Do things stay the same the more things change?

Religious Views, by Art Carney

Sometimes the statement, "The more things change the more they stay the same," seems to reveal some aspect of a mysterious "truth" that we do not fully understand, but the mysteries of change have become less mysterious than they once were. The universe and everything in it is in a constant state of change, but the changes mostly take place in individual units at the subatomic level, so in spite of change, things do seem to stay the same.

Aside from getting older, the human body remains basically the same, even though its cells are being replaced on a continuing basis. The same is true of a natural forest, which continues to be a forest for hundreds of years, but it is composed of trees that are not the original ones, and while mountain ranges like the Appalachians erode away, other ranges like the Rockies are in the process of being formed, thus, the Earth also seems to remain the same, and the "sameness" is due to the changes. In effect, there is a continual renewal which allows a "sameness" to prevail.

Human cultures have the same task to perform, even though all cultures are different from each other. For instance, the classical Greek culture gave way to the Roman Empire, which deteriorated into the Christian-dominated Dark Ages that were eventually enlightened by the Renaissance, which fostered the age of science and the Industrial Revolution. Although these social and cultural conditions were very different from each other, they all accomplished the same basic function of survival and progress for their members, even as the cultures were being replaced.

Like human cultures, the mental perspective of individual human beings is different from all others, too, but there is still a basic "sameness" in the human viewpoint that endures throughout the ages. The "sameness" of our mental perspective is the inherent desire of each individual person to pursue whatever they perceive to be good for themselves. Regardless of good or bad circumstances, human beings always seek the good that is within their reach -- which most people realize -- comes with the well-being of their loved ones and their neighbor.

But in spite of our mutual desire for it, each person has a different idea of what is good. For example, the highest good that Greek slaves could manage was to stay alive, while the highest good of their masters was prestige or pleasure. The peasants of the Dark Ages had no hope for advancement, so they found their highest good in hopes of a future heaven, while scientists and scholars find the highest good of their life in the discovery of new knowledge or understanding. In our own way, we all seek what we perceive to be good regardless of the changing conditions that influence our views of it.

It seems the only things in the universe that do not change are the laws of physics, that are imbued with reason, and life's will to survive which is a product of passion. In other words, reason and passion are the ways and means of "creation." They constitute the power and the principles of the universe. Through the laws of physics that never change, and the process of evolution which is never the same, reason dictates the results of causes and effects, while passion provides the motivation that allows change to take. place,

But regardless of the creative process, the self-conscious mind of man is capable of utilizing reason in a passionate manner. Under the influence of passion, the use of reason gives individual human beings a limited ability to make creative choices that can give meaning and purpose to their life. To some extent, we humans are the master of our own destiny because we can do things on purpose, so to speak. Unlike lower forms of life that rely on instinct, human beings can prioritize their aspirations according to their own personal values and preferences, and then formulate a plan to achieve them.

However, such plans of action can only be pursued within the boundaries of one's culture, which essentially defines the idea of what is good in the first place and provides the means to achieve it. In effect, our desire to pursue our own good is curtailed somewhat by our need for the presence and support of other people, especially those of our own family and community.

Art Carney is a Wasilla resident and a frequent contributor to the Religion page.