The only certain thing in this world is uncertainty

Religious Views, by Art Carney

Some amount of uncertainty is a condition of human life, both in the physical and spiritual realm of human understanding. In a manner of speaking, uncertainty is a certainty.

Uncertainty is the reason why most scientific theories are in a constant state of revision, and in the religious area of human endeavor, uncertainty is indicated by the large number of religious denominations, sects and cults that attempt to explain the spiritual features of life.

When Sir Isaac Newton revealed the laws of gravity and motion, the scientific community was given a solid base from which to investigate the nature of physics, but then Einstein came along and showed that Newton's laws were relative, and afterward, the theory of quantum mechanics added a whole new perspective to the field of science.

But even with its continuous uncertainties and false starts, science has done more for the general benefit and comfort of the human race than all the religions of the world put together.

Religion has failed to advance the higher nature of mankind in any significant manner, let alone develop a solid, theoretical base from which to pursue an understanding of spirituality, and though it made some good and necessary contributions to early human cultures, our modern organized religions tend to separate whole nations of people and pit them against one another.

The shamans of primitive tribes were relatively successful in their use of religion to keep order among small groups of people, but in today's "global village," small groups are pretty much a thing of the past, although people are still mostly concerned with providing for the good of their own small circle of loved ones and the community they are dependent upon.

At best, organized religion can only introduce its members to the concept of spirituality, but spirituality itself can only be acquired at an individual level, and while the spiritual strength or goodness of a person may be an inspiring example to others, goodness and strength cannot be given nor shared in the same way as knowledge or physical possessions. Spirituality can only be earned.

Aside from the social aspects of organized religion -- which reveal its true value -- the greatest incentive for religious participation is the hope of eternal bliss and the promise of salvation through faith alone, both of which are based on speculation.

However, from a more objective point of view, it can be seen that various degrees of spirituality are acquired by hard human experience that is coupled with self-knowledge and self-honesty, all of which we mostly try to avoid.

Unlike faith and hope, which are more than a form of wishful thinking than a means of attaining spirituality, self-knowledge and self-honesty require a measure of personal effort that can be painful, so we ignore them until some devastating crisis enters our life.

In times of crisis we tend to look deeply within ourselves to find the reason why things are not as they should be. For the most part, we cannot avoid the hard experiences of life, and when they come to us we cannot ignore them and we suffer.

Thus, spirituality comes to us, not from God, but from the pain that is caused by stupid mistakes, chance happenings or the malice of others.

Slowly but surely the vicissitudes of life push us toward the boundaries of our higher nature, and eventually we weep for joy as often as from compassion or from sorrow -- and sometimes we even laugh until we cry.

Through negative experiences that include anguish, forlorneness and despair we learn to truly appreciate the beauty and the benefits of normalcy.

Spirituality is measured by our capacity to be aware of the positive aspects of our own emotional state of being, for that is where spirituality is found. It is the quality of our inner life.

Except for our attitude in times of stress, we have little or no control over our own involvement in the progress of our spiritual growth, since, had we had the opportunity, we would have chosen to not suffer.

In other words, the pain and suffering we cannot avoid opens the door to our spiritual development, providing that we accept our share of responsibility when we are at fault, or that we learn from the painful experiences that are not our fault -- both of which involve bothersome efforts toward self-knowledge and the painful discoveries of self-honesty.

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

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