Every day I am challenged with the thoughts of figuring out the world around me. I see some of those I have mentored moving on to in depth studies of religious and philosophical idealogies using language that I struggle to understand as I have not studied their new found 'language'.
As I deviate to a more practical application of my energies I notice that my desire to continue my journey into discovering new 'languages' and thus more enlightened perceptions is still strong. In fact, I find myself hungering for the knowledge but my body is weary from work.
I struggle with learning the new 'languages' of my one mentoree, now friend, because I wonder if it is simply a waste of my time to delve into a language that for all intents and purposes I think should be dead and devoid of life.
The battle of religious perceptions; fundamentalist vs post-modern ideals; etc. How important is it to delve into these areas? How important is it to learn a language that only .1% of the population could even partially grasp? (To clarify, by language I am referencing any new terms and concepts that exist in a particular field of study or community. For instance, if one learns mathematics they have essentially learned a new language of communication. If someone else does not understand the 'language' of mathematics then a mathemetician cannot properly communicate with that person.)
I was asked the other day if to speak about intellectual matters is 'pretentious'. I pondered the thought and answered the next day, "Intent matters." Is the intent to flaunt ones knowledge or is it to earnestly dialogue about matters that are important? The answer would be divulged upon inspection of ones intent.
Pretentious dialogue I think is the complication of a matter through the use of intricate language that could be simplified with more common words of explanation. Giving leeway to the realization that certain terminologies embody much thought in one word in order to shorten the long sentences utilized in a conversation.
I am not here, in this existance, to learn a language in order to flaunt that language over others. I exist to find a language from where I can communicate love in a rational, intelligent way to those in my community. If my language separates me from my community then perhaps I need to find an outlet to share my thoughts while doing my best to help others understand my particular 'language' and its development.
Language, for all of us has been established through our environmental upbringing, namely our culture, society, family and experiences (which are all intertwined). Our language is not indpendant of exterior influence. In fact our language is predominately influenced by such engrossing and dominating stimuli. There can be no such concept within our present cultures of a language uninfluenced by the prior mentioned ascendencies.
We, as individuals, are the result of our communal circles and thus our language will always be influenced by those communal circles. There is no escaping this reality. There is no possible way of regressing to a state of zero knowledge and rebuiliding our language inconspicuous of an a priori of communal influence.
So what is the issue for me? If the above is true, which I believe it to be, based upon my present understanding of reality, then my said interpretation of an universal actualization is limited by my belief which is based upon my communal influence since birth. My reality is merely a reflection of whatever stimuli has impacted me. I cannot interpret reality for what it really is. I can only assume that the way in which I interpret reality is sufficient for me. And thus, to use language to communicate my perceptions of my reality is even more hindered when engaging another person with a plethora of perceptions and experiences that deviate their percipience from my particular acumen.
What I then find most interesting is how a person or community can with such certainty claim to comprehend God.
And then, in what appears to be, an incredulous manner we vocalize, sermonize, postulate with great certitude and finality our perceptions of God. God, the word in itself, is arrogant on our parts to think that somehow by saying, 'God' we invoke a sentient beings anthropomorphic ear to hear our 'prayers' and 'praises' or that somehow the term 'God' actually signifies and encaptulates an eternal, infinite being. Even using the words, eternal and infinite could not and do not describe whatever it, the one, God, Though, The I, is.
If by the term God we simply mean, that which we cannot explain or understand then perhaps the term God becomes somewhat relevant to my limited language profile. But if by God a person means a sentient being who has human characteristics such as hate, anger, jealousy and the like then I am lost in the language and confused by the limitaitons it would place on this infinite concept we call God.
Will write more later.
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