Truth: Dangerously Transcendent

 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:32

Truth is fascinating. It seems to be an abstract idea that we attempt to give an incredibly concrete definition. The idea of truth also seems to vary from person to person, sometimes significantly. I recently re-read “The Mantle is Far, Far Greater than the Intellect” by then Elder Boyd K. Packer and this is partially a response to that. I think of Truth as having two main sub-categories: Factual or Historical Truth and Transcendent Truth, relating to right and wrong, doctrine, unchanging principles to live by, etc. That distinction helps explain some of the divergence in opinions about what Truth is.

The two categories are more fluid than rigid and I think that they can support each other, but problems can be encountered when someone holds that what they perceive as Factual Truth to be Transcendent Truth and then they stumble upon Facts that destroy their image of the ‘Truth’.

One of my favorite things about Mormonism is the eternal thirsting for truth that is evident and encouraged by almost all of the early leaders of the Church. The encouragement supports seeking after both categories of truth. John Taylor, third President of the Church, said it beautifully:

 “We are open for the reception of all truth, of whatever nature it may be, and are desirous to obtain and possess it, to search after it as we would for hidden treasures; and to use all the knowledge God gives to us to possess ourselves of all the intelligence that he has given to others; and to ask at his hands to reveal unto us his will, in regard to things that are the best calculated to promote the happiness and well-being of human society.

If there are any good principles, any moral philosophy that we have not yet attained to, we are desirous to learn them. If there is anything in the scientific world that we do not yet comprehend, we desire to become acquainted with it. If there is any branch of philosophy calculated to promote the well-being of humanity, that we have not yet grasped, we wish to possess ourselves of it. If there is anything pertaining to the rule and government of nations, or politics, if you please, that we are not acquainted with, we desire to possess it. If there are any religious ideas, any theological truths, any principles pertaining to God, that we have not learned, we ask mankind, and we pray God, our Heavenly Father, to enlighten our minds that we may comprehend, realize, embrace, and live up to them as part of our religious faith. Thus our ideas and thoughts would extend as far as the wide world spreads, embracing everything pertaining to light, life, or existence pertaining to this world or the world that is to come. … They would soar after the intelligence of the Gods that dwell in the eternal worlds. They would grasp everything that is good and noble and excellent and happifying and calculated to promote the well-being of the human family.

There is no man nor set of men who have pointed out the pathway for our feet to travel in, in relation to these matters. There are no dogmas nor theories extant in the world that we profess to listen to, unless they can be verified by the principles of eternal truth. We carefully scan, investigate, criticize, and examine everything that presents itself to our view, and so far as we are enabled to comprehend any truths in existence, we gladly hail them as part and portion of the system with which we are associated. If there is any truth in heaven, earth, or hell, I want to embrace it; I care not what shape it comes in to me, who brings it, or who believes in it; whether it is popular or unpopular, truth, eternal truth, I wish to float in and enjoy.”

Taylor’s quote stands in stark contrast to the ideas put forth by Packer. He pushes for accepting truth wherever it is found, while Packer cautions about avoiding some facts and truths because they can damage faith. While the cautions from Elder Packer are well intentioned, I don’t think that hiding Truth is the answer. Particularly given the consequences for faith if we hide the truth. . Given that faith by necessity requires a foundation in “things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma 32:21), can we really have true faith if it’s based in something that is not True?

An integral piece of my understanding of God is that he knows all Truth, so the instruction to avoid and deliberately hide or cover up some parts of known truth, troubles me. Doing so would in effect cripple our ability to progress and become like God. A natural extension of limiting faith.

Perhaps there is a Truth that transcends Fact, an idea explored by a friend and relevant here as well as to the ideas of Paul H Dunn, the (in)famous general authority who told ‘true’ stories to illustrate principles that ended up being less than factual. Transcendent Truth enables an account or story to be true, yet utterly fictional. I find powerful truths in Harry Potter, Star Wars, A Tale of Two Cities, Les Miserables, The Lion King, and even The Dark Knight. The truth of these works of fiction is powerful, regardless of being devoid of fact.

