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Science cannot tell us everything - we need light-bulb moments

Dear friends


What does science tell us?


Scientific language can be very helpful. But sometimes it is hopeless at telling us truth. Science cannot tell us everything. Scientific discoveries involve having light-bulb moments. A different sort of language is needed for deeper truth.


Science cannot tell us everything.


When Robert Burns wrote, "My luve is like a red, red rose" we know what he he meant. If someone tried to put it in scientific language at some point we might think, "Oh, what you mean is, 'My love is like a red, red rose.'" This is the "deeper truth".


Deeper Truth


The Bible begins with poetry in Genesis. It ends the same way in the book of Revelation, the final book of the Bible. As we read Revelation (eg online)  think about its meaning and seek to unpack its picture-language. 


Some is familiar ("lamb", for example - this is the central image in Revelation); other pictures reflect the ancient world and need unpacking. Our sermon series might help.


Streaming Revelation


Let us "watch" Revelation in the same way we stream a video, read a book, watch an ad, or chat over a coffee. We use picture-language all the time. This gives us deeper truth. Science cannot tell us everything. That involves using our imaginations.


Mere fancies?


This doesn't mean mere fantasy, making things up and the like. It means making use of the picture-images of which are minds are full - whether it be what we see or what we think about. It can also be "story-language". Some stories tell us deeper truths about ourselves. These include for example Grimm's fairytales, CS Lewis' Narnia stories or Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. These all help us have light-bulb moments.


Using Our Imaginations


As we let the Bible seep into our imaginations, we shall indeed "know the truth, and the truth shall set you free". 


We shall know that deeper truth only when we are those who are using our imaginations. Our imaginations give us light-bulb moments. They help us know deeper truth.


Love, Martin

Spirituality StMarys StPauls

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