From: Scott R (jse885@spinn.net)
Date: Tue Oct 01 2002 - 23:55:19 BST
Steve,
Steve Peterson wrote:
> What I would really like to see is religion that focuses on its role as a
> dynamic faith system rather than as a static belief system. On the end of
> factual belief it is doomed to fail, but I think the role of religion in
> helping people understand value in their lives can continue without dogma.
I agree in general, but I think there is also a need for dogma, but only
on the condition that it be inexplicable. Robert Magliola's book
("Derrida on the Mend") has a very interesting discussion on how the
Church's "understanding" of the Trinity was carefully drawn between the
two heresies that arise by attempting to find an understandable notion
of the Trinity, modalism on the one hand (that the three persons are
"aspects" of God), and polytheism on the other (that there are three
Gods). The "truth" is that God is three and one, which of course is
unthinkable.
My point here is not to say that one's dogma should include a belief in
the Trinity (nor to say that it shouldn't), but that it should have that
kind of mystery to it. I could not, for example, accept Quality as being
foundational if it were definable. This is not because I get some sort
of masochistic pleasure out of it, but because I think salvation lies in
strengthening the intellect, and the intellect is strengthened by
butting up against mystery. That which we understand is dead, while a
nice piece of mystery keeps it alive and dynamic.
On a different subject, I note that no one has so far answered your
first post, on whether people here find the MOQ useful for clearing up
moral questions. Given that most acrimony here arises from differing
opinions on the moral issues of the day, it would appear that it does
not. As to why it doesn't, that too gives rise to differing opinions.
Whether it is "more of a lens through which to view such issues that
offers a perspective of biological, social, and intellectual
interplay?", well, there is some of that, but I've found it mostly
provides a take-off point from which one can make points about most
anything under, or over, the sun. Which may or may not be a good thing,
but one shouldn't try to herd cats.
- Scott
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