Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said, ‘I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today, science says the 'soul' is merely a product of our imagination! Faith says otherwise! Science rules at present, but it is beginning to creak at the edges! After all many things in life cannot be proved objectively. We only know the wind because of its effect on someone or something! Ditto we cannot prove imagination, or love, or feelings exist, only by their effect on something or someone!

The philosopher Berkeley (1685-1753) pointed out we cannot know without using our senses that the room we just left still exists after we leave the room - only that it's still there when we return, and therefore it's sensible to infer it existed while we were away. And the philosopher Kant (1724-1804) pointed out that everything we experience — including all the colors, sensations, and objects we perceive — are nothing but representations in our mind. Over the last century scientists have been challenged to rethink their ideas on the soul. But in the meantime while they think it out as the philosopher Will Durant (1885-1981) wrote "The hope of another life gives us courage to meet our own death, and to bear with the death of loved ones; we are twice armed if we fight with faith."

In a world going mad at present because of war, we hold fast to the belief that death is not the end, but rather it is the beginning of life with God for one who has faith!

Father-God,
give us strength to stand out against
the objective scientists of our day
who argue there is no such thing as the soul.
Give us the faith to claim that the soul
is what makes us human,
it is what connects us to You.
May we stand fast against non-belief,
while working for the good of all,
as we make our way to our Heavenly home.
Amen.