Here is a thought vomit I have been thinking on for the last few days - hopefully you can make sense of it and even shed further light on the topic for me. Here we go.
I think there are numerous ways to go about seeking TRUTH.
Obviously, the scientific method helps us prove theories and ideas. No doubt about it, it works and it works well. However, I also think that one can reach truth by spiritual means as well.
Humans have a built-in sense (something like our ability to see and smell) that isn't necessarily quantifiable. Call it "your gut", "The Spirit", "a conscience", "the Light of Christ", or whatever the heck you want - we all know when something just FEELS right (or wrong, for that matter). And I don't think that feeling should be discredited because it's "not backed by science."
The fact that all humans have this hard-to-describe ability or intuition wired in to our being is evidence enough to me that there may be other paths to tap into - paths that very well could lead to truth!
Open-mindedness is a virtue; one that is hard to hold on to! (at least for me!)
In our daily lives as we fight the scroll, consume media of all kinds, and discuss topics with members and non-members a like, it becomes REALLY hard to remember that, if we are serious about seeking truth, we shouldn't dismiss things immediately. I am SO guilty of this! I hear something from a friend, read something on the news, or run across something on social media and all the little dudes in my mind try to immediately categorize it into truth or un-truth - often times without taking the proper time required to run it through BOTH of my filters (spiritual and scientific method).
We are all living in a world of algorithms that play on our confirmation bias. This makes this effort even harder. But, I really believe that it's a task worth fighting for.
Bottom line - we shouldn't just disregard feelings like 13th-century christians disregarded science.
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OKAY - I am adding this section on. I had the draft saved, and didn't really feel like it was ready to post. I dove into my thoughts and my feelings on this a little more and consulted the scriptures...
So all of that I typed above is nice, right? Open-mindedness. It's a good thing right?
Then take is another step - why do some of these same "feel-good"/"feel-bad" feelings contradict what the church teaches or certain policies that the church has?
Moroni throws down an epic warning in Moroni chapter 7.
14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is aevil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
I feel like he HAD to have seen our day!
He goes on to explain how we can sort it out. But, in total brutal honesty, his explanation left me a little wanting. Sorry, Moroni, I just need a little more from you!
Read the section I am talking about for yourself:
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to ajudge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the aSpirit of Christ is given to every bman, that he may cknow good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do aevil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the alight by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same bjudgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
He goes on to say that FAITH is the key ingredient to knowing what is good. And that a faith in Christ is all we need to discern good from evil (or, I think truth from un-truth can be inserted here - correct me if I am wrong - God is Good, right? And he is all knowing and in a sense, Ultimate Truth, right? Or is that not an equivalent?)
24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were afallen, and there could no good thing come unto them.
I liked this verse, as he mentions there are a whole lot of ways to coming to the "truth conclusion". God works through science, through prophets, through feelings, through thoughts.
Anyways, like I stated - it was a thought vomit here. So, discern what you can and send me your thoughts! Comment on the blog here so we can all enjoy the discourse!
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