The Master

Month, Day: 167, Honour, Loftiness (Grace)
Month, Day: 167, Sovereignty, Splendour (Justice)

There has been some discussion about what the Writings might mean for science and whether science has shown anything in the writings to be false. To wit: evolution and ether.

The issue, as stated in a paper: The problem of disharmony between scripture and science is rooted in an unwarranted misattribution of scriptural inerrancy.

There is much to discuss here, but the Aqdas sequence from #174 (about Abdu'l-Bahá's role infallibility) through #188 are apropos. Take, for instance, #182: Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths.

Does it not make a suggestion to us? As said before, science is never about infallibility. Too, what bit of textual material, constructed by humans (oh yes, that includes mathematics), subsumes creation?

Granted, some worldviews seem to think that they are complete. That is, the manner of expression seems to convey authoritative (pontificate) assurance. Yet do we not know that we cannot have completeness and consistency concurrently? There are many ways to describe this.

So, for now, putting evolution aside, we saw this remark by the Master in the SAQ (#48): If we wish to deny everything that is not sensible, then we must deny the realities which unquestionably exist. For example, ethereal matter is not sensible, though it has an undoubted existence. The power of attraction is not sensible, though it certainly exists. From what do we affirm these existences? From their signs. Thus this light is the vibration of that ethereal matter, and from this vibration we infer the existence of ether.
As mentioned in an earlier post, the Master knew what he was talking about. Light is more than a physical phenomenon. It is one of the Attributes which are celebrated through the year.

The Master was the son of the Manifestation, thereby inheriting insights for which we have no understanding. Too, the Master knew that his audience was going to persist through time.

...

Remarks:

08/01/2012 --Ether, in a manner that is unavoidably true. Our task? Show how to handle the matter from a scientific (the wise interpretation, okay?) framework. And, audacity is not necessary.

03/17/2011 -- Just as St. Patrick carried the message, so too ought we act to bring forth a proper viewpoint.

01/25/2011 -- Continued in the next post.

Modified: 08/01/2012