Today's page is something of a brainstorming session. I've been reading "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle, and the book is, in a way, a reimagining of Christianity (the trinity, the father, quotes and the like) in a sci-fi setting. It's only barely connecting with me, I find, because of my differences in faith.
Still, it's given me ideas. It's an often challenged book, but the one I would write, which would be similarly challenged I think, would look at Christianity, creationism, literalism and that sort of thing. The question is what would that be like? What plot would bring to light the correct questions. Should I give answers to those questions or leave them open? I think the latter seems more appropriate. I don't know, and I'm comfortable about that unknowing state (perhaps this is an agnostic book in my mind?) so answering those questions seems hypocritical to me.
There's at least a discussion in my mind about creationism. Carbon dating suggests that things are millions of years old. So what does that mean in relationship to the Bible? Well, perhaps when the world was created, these bones which seem millions of years old were created like this. Toys for the scientists from God, so to speak. Perhaps the Bible is a metaphor, so when 5000 years is talked about, it's truly far longer, so the seven days of creation aren't really 'seven days' so much as seven ages. Perhaps science is wrong about how they are using carbon dating. Or perhaps the Bible itself is simply wrong. There may be other possibilities as well, but that's a reasonable scattering, I think. Science, religion, and places in between.
Science, of course, has the better track record, ask Gallileo! However, it can't answer everything; it needs evidence. So what happened before the big bang? Are there alternate dimensions? What happens to our conciousness after we die? Is there a God? Philosophy and theology have their place. But what happens when they conflict? Can you live with just religion or just science? You can, of course, but do you lose something for not having both options? Perhaps. I suppose it depends on what sort of life you want to lead.
I suppose I'd want to do a book about a group and a guide. The people are shaped by these questions, which divide them, but need to work together anyway to survive. Perhaps a mixed group competing against groups that are all science, all religion, or all middling? That seems good. Passion seems to come from religion, a relationship with the real world from science, and the people in the middle to hold it together. Hmm. I think I have a germ of an idea now. I'll bounce it around in my head a bit.
Still, it's given me ideas. It's an often challenged book, but the one I would write, which would be similarly challenged I think, would look at Christianity, creationism, literalism and that sort of thing. The question is what would that be like? What plot would bring to light the correct questions. Should I give answers to those questions or leave them open? I think the latter seems more appropriate. I don't know, and I'm comfortable about that unknowing state (perhaps this is an agnostic book in my mind?) so answering those questions seems hypocritical to me.
There's at least a discussion in my mind about creationism. Carbon dating suggests that things are millions of years old. So what does that mean in relationship to the Bible? Well, perhaps when the world was created, these bones which seem millions of years old were created like this. Toys for the scientists from God, so to speak. Perhaps the Bible is a metaphor, so when 5000 years is talked about, it's truly far longer, so the seven days of creation aren't really 'seven days' so much as seven ages. Perhaps science is wrong about how they are using carbon dating. Or perhaps the Bible itself is simply wrong. There may be other possibilities as well, but that's a reasonable scattering, I think. Science, religion, and places in between.
Science, of course, has the better track record, ask Gallileo! However, it can't answer everything; it needs evidence. So what happened before the big bang? Are there alternate dimensions? What happens to our conciousness after we die? Is there a God? Philosophy and theology have their place. But what happens when they conflict? Can you live with just religion or just science? You can, of course, but do you lose something for not having both options? Perhaps. I suppose it depends on what sort of life you want to lead.
I suppose I'd want to do a book about a group and a guide. The people are shaped by these questions, which divide them, but need to work together anyway to survive. Perhaps a mixed group competing against groups that are all science, all religion, or all middling? That seems good. Passion seems to come from religion, a relationship with the real world from science, and the people in the middle to hold it together. Hmm. I think I have a germ of an idea now. I'll bounce it around in my head a bit.
