Saturday, May 17, 2014

Spirit and Science


This is an interlude post, but it will still fit in with the next post. I want to highlight my main ideas. Keep in mind that I make no claim to be a scientist whatsoever. In fact, if you can add to these thoughts I would appreciate it.
If one believes in spirit matter, it opens up the realm for infinite potential. It brings with it a perspective for eternity. It also makes us wonder about our own potential, the reality of good and evil, and begs the question for the existence of God.
Spirit is a basic principle in religion. Science is much dependent on empirical evidence. With this empirical evidence we can observe and share knowledge, at the same time, with each other. Testimony is only second-hand evidence, and is not considered empirical. However, I can still know of spiritual things that are testable and observable individually, but that spiritual knowledge is not transferable. Therefore, spirituality must be experienced by the individual themselves rather than relying on the lack of empirical evidence. Everyone has spiritual experiences to different degrees.
Thus, one has to seek out God to find Him. One has to actively seek Him out or will never know Him. One can logically pass off the existence of God; but once the inklings of spiritual things are recognized through experience, that recognition will grow into spiritual knowledge just as our knowledge with empirical evidences.
I thought I'd add this, too. Something I wrote a while back, but the same idea:
Science uses the observation and experimentation of “empirical and measurable evidence” (Wikipedia). “Although other sources of evidence, such as memory, and the testimony of others ultimately trace back to some sensory experience, they are considered to be secondary, or indirect” (Wikipedia). Spiritual experiences are not considered empirical evidence. Therefore, one must obtain the spiritual experience for him/herself for it to be validated, observed, and measured. Spiritually speaking, this must be done, and can only be done by the individual. Ultimately, that source is God. Additionally, those that do not seek God will never find Him, because they do not seek Him.
This is why Paul says, “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
God is the one in control of it. Let no person or thing come between you and God. Have faith in God only:
116 Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him; (Doctrine and Covenants, Doctrine and Covenants, D&C 76)
Joseph Smith:
…when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.
Try looking at the following videos I've discovered, as well:

No comments:

Post a Comment