No Threat

The debate between proponents of evolution and creationism is incredibly divisive. The recent (relatively) suggestion of intelligent design, oddly enough, has only further polarized the issue.

I have a hard time with this divisiveness. It is pointless and destructive in such a way that very little if any good can come from the resultant debate(s) regarding the subject. There are some things which are pointless and yet good, or stating it another way; Not everything that is good has to have a point or an end result. Destructiveness is not all bad either. The natural processes which break down matter are a good thing, providing raw materials back to the beginning of those processes. However that destructiveness is a part of a cyclic process which is self sustaining. Pointlessly destructive is not cyclic, it is linear, unending until the end has been reached. And I believe that the debate in its current form is dangerous, because it is pointless and destructive, and this is not good... .

I do not think that the debate itself is dangerous. Debate about such issues is a healthy growing process and should be engaged in and encouraged. Discussions regarding this (and many other) issues allows us the opportunity to find new common ground, explore different ways of thinking, and opens the door to some very healthy reflection. This is a good thing... .

So what might we do to change this? I think that the first thing that needs be done, is to put the whole thing in perspective. For example: I have a certain set of beliefs regarding this issue (which I won't go into). That set of beliefs is a center point of a "belief sphere" for me as a person, lets call that point zero. The likelihood of one other person sharing that exact set of beliefs is so infinitesimal as to be completely negligible. So, the likelihood of of someone disagreeing with at least some of my beliefs is infinitely large. That implies that we all have different center points in the belief domain. Assuming that these belief spheres are limited in volume/circumference, it also implies that there are very likely spheres of belief with which I am unable to share common "belief space".

Given that set of assumptions, I have to ask myself this: In what way am I as a person threatened by beliefs which are not in alignment with my own, and very possibly contradict them absolutely?

This gets really big, very fast. The questions start piling up.

What if my beliefs compel me to take some action which impacts others, or the reverse?
What about those for whom evangelism is a core tenant of their belief, as compared to those who damn well don't want to hear it?
... and endlessly onward...

The one common thing that all these question that pile up have is that it is the interaction between "belief spheres" that is at the core of the questions, and it is the potential for one to impact another that creates the threat.

Because of the nature of belief, I have decided that I am not threatened at all by any belief. I may be threatened by actions individuals take due to their belief, but not the belief itself. It is only when a persons belief imposes itself in my sphere that I become uncomfortable.

So there really is no threat to me from the debate about the value/validity of any belief, only the actions that we allow ourselves to take which impact others because of our belief. So what am I left with? A set of truisms which are only truisms to me.... . And a responsibility to remember that they only exist within my sphere. Whether or not anyone agrees with me is of no real consequence. Actions taken by others can not change my truisms, but may impact my ability to express them. That is fine. They are mine. Incidentally, I am in no hurry to convince anyone that my truisms are of any great import or value either, I am sure they have their own. That is fine. I wish them contentment.

As poorly stated as it is, that is the perspective that such issues deserve. From that vantage point, we all can share and be infinitely different and enjoy the diversity, and learn without butchering each other.

Someone who says this better than I ...

The Streams of Grant Co.

Grant County is a place of little streams. They wander down steep hills, across brown sandstone, under trees and bushes. It seems that between every rise there is a little stream, connecting one piece of land to another.

The culture in my little section of Grant County reminds me of these little streams. It winds through the individuals and families providing continuity, a path of common exchange. So small and unassuming, yet it is a vein of life-giving sustenance. Connectedness.