November 15, 2009On a nine hour flight from London to Houston, I watched two movies that depicted two aspects of that single entity we call life.
The first movie I watched was “Up” - warm, tender and happy. I like this movie and want it in my library. Then I watched “Slumdog Millionaire” - a world away in perspective. This film assaults you with the ugliest aspects of humanity and life. Despite the scattered bits of courage, adaptability and hope, and the bollywood ending, there is no ignoring the hideous reality that defines life for so many. Of course this level of darkness does not permeate everyone's life; but the problem of human suffering is everyone's problem whether we acknowledge it or not.
Note, I didn't say it was everyone's fault. Of course, by the same token, we dare not simply assume otherwise. While maimed beggars sit on the hot streets of Mumbai, Bangkok or thousands of other horrible spots across this earth, others of us enjoy hot showers, lots of food and relative safety. Some casually sip cappuccinos as they gaze out over the alps. Disturbingly, the distance between those sipping and those suffering is often less than an arm's reach.
So how do I respond? Do I have a responsibility to respond? What responses are even possible? Can I change the world? My immediate impulse is “No”. Conveniently, this answer demands the least thought, action or discomfort. Perhaps “No” thrusts itself to the fore because of the overwhelming scope of the question. After all, nothing has ever changed the whole of humanity or life. As far as I can see, there has been no moment in human history that has not seen the full spectrum of good and evil. While there have been both isolated and widespread convulsions of good and evil, nothing seems to ever change the essential nature of reality. No matter where we find ourselves historically, geographically or politically, good and evil are ever present working in and through humanity thus defining life.
The ready response of many religious people, my past self included, would be “This is exactly why religion exists - to redeem humanity from this dark state of affairs. They assert that their theology has 'changed the world.'” While I acknowledge the change these narratives have brought to the lives of many, the question as to whether religion has been a net gain to humanity is still quite valid.
Lets examine the phrase “change the world”. It typically refers to changes in the lives of people, the direction of history or the character of various cultures. This type of change is of a temporal nature. Another kind of change, the change I am referring to, is essential. The distinction is between human events (lives, history, culture - what people do) and human nature (what humans are). The change I am speaking of is that which would be manifested across the entire scope of human behavior as it reflected a change in the fundamental nature of who humans are. This is the thing that appears impossible to change.
Perhaps it's simply semantics. At least this exercise has helped me to make a personal distinction between "changing the world" and "changing humanity." If changing the world means changing humanity, then it is clear that none of us can change the world. It appears that humans will by their very nature continue to display incredible uplifting sacrificial good and despairingly horrendous cruelty and evil. The trajectory of human history indicates that the only realistic expectation is that Hitlers or Gandhis will continue to persuade multitudes to follow them and humans will continue to make moral oscillations in their individual daily lives.
So there is the problem; the fundamental nature of humanity that makes each of us capable of noble graces and horrendous atrocities. The Christian theology I have spent most of my life teaching, asserts that this fundamental need to change human nature is addressed in the redemption offered by God through Christ. Innumerable people attest to the fact that their lives have changed on this premise. However, two thousand years after Christ came to earth, humanity seems no different at all. Peace on earth, good will toward men is as isolated and incidental as it ever was. The question remains as to whether there is a transcendent power or person, a god or God who will rectify it all.
So at the end of this circuitous little essay, I still find myself staring at that age-old dilemma - the existence of evil. Even after listening to C.S. Lewis, Ravi Zacharias, William Lane Craig, Alvin Plantinga and so many others address “The Problem of Evil.” and "The existance of God," I haven't found resolution.
Perhaps it's simply semantics. At least this exercise has helped me to make a personal distinction between "changing the world" and "changing humanity." If changing the world means changing humanity, then it is clear that none of us can change the world. It appears that humans will by their very nature continue to display incredible uplifting sacrificial good and despairingly horrendous cruelty and evil. The trajectory of human history indicates that the only realistic expectation is that Hitlers or Gandhis will continue to persuade multitudes to follow them and humans will continue to make moral oscillations in their individual daily lives.
So there is the problem; the fundamental nature of humanity that makes each of us capable of noble graces and horrendous atrocities. The Christian theology I have spent most of my life teaching, asserts that this fundamental need to change human nature is addressed in the redemption offered by God through Christ. Innumerable people attest to the fact that their lives have changed on this premise. However, two thousand years after Christ came to earth, humanity seems no different at all. Peace on earth, good will toward men is as isolated and incidental as it ever was. The question remains as to whether there is a transcendent power or person, a god or God who will rectify it all.
So at the end of this circuitous little essay, I still find myself staring at that age-old dilemma - the existence of evil. Even after listening to C.S. Lewis, Ravi Zacharias, William Lane Craig, Alvin Plantinga and so many others address “The Problem of Evil.” and "The existance of God," I haven't found resolution.
More later, I've got to go buy groceries.
