On June 18 I introduced Reality, Time, and Ethics. It is time for the second installment. Remember I deplored and dismissed the Platonic, metaphysical foundation on which Christianity is built. In a nut shell this means Christianity is built on sand; its whole concept of reality is false and hollow. It dismisses reality (the physical cosmos) and dwells in an unrealistic perspective.
A second consequence of this perspective is a neutering of time. The western metanarrative of linear time is sound. The theory of time with a beginning and an end is supported by the science of physics and cosmology. To say that our cosmos and our time will have an end does not negate parallel universes or a conclusion to the physical cosmos as we know it and a second (3rd? 4th? infinite?) Big Bang [see string theory, The Elegant Universe, The Physics of the Impossible, et al]. That meaningful concept of linear time is Jewish. Judaism has, does, and I assume always will emphasize the ultimate importance and meaningfulness of the present. This is where we are living the gift we have been given in service to others and in gratitude and joy. When Christianity did not get the victory in the hellenized messiah it worshipped, it projected that victory forward into "the next life." Guess what Christianity, Jesus is not coming back.
But more to the point. By diminishing the ultimate purpose and singular opportunity of this time, Christianity has neutered time. Its position is, no matter we don't get what we want now, we will "later." While it might prefer a different history, Christianity takes consolation in otherworldly victory and salvation. Such an assumption encourages lack of engagement in the world, lack of responsibility for the world, moral indifference, really immoral inaction.
Length, breadth, depth, and time [not to ignore 7 (?) more dimensions] is reality, our reality. What a gift! Let's celebrate!
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