In the ongoing debates over science and religion, a false distinction is often made between the objectivity of science and the subjectivity of religion; such is the prevailing prejudice that people frequently talk of scientific truth even when talking of theories, but any talk of truth in religion must be qualified as 'true' only for a particular group of believers. How can the objective and subjective understandings of truth in modern discourse be reconciled? This is an ongoing challenge.
But it occurred to me yesterday that the following insight may help.
Considering God's perfect Justice and perfect Mercy, which exist in perfect balance, it occurred to me that these two aspects of the Godhead represent objectivity and subjectivity. His Justice corresponds to impersonal objectivity; his Mercy to his consideration for each and every unique human person. As we seek to debate the truths of science and theology, both sides of the debate must seek to imitate God in this way, with perfect justice guiding our search for the truth, and perfect mercy guiding how we treat our opponents. Only thus will harmony be found.
About Me
- Cana
- England
- This blog is an anonymous spiritual notebook. I am the bridegroom at Cana, contemplating in the middle of the world the drama of God's work played out before me: our miraculous Lord, his merciful Mother, the mysteries of marriage and the Eucharist, the communion of saints, and the transformation of sinners like myself from water drawn from the earth into the wine of the Kingdom. May His Name be glorified in all the earth! To contact me, complete this form