Phenomenology:

"Phenomenology of religion concerns the experiential aspect of religion, describing religious phenomena in terms consistent with the orientation of the worshippers. It views religion as being made up of different components, and studies these components across religious traditions so that an understanding of them can be gained." Wikipedia, "Phenomenology of Religion"

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Natural Religion, Pt. II

In my last installment, I talked about how the knowledge of God is written in us. Somehow, our brains know that something out there is greater than ourselves and somehow our hearts know that something is personal. Going beyond that basic instinct is where we find our meaning. One could say that going beyond our basic instincts are what makes us human and not animal. That is where we find art, music, a desire for friendly competition (not over food, mates, or lives) and love.

“The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for” (CCC 27). This quote is from just before

the quote I used in the last post. Not only were we created with a knowledge of God but a desire for God. God is essential to our happiness and the meaning in our lives. Every time joy and goodness happens in our lives, it comes from God. Likewise, every time we create joy for someone else, we are reflecting the love of God and giving that gift back to Him.

You may be thinking, “Gee, this is great, but haven’t we gone pretty far afield from Natural Religion?” And yes, we have. But that’s the great thing about God – He’s infinite. You can start with a simple concept and end up down thirteen different rabbit holes.

3 comments:

  1. I love, adore, and love you, dear Carol. So I know that I will need to choose my comments(/battles) very wisely. :-P

    In the discussion of natural religion from a historically Christian perspective (see how I'm giving grace there? you should.) must include Psalm 19 and Romans 1 into the discussion.

    Psalm 19:1-6
    1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
    2 Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
    3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.
    4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.
    In them he has set a tent for the sun,
    5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
    6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
    and its circuit to the end of them,
    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

    Romans 1:18-23
    For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

    Creation itself is evidence of God's handiwork. Additionally however, it would seem the biblical text pushes the reader more in the direction of that, rather than trying to chase God down, human beings in fact adamantly run from God, actively engaging in the suppression of this knowledge humans have of God as creator.

    I have to agree with your look at our creativeness - music, paintings, etc - as evidence for God. The creative aspect within us certainly is evidence for our being in the image of God... not that we look like God, for he is spirit (Jn 4:24)... but there is something of his nature imprinted (I hope that is a good enough way to look @ it) on us as human beings.

    I hope you don't mind my input. I promise to be nice... even in my disagreements. I'll keep the CAPS lock off, too. ;-)

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  2. ps: how do you get the SHARE via gmail and fb and twitter at the bottom of your posts? that's really cool. oh... the general look of your page is REALLY good, too. :)

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  3. Hey, you know me, I love a good discussion and I appreciate you holding off on the CAPS. A good discussion is what I'm looking for - hence the 'phenomenologist' part. Of course, they're probably too relativistic for you ;). I completely agree that God is written in creation. There's a lovely picture I hang on my wall that I took of the sunrise behind a statue of Mary at camp - there are few things that remind me more of the beauty of simplicity and purity. I did not mention that because I was trying to stay on the topic of religion, of which the sun and trees have none. Unless you want to talk about Natural Religion as nature worship, but that falls outside the realm of Christianity. I was going to include this from 1 John 4:19, but I forgot. "We love because he first loved us." The entire passage is one of my favorites, I think I've mentioned it to you before - it's all about love. Anyway, I think that verse feeds into the what I was saying before, that we know God innately because He created us to. He wants us to know who He is. And thanks for the Bible passages - I'm glad I have you to add more Bible. You know it better than I do!

    But just for you, I'm going to quote the Catechism again:
    "With his openness to truth and beauty, his sense of moral goodness, his freedom and the voice of his conscience, with his longings for the infinite and for happiness, man questions himself about God's existence. In all this he discerns signs of his spiritual soul. the soul, the "seed of eternity we bear in ourselves, irreducible to the merely material," can have its origin only in God.
    "The world, and man, attest that they contain within themselves neither their first principle nor their final end, but rather that they participate in Being itself, which alone is without origin or end. Thus, in different ways, man can come to know that there exists a reality which is the first cause and final end of all things, a reality "that everyone calls 'God.'"
    "Man's faculties make him capable of coming to a knowledge o the existence of a personal God. But for man to to be able to enter into real intimacy with him, God willed both to reveal himself to man and to give him the grace of being able to welcome this revelation in faith. The proofs of God's existence, however, can predispose one to faith and help one to see that faith is not opposed to reason." (CCC 33, 34, 35)

    Just something to chew on. ;)

    As for the Share stuff, I didn't put it there, it just is. I'm glad you like how it looks, it's a template from the new template maker. You, knowing sooo much more about computer stuff than me saying it looks good is a much appreciated compliment!

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