Thrive: Perspectives

There are things that everyone knows about God. These things can be known through 'general revelation' things that everyone can see, feel and experience and do not rely on 'special revelation' such as the Bible. The reality of how we all live and experience our lives reveals God, if we only choose to notice.

If we are to open our minds and hearts to the mystery, awe and wonder of God, how can we know that the path we are on is the 'true' path?

When it comes to knowing, our culture holds us to the “defective default,” a mode of thinking that treats knowledge simply as information. This default mode excludes most of the ways we know in our day-to-day lives. Think about all the important things you know – say about how you feel about your family or loved ones. This knowledge doesn’t come from ‘data’ or ‘information’ but from experience and relationship. If we stay trapped by the cultural norm that knowledge equals information, we exclude things like belief, values, emotion, application, and imagination, in short many of things that it means to be human. How can we be free from the culture trap where we can only ‘know’, if it can be reasoned through the application of logic and critical thinking, data and information? We have leaned so heavily on facts, proofs, arguments, presuppositions, on tactics and techniques, that we have forgotten the simple encouragement of Jesus—“Come and you will see”

Longing to Know - Esther Lightcap Meek.

As we delve deeper into our discussion, we explore the intricate interplay between the brain's hemispheres and their profound impact on our existence. The symbiotic relationship between the methodical, logical left hemisphere and the holistic, intuitive right hemisphere informs our perceptions, influences culture, and deepens spiritual consciousness. The predominance of 'left-brain' oriented thinking in Western society may lead to a diminished richness in life, as it often neglects the subtle yet profound connections that weave through our lives and relationships. To fully embrace the divine, a shift in thought is imperative, moving from a reliance on tangible proof to embracing a sense of wonder and reverence that transcends empirical evidence.

In this episode we reference the follwoing books:

The Master & His Emissary

The Anxious Generation

The Surprising Revival in the Belief of God

Renowned psychiatrist, neurologist and philosopher Iain McGilchrist's exploration of the left and right hemispheres of the brain, argues that the left hemisphere tends to reduce the idea of the divine into a rational, abstract concept, often associated with rules, doctrines, and dogmas. This reductionist view can lead to a mechanistic understanding of the divine, devoid of the richness and depth that spirituality often entails.

REFERENCES:

Oliver Sacks

The Master and His Emissary

How to Change Your Mind [Netflix]

By prioritizing face-to-face interaction, promoting authenticity and vulnerability, encouraging mindful use of technology, implementing community building initiatives, cultivating empathy and compassion, and embracing diversity and inclusion, the church can be a powerful antidote to the growing global social isolation. Rather than instrumentalising relationships or taking the easy option of engaging with those with whom we find it easy or convenient to do so, we need to re-elevate the sacredness of every person. It will cost us something. It should cost us something. The question is are we willing to pay the price to be the church God calls us to be, the light in an increasingly dark world.

The way God wants us to live is perhaps never been more polarised against where the world is heading. That distinction is our opportunity, the opportunity for the church, to be the light on the hill. Maybe it’s never been as great as it is now.

Amidst the celebration of digital connectivity, concerns about its unintended consequences have emerged and are increasingly acknowledged. We’ve seen a significant rise in social isolation stemming from excessive screen time and reliance on virtual interactions. Research indicates that despite the illusion of constant connection afforded by social media, rates of loneliness and feelings of disconnection have surged in recent years – to the point that it’s a major societal challenge. We increasingly hear warnings about the pervasive nature of technology, its role in fragmenting attention spans, eroding privacy boundaries, and exacerbating feelings of social comparison and inadequacy. There’s a massive opportunity for the church to counter this culture and demonstrate a different kind of community. Will we seize this opportunity? What might it cost us?

In an era where technology permeates every aspect of daily life, the discussion around its impact on human relationships and social isolation has become increasingly pertinent. At the heart of this debate lies a paradox: while we are more connected than ever through digital means, many argue that we are simultaneously more disconnected on a personal level.

The rate of change in society driven by numerous technology factors is significant. With the proliferation of AI converging with other technological advances such as genetic engineering and quantum computing, the speed of change we will see over the next decade is of the scale that most of us won’t comprehend.

Books Mentioned in this PodCast.