Kosta, very probably the Heavenly Kingdom is not bound to Aristotle's Third Law, the Law of the Excluded Middle, which roughly put maintains that in cases where things appear to be mutually exclusive, at least one of them must be "false." "Spirit" and "Body" seem to be mutually exclusive concepts. Yet to my way of thinking, it is better to consider them, not as mutually exclusive "opposites," but as complementarities.
The principle of complementarity comes to us (from of all places) the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum theory, the brainchild of Bohr, Heisenberg, and Schroedinger. The prime example in that context is the question: Is this subatomic particle I "observe" a particle (body) or a wave? The answer is: It all depends on how you look, and what you're looking for. The main takeaway, however, is that the subatomic particle is actually always both at once; and the complete description of it cannot be given by reference to only one of its aspects (particle, wave): You need both.
Earlier you wrote that you believe in the resurrection of the body, but that such a thing is "irrational." If you are going to use reason as your yardstick to "measure" divine realities, I think you'll be endlessly frustrated. Our facility for understanding the world of nature has little if any bearing on our ability to explicate the divine. A different language other than reason is necessary....
I was reading somewhere the other day an interesting definition of faith: Faith = reason plus revelation (or prophecy). That, to me, is the greatest complementarity of all....
Thank you so much for your fascinating posts, dear kosta!
I would say that's probably very true. Heaveny Kingdom is nothing we can fancy.
Yet to my way of thinking, it is better to consider them, not as mutually exclusive "opposites," but as complementarities.
But, you see, you dismiss one human way of thinking (Aristotle) and prop up your own in its place. See the error?
The principle of complementarity comes to us (from of all places) the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum theory, the brainchild of Bohr, Heisenberg, and Schroedinger
Oh, I see, the Aristotelian philosophy is just too pirmitive. Copenhagen quantum theory [sic] is okay. One more theory how the creation really is!
Earlier you wrote that you believe in the resurrection of the body, but that such a thing is "irrational."
That is correct! I believe it even though the reason rejects it.
If you are going to use reason as your yardstick to "measure" divine realities, I think you'll be endlessly frustrated,/i>
But, see, when it comes to God, I don't use reason. If I did I would be an atheist.
Faith = reason plus revelation
Reason cannot lead us to God. As for revelation, how many have had false revelations? Countless! That's because cataphatic knowledge (affirmative, logical thinking) has its limits.
God is a Mystery and so is faith. We do not udnerstand it. we can approach it by denying what we know, or as the Russian Orthodox Castechism says:
It is not by speculative knowledge but in the depths of prayerful silence that the soul can encounter God, Who is ‘beyond everything’ and Who reveals Himself to her as in-comprehensible, in-accessible, in-visible, yet at the same time as living and close to her - as God the Person
And, Jeepers, kosta50 if you spend some time with betty boop you'll no doubt appreciate her depth of understanding of not only ancient Greek philosophy but how that philosophy has unfolded in Western science, politics and culture.
Her example of wave/particle duality is "spot on." Aristotle's Law of the Excluded Middle does not even apply to quantum mechanics - much less to God.
At the root is always one's sense of "reality." And in this case, if one's sense of reality is perception and reason - he will not only be stuck in physics, he'll only be able to accept a small "god" of his own making - one he can comprehend through Aristotlean logic.
Justin Martyr's testimony on the matter is illuminating. Understanding is incomplete without divine revelation.