I don’t know whether faith must be based in Factual or Transcendent Truth. Perhaps it can be in both. I lean towards faith being tied to the Transcendent. This allows members to gain faith in Joseph Smith with the mythologized version of history, as the focus is to teach Transcendent and not Historical Truth. The myth is not inherently fictional, myths often have Historical Truth as well. The trouble lies in Transcendent Truths also being labeled Historical Truths. Yet, I believe and have experienced, the strengthening of faith that comes from embracing truth. My faith needed (likely still needs) to be examined and even purified a bit, but I continue to adapt and find the freedom that comes with embracing and floating in eternal truth.   

Mormonism: Pragmatically Supernatural?

I’ve been thinking recently about two sides to Mormonism that seem to contradict and pull away from each other, creating tension. One side is the mystical or supernatural, while the other is the pragmatic.

There have been great comments about both sides throughout the Mormon intellectual world and some that aren’t directly pertaining to the question, but sparked thought for me. A few months back, an atheist visited an LDS sacrament meeting and was impressed with the pragmatic values that were taught. Later I read a couple of pieces from Sunstone about the importance of mysticism within Mormonism and the need to reclaim it. After that, I read the series about Mormonism and Transhumanism on RationalFaiths.

I was torn back and forth between mystical/supernatural and pragmatic. The transhumanism pieces, while not blatantly preaching pragmatism, suggested to me a pragmatic worldview, where God is an evolved human being, that we can work to reach the exalted state through science and technology, not through some spiritual transformation. A complete response would take too much time and space for this, but would be interesting.

Essentially, I felt compelled to try and reconcile two competing world views- the supernatural and the pragmatic. It seems easy to dismiss the supernatural as the stuff of myth, fantasy and children’s stories and to embrace the pragmatic, especially when there is such a benefit to the pragmatic aspects of Mormonism. However, while some may be spiritually satisfied with such a view, I cannot advocate such an approach. The supernatural feeds my faith and stokes my inner fire of curiosity.

Yet, something holds me back from fully accepting a supernatural world. Perhaps it is the ridicule that often greets those that express beliefs in ghosts, aliens and other unexplainable phenomena. Outside of religion (honestly, probably outside Mormonism), I am extremely skeptical of any supernatural events occurring. If I hold that God is a God of miracles and is the same yesterday, today and forever, why would the miracles and angelic visitations that accompanied the faith of the saints throughout the Old and New Testaments and the early days of the Church in the Latter days stop now? They wouldn’t.

Perhaps, I simply wish that the supernatural was more prevalent in our lives, so I could be a Jedi/wizard/mutant/superhero. That may be, but I know that I have had experiences with a ‘reality surpassing normal human understanding or experience,’ like that found by mystics. Such an experience serves as the foundation of my still abiding belief in God and Mormonism, with other experiences strengthening and building upon that foundation.

Without the supernatural and mystical elements and experiences, I would not have a burning desire to remain in the Church. Although, perhaps what seems supernatural is really in accordance with higher laws of science and nature and would appear completely pragmatic and rational, if we understood more. I don’t know how much things can and will be explained, nor do I know if that explanation can be as detailed as a scientific proof for the chemical reaction of photosynthesis.

Does the power of God inspire more faith if it can’t be explained? Would magic seem as awe-inducing if it were explained away with theories and formulas? Did The Force lose some of its cool, when it was stripped down to midi-chlorians? Maybe science is magic or magic is science and the same wonder from the unexplained can transfer to the transcendent explanation. Perhaps there is no innate special spiritual gift and we can all harness the laws of nature to work miracles and advance the work of the Lord. It’s about learning.

That’s the harmony between the mystical and pragmatic. What seems mystical is simply in line with a higher order of pragmatism, that once learned will enhance the experience with what was once mystical. No longer is it unexplainable, no longer need you stand as a bystander. Armed with knowledge, you can participate in the miraculous and supernatural. You can understand the why and appreciate the execution that much more for the art that is required, the beauty that accompanies it.

Believing in the supernatural and mystical is striving for a pragmatism that works in the ‘reality perceived as essential to the nature of life’ that mysticism interacts with. Thus, the truth appears to be found within competing contradictions.