I love the picture that CS Lewis paints in the beginning of his meditation when he describes the stream of sunlight shining in the dark shed. I can see the dust particles floating and practically feel the heat of the suns rays. As he describes that two points of view, I can picture myself in a dark shed of my own experiencing the two angles. Continuing to read, I kept asking myself, "do I look at or along?". The answer I found was that it depends on the situation. I don't think you can live a fulfilled life with only one or the other. You need both an understanding and a personal experience to fully appreciate the ordeal (no matter what the thing is). The order in which the two different types occur can vary from person to person. But obviously, the two ARE related to one another. The example Lewis used to show how you cannot live with just one of the views was pain. "A physiologist, for example can study pain and find out what that it 'is' (whatever is means) such and such neural events. But the word pain would have no meaning for him unless he had 'been inside' by actually suffering. If he had never looked along pain he simply wouldn't know what he was looking at". For me that's a very powerful point because who am I to judge someones life style or choices when I've never looked along? I believe that as Christians we are called to use both angles.
One point that Lewis made early in the meditation kind of stuck with me... He explained that long ago everyone thought that "looking along" was the valid experience. However, over the past fifty years or so people have been changing their views. Recently, people have decided that those who "look at" things have it right. The thought that came to my mind after reading this was why the shift? Why did it change? The only answer that I could think of was the huge growth of technology. People put their faith in logic and facts. Any other ideas?
I really enjoyed reading this Gina! You are honest and blunt about what you are feeling. Thank you. I agree with loving the opening two paragraphs with the sunbeam coming in and how C. S. Lewis describes it all. Since there has been a shift in thinking, I don't think I have any other answers besides the ones you have...But I do find it interesting the lack of balance that our culture emphasizes in so many things like thinking and consumerism. I found this especailly relatable when I went to Africa this summer and so how easy and comfortable it is to simply just "look at." Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your idea that technology has a lot to do with the popularity of looking at things as opposed to looking along things. I think that many people have replaced actual experience with virtual reality, thus losing part of the human experience of looking along certain things. Also, when you think of the popularity of internet sites like Wikipedia and Google's "define:..." it shows how people in today's world want facts, and they wants fact as soon as possible, even if that means sacrificing experience and deeper understanding. I think your statement that "people put their faith in logic and facts" is a very important and valid point.
ReplyDeleteI tried to envision myself in the place that Lewis was describing and he did such a good job that it was as if I could almost feel the dust go around me as it hit the sunbeam.
ReplyDeleteI think today more than it used to be years ago many people believe that if they lived during a time of a tragic event such as a war or assasination or tragic natural disaster than they experienced it. This is true in a way. Yes they did experience watching it on television or perhaps they had family members or friends who had been affected but the tragedy. But at the same time NO they did not experience it because they had not been impacted first hand. It reminds me of the saying that so many parents and grandparents have repeated to their children and grandchilden. The saying "I am older and wiser and have been through more so I know more that you because I am more experienced." This is trus in certain circumstances but the saying is often times abused. I think that people feel that they have fully experienced something because they have the ability to watch the event through their television. Years and years ago people could only listen to news on their radio. the advances in the media has caused both good and bad things for the world. I think that what the advances have caused are mostly bad. Thats just my opinion. Great post!
I agree that technology is part of what brought the change in values of the two views. It seems that through technology, we're able to discover and know more about the world than ever before. And because people think they know all there is to know, they've developed the idea that everything is logically understanding through reasoning and science.
ReplyDeleteI can even say that the changes are caused by human arrogance that has been brought up through technology.
I tried picturing myself in Lewis' situation in the toolshed as well, and I agree that it depends on the situation to decide which perspective you would use. I totally agree on your thought of technology being the change in values today. I know that I feel more comfortable when I put my faith in logic and facts. Its sad to think that when tragedy occurs, we rely more on technology than on God.
ReplyDeleteWe talked about this in my church and my pastor told a story. He said that a small town was going through a famine and all the farmers were really struggling. At church that sunday, the pastor told the farmers that they were going to have a prayer over the fields to help their plants grow. When church was out the pastor saw one of the farmer members of his church and asked him why he didn't attend because they were praying over the feilds.. the farmer responded that it was faster and easier to use a tractor and sprinkler.
Because technology is faster and more efficient, we tend to rely more on that than on God.
I agree in thinking that the shift to facts or looking at has a lot to do with technology. We now think that if there is something we do not know or understand there has to be a way to prove it or some new technology to fix or heal it. Something that has really struck me while reading this even though it is off topic, is that now we are trying to cheat death. Our culture has trained us to be afraid of death, and to avoid it at all costs. It is sad to see that people feel in their time of need they do not rely on God and ask for his will. They rely on a doctor, or a scientist in a lab who does not know them beyond their disease.
ReplyDeleteYou ask an interesting question. I think we can find at least part of the answer in Revelation 12:15 "And the serpent [Satan] cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood (KJV)." Technology, science, entertainment and many other aspects of our culture today, although they are often not evil in themselves, carry much evil with them. The devil is trying to wipe out the church with this "flood". Maybe others would disagree with me, but that is what I see in this shift; Satan's attack on God's people.
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