the middle ground less taken.

http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_dawkins_on_our_queer_universe.html

just saw the video and comments on the above link, and it is indeed very thought provoking. and saddening. saddening because people tend to like to put up their old favourite dart boards and take pot shots at "the other side". saddening that religion in europe and america has been relegated to be seen dogmatic and senseless, thoughtless and brainless. saddening that the same people who ask for humility from theists to consider the evidence for atheism don't apply the same humility to themselves. saddening to see that christians walk straight into the dogmatic mode that has created such a public perception of the faith. saddening to see that atheists refuse to consider the position of a christian and the reasonability of it. sad, and perhaps, i might be expecting too much from a world of imperfect humans trying to grapple with a theory of existence that extends beyond what the human mind is wired to consider.

the juxtaposition of faith and reason is one that holds much middle ground, yet, ironically, the middle ground is the ground least trodden. and rightly so, for it takes a great mind to hold the tensions apart yet in tandem, and perhaps this middle ground is where the truth lies. what is a faith that deals solely with the after life and supernatural? what is a faith that deals with salvation as a monetary transaction? what is a faith that is unchanging, unmoving with the times? some forms of christianity, unfortunately, but only some forms, blessedly.

it is easy to take the bible literally as the whole literal truth. it is easy to take reason and science as the perfect antecedent. yet, if faith is to believe in the unknowable because of what is known, then the christian has much to consider and grapple with in the bible. if reason and science is to know what is, then there should also be a humility to ponder what if.

a theist and an atheist are diametrically opposite, and it will be impossible to reasonably ask any of them to cross over, because it is "natural". rather, we must consider the reasons for the existence of the position in the first place, and seek to see the reason for it. it is partially historic. it is partially sociological. it is partially philosophical. it is partially scientific. it is partially experiential. it is partially a matter of faith. and this applies to both sides.

as a christian, the side that i think we must constantly watch out for, is to see how the bible is still relevant and consistent. there is a reality there that is for us to grasp. and if it were found to reliable in some things, then perhaps, there will be more reason to trust it in the things that are not knowable now.

as a thinking person, it is important to not extrapolate the detail to become the metanarrative, and it is similarly important to not minimize the metanarrative into every single detail. there is room for observation, empirical evidence. it is also important to understand that, reason as a means of access to the whole universe, is also an article of faith. and faith is reasonable.

question is, are we making the effort to see how our particular faith is still reasonable?

C. S. Lewis once said that in the past, God was the judge and all men approached Him in fear. in the modern day, Man has become judge, and God is in the defendant's stand. sadly, it seems that many of the modern day judges give a verdict before the accused has a chance to present His case. Let the christian jury also not make the same mistake of passing a "not guilty" judgement before considering evidence.

many thinkers considered evidence and passed a guilty verdict on the religion. i believe my God is big enough, and true enough, for me to also consider the evidence, and declare Him as Lord and Saviour.

5 things a christian can learn from inception

1. this world we live in does not last forever and we must all one day wake up to a "reality"
2. we need some constant thing that we know very well to remind us that this is not the final reality.
3. having a group of people to ground us in this reality, and remind us to not get stuck in a dream is important and good.
4. sometimes, the dream looks very very very very tempting. but it is still just a dream.
5. we sometimes need to descend to a deeper level in order to bring someone back up to a higher level

Inspiration is bad for sleep

having belatedly finished the count of monte cristo, and listened to the sound track of les miserables (the musical) within the same day, it's left my brain buzzing with activity, such that sleep is greatly overdue, and waking time is swift approaching. the thoughts are not reflections, for reflections are like mirrors, allowing one to see the semblance of one self in the glass. no, rather, the thoughts are more like a crystal ball, a swirling ball of mist and mystery, into which one may peer, but seldom fathom.

the hands of providence and fate are indeed far reaching, and history only starts to appear with a purpose when a great mind organizes it all into a coherent narrative, only then to be critiqued and torn apart by feebler minds that base their life's work on destruction, for it is infinitely easier to destroy than to create. the disorderly of the world today falls into a familiar pattern of human struggle, folly and triumph tomorrow. great are the minds that organize and describe; just as great are the minds that organize, and create a new story for all to sing of.

having done with the 2 classics of a far more romantic era, the prevalent thought is one of awe. in awe of the capacity of the mind of the writers to contemplate, and to write. and not just to write, but with clarity, purpose, genius of plot, and beauty of language. and not just empty literature as is common in much of the post-modern literature, but that of a great message. and upon great grappling, awe of the human writers then gave way to reverence of the Almighty.

