situation in order for it to exist. Our humility is in accepting an answer does exist, whether we are around to witness it or not and above all to have the capacity to distinguish between the finite and the infinite, the latter being one we can only ever conceptually aspire to understand. Truth is only Truth if it is seen to withstand all confusion and falsehood; in order for it to remain a constant it needs us not. However, it is us who in all matters affiliated to this world need it. It is us who can only ever hope to reach up towards it through our complex, changeable, indecisive and ever-aspiring natures.
Whether we look deep into ever-expanding realms of galaxies or ever-diminishing nuclei of atoms we are always left in awe of the unsurmountable evidence of the infinte, of design, of His presence.
There is therefore a paradox involved when saying that we believe in One God and therefore One Truth and yet profess not to believe in the supremacy of Truth itself.
We are all free to choose what we believe in and infinite nuances of infinite beliefs are there for the picking however to declare that nothing has supremacy is to declare that this declaration itself is supreme which detracts substantially from our humility and suggests our subjectivity is beyond all else.
When we serve our Maker we do not rid ourselves of our entitlement to think, reason and deliberate, we truly serve when we in fact do so rather than not.
We serve when we reach out towards understanding our own perspective and with necessity encounter that of so many others along the way; when we believe there is indeed free will and therefore freedom in choosing.
We serve when we abide by an inherent wish to be guided and comprehend that even though guidance comes in many shapes and forms, ultimately, we are guided by Him alone.
The wisdom of scholars who have made it their life's mission to study, delve and absorb information that may be crucial in containing seeds of faith cannot be disparaged. Yet, with notability there comes responsibility and tolerance is key and perhaps just like in any field of expertise fallibility is sadly not rare.
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/headtohead/2013/06/201361091619207870.html
Finally, for all intents and purposes, the title of this debate may for some appear misleading keeping in mind the saying: 'A good craftsman never blames his tools'.
In the following video which includes a participating audience, respect plays an essential part in hearing out different perspectives rather than crashing down on them in one fell swoop.
Having listened to it and with respect, as an individual, no more and no less, i voice my deeply considered concerns about focal points voiced therein.
Allow me to explain this point further using the proverbial tree that falls in a forest with no one around. Does it make a sound? Many would say this question cannot be answered since the event has not been witnessed by anyone and therefore if there was a sound it could not be heard by anyone. Only the presence of acumen of a kind, be it one based upon scienctific, philosophical or spiritual aspects of the event can allow us to probe further. Here I use little other than intuitive rationale: Our thoughts are unlimited and in essence free from restriction but only of use to us if rooted in aspiration towards eventually arriving at a conclusion, a destination. Ultimately however, the conclusion stands firmly alone, independent of our perceptions. So, although no one could indeed convince anyone else that the tree did or did not make a sound, the truth of it being one or the other is that which holds supremacy. We do not need to be personally subjected to it in order for it to be so, we do not need to be individually involved in a situation in order for it to exist. Our humility is in accepting an answer does exist, whether we are around to witness it or not and above all to have the capacity to distinguish between the finite and the infinite, the latter being one we can only ever conceptually aspire to understand. Truth is only Truth if it is seen to withstand all confusion and falsehood; in order for it to remain a constant it needs us not. However, it is us who in all matters affiliated to this world need it. It is us who can only ever hope to reach up towards it through our complex, changeable, indecisive and ever-aspiring natures.
Whether we look deep into ever-expanding realms of galaxies or ever-diminishing nuclei of atoms we are always left in awe of the unsurmountable evidence of the infinte, of design, of His presence.
There is therefore a paradox involved when saying that we believe in One God and therefore One Truth and yet profess not to believe in the supremacy of Truth itself.
We are all free to choose what we believe in and infinite nuances of infinite beliefs are there for the picking however to declare that nothing has supremacy is to declare that this declaration itself is supreme which detracts substantially from our humility and suggests our subjectivity is beyond all else.
When we serve our Maker we do not rid ourselves of our entitlement to think, reason and deliberate, we truly serve when we in fact do so rather than not.
We serve when we reach out towards understanding our own perspective and with necessity encounter that of so many others along the way; when we believe there is indeed free will and therefore freedom in choosing.
We serve when we abide by an inherent wish to be guided and comprehend that even though guidance comes in many shapes and forms, ultimately, we are guided by Him alone.
The wisdom of scholars who have made it their life's mission to study, delve and absorb information that may be crucial in containing seeds of faith cannot be disparaged. Yet, with notability there comes responsibility and tolerance is key and perhaps just like in any field of expertise fallibility is sadly not rare.
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/headtohead/2013/06/201361091619207870.html
Finally, for all intents and purposes, the title of this debate may for some appear misleading keeping in mind the saying: 'A good craftsman never blames his tools'.
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