Are Your Standards of Reality—Genuine? - Part I

Are Your Standards of Reality—Genuine?

Pastor Timothy Keller in his book, The Reason for God asks a very interesting, if not challenging question.  It is this. “How can we use our time’s standard of ‘progressive’ as the plumb-line by which we decide which parts of the Bible are valid and which are not?”

Of course one might broaden the question out and ask the same of one’s notions of truth, progress, and a whole host of other assumptions.  Pastor Keller goes on to make the observation that just as people in our day look back and view the past as primitive, one day people will look back at us with the same label.  Yet one must ask, “Is this really so?” and “Are we really more advanced that those of years ago?”

The Benchmark of Progress

This notion that today is a legitimate “plumb-line of progress” is a part of a greater question.  Is our benchmark for deciding progress based upon truth or assumption?  For example one might offer the speed with which knowledge is expanding as evidence that man is no longer primitive and in fact advanced over what he was in past centuries.  Or perhaps offer that Western man is living longer as some mark of progress.

Again one does well to ask the question.  Are these legitimate marks of man’s progress?  If they are not then the resulting assumptions will be as inconsistent as a wall built without a plumb-line.  Even if such a wall is well constructed if the benchmark is faulty so will the resulting wall of reality.

So then in future posting consideration will be given to the legitimacy of some of the benchmarks and plumb-lines.  However, for the present consider two assumptions that seem quite common.

Assumptions about Discovery

Look for a moment at the notion of progress.  Call it “word smithing” if you will but consider this.  There is an assumption that “discovery” is “creation.”  Thus the discovery of another element of truth or reality is supposed to demonstrate man’s increased capabilities.  However, truth be told such discovery is only discovery of that which already exists and has existed since the Creation of this world. 

It is the same as a child’s discovery of ice cream has nothing at all to do with the creation of same.  Yet, such discoveries are touted as demonstrating man’s progress.  It is no more so than the child discovering ice cream.  As the Scriptures point out “So there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9b).  Perhaps one is prepared to accept that "discovery is creation" however, such is not logical.

Certainly one would have to be out of touch with reality not to see that such discovery has aided man in intervening in such things as disease and physical injury however, discovery is only discovery not innovative invention.  Again consider the child discovering ice cream.  Such a discovery would certainly intervene in the discomfort of the effects of a hot day.  However such is only application not discovery nor invention.

Assumptions about Intelligence

Look for another example to man’s intelligence.  It is not uncommon for people to conclude that today’s man is more intelligent and accomplished than mankind of five, six, or even ten thousands of years ago.  It is not uncommon to hear people refer to the Hebrews of 5,000 years ago as primitive goat herders.  The notion is that such was so with little change until modern times.

The assumption is that man has greater intelligence than ever before (Darwinian Theory).  But, is that really true?  The only way to test the validity of the theory is to read the writings of the time in the Jewish Scriptures and as well consult such other writings of the time that are available.  Then compare such writings and events they record to today's man. 

More of this discussion will follow in subsequent postings.

Further Discussion / Argument

In future postings evidence will be tendered that suggests that in fact man is in decline.  Should you wish to discuss such please join in the discussion on Facebook.