For who can comprehend the narrative that shall appear in the Book? the story of many twists and turns, defeats, setbacks, stumbles, strife, human weakness, human agency, and then to finally make sense in one final divine narrative. as Hugo and Dumas spin an epic that leaves one breathless yet in fervour, so shall God's final story leave all awestruck yet dancing. the hand that created the beginning shall write the end, and instead of a soliloquay, has invited all in a chorus of joy and hope.

at the end of it all, dumas will surely be vindicated, as in his wisdom, penned that "all human wisdom is summed up in two words - wait and hope." we await Lord, and we hope.

Venn Diagram

If Christ claims to be Lord of all, then should we deny Him even one area of creation in which, or over which, He does not reign ultimately supreme, then He has failed and has to be branded a liar, a cheat, and a whole lot of bullshit. How can one compartmentalize such broad and deep claims and say that His authority does not extend into academia? What is academia that is not guided by values and morals? Merely disinterested scientists trying to play God, isn't it? Either that, or reducing all the intricacies of the world to mere causality within a narrow perspective. What is the point of the words good/bad/beneficial/detrimental if there are to be no value labels? Cold blooded murder becomes a mere observation. Metal object hits skull and penetrates skull. Brain damage: 90%. Results in human being unable to move, breath. Hypothesis: When brain is damaged up to 90%, person dies. 100 people gassed with compound X. Result: Death for all 100. Hypothesis: Compound X is harmful. Kills people. May alternatively be used on insects.

How can one not condemn such atrocities?

A science that can applaud the "advances" and knowledge gained by such atrocities can surely see the benefit of repeating them.

A social scientist that can observe and applaud such atrocities...what will he be passing on to society? What will he be promoting?

And which fool believes that opinion is divorced from one's values? Isn't the belief in non-interference of morals in science a belief in itself? And what is the result of such a divorce?

And what do I make of someone who insists on a disinterested view divorced of all moral and value labels? Is opinion possible without value labels?

And how do i treat someone like that?

What would you do, Jesus?

In all places

Of all places,
Here, in darkness,
I find a flicker
A spark.

Of all places,
In the valleys,
Runs ceaseless water
Life.

Of all places,
In the deserts,
Life fights a winning battle
To survive.

Of all places,
In the heart,
Is glory and hope so profound
Injected.

Of all places, then,
It is here,
It is now,
That everlasting's roots are found.

Therefore in all things, rejoice. And that shall be the lesson of the day.

2:26am - 2:47am

Half the world is asleep,
No, not the day half and the night half.
For in the day half, there are the night shifters.
And in the night half, there are the lonely broken souls.
And then there's me.

Half the world is blind,
No, not those who can see the rainbow and those who can't.
For in the heart, there can be a rainbow,
And in the eyes, nothing but the cement underfoot.
And then there's me.

Half the world is pitiable,
No, not those who deserve our pity and those who don't.
But those who do not wake, and do not see.
That is the real tragedy.

And then, there's me.

**********************

What do you call someone who used to see but is now blind? Was seeing but now blind?
What do you call someone who used to be blind but now see?

What do you call those who used to love but now critic and hate?
Those who used to hate but now love?

What do you call someone who's still stuck in the middle of all that, and can still go either way?

What do you call me?

**********************

And who am I but a reflection of you?
Who am I but a pariah for you?
Who am I but a role model,
Who am I but a friend,
Who am I, if not you?

**********************

There is probably much to learn from public scandals. About the hypocrisy of the world, about what it should have been, what it could have been. There is also much to learn about what else is left to see, and what more must be done. It is also a lesson for the self.

Perhaps private debts are best kept private. That's where the real hurt was dealt, and that's where the real healing must begin. Everything else, why should they care? Everyone else, why should they care?

**********************

I applaud the courage of Jack Neo and admit my utmost respect for his wife. May the Lord accept their repentance and renew them in love.

It is time the world sees what a bit of sincere repentance and forgiveness can do.

And the church MUST set an example. For God's faithfulness can be shown when He leads us out of our own darkness.

**********************

Humans never learn to move beyond the instinct to protect themselves, often by hurting others. In several thousand years of civilization, why have we still not learnt? Why must we hurt others to protect our own vulnerabilities?

Can we not progress? Can we not grow?

Perhaps we are still cavemen living in our own concrete caves and jungles. And all that we learnt, is to express the hidden more eloquently, more deceptively...

**********************

The joys of being blessed only come to those who choose to be blessed. The wonders of vision only to those who seek it. The pleasures of companionship only to those who desire it.

And may be peace of God be to me, who really really really needs it.

CS2

in the end, it was that which i live with everyday that dragged me behind. the false familiarity, the sweet odour, the texture and rhythm. you who had me hooked since young, you who befriended me in times when people left.

and now, yet again, it is you, who made a difference. rearing your ugly side now. how many more can i take? how many more must i take?

will i survive another triple blow?

taking it on the chin is only a test of character if the blow isn't crippling. not yet, not yet.

how ironic. even at the slipping away, in escape, i must face you...feel you...