Brian’s Reflection: Monday, May 7, 2007


Any person seasoned with a just sense of the imperfections of
natural reason, will fly to revealed truth with the greatest avidity.

- David Hume, Scottish philosopher, historian, economist and essayist,
born on this day, 1711

I have long considered the question of so-called “revealed truth”. In religion, the popular understanding of “revealed truth” is that God dictated it to a scribe who faithfully recorded it, or, wrote it Himself - like the tablets of the Ten Commandments.

I have become convinced, theologically and philosophically, that there is no such thing as such “revealed truth”. Truth, like History, is always filtered through the human mind, however it gets there. The human mind makes judgments on a vast set of variables (imagination, prejudice, intellectual attitude, culture, etc), and records its own version of “revealed truth”. Read any Scripture. For myself, Truth is always the product of the interaction of “God” with a receptive human mind(s) and heart(s).

“Revealed truth” is an invention of those who understand the gullibility of those who are not able to live with the reality of the “imperfections of natural reason” - often including themselves. For myself, I choose the “imperfections of natural reason” as a more trustworthy guide to Truth. Especially as I look around me at religion in the World today and see the havoc raised by those who “fly to revealed truth with the greatest avidity”.

Hume said, It is not reason which is the guide of life, but custom. Reason, even imperfect reason, would tell you that imagination and change applied to long-valued spiritual principles and goals would enhance spiritual growth and worship. But most often spiritual growth is stifled by “custom” - i.e., We have always done it this way! Sigh. At times I am certain I am in the wrong line of work!

Ah well. It’s fun to wrestle with Hume. Pardon such heavy stuff on a Monday morning. Meanwhile, how about we practice charity and kindness - with avidity!

Brian+