Tasty Tuesdays...Christianity for Modern Pagans

Tuesdays are 'Family Dinner Nights" at our home. Usually I am rushing around trying to whip up something that looks like it took a lot more work that it did or we throw something on the grill and toss a salad. We come together to break bread, to nourish ourselves for the time at hand and the time to come.

We also come together to nourish our minds and hearts, to chew on truths and reject those nasty tasting falsehoods that at first seemed edible. The challenge at FDN is always to elevate our discussions from the trivial to the eternal. Sometimes it happens and sometimes the distractions are just too strong to reach any real depth of discussion.

But I do love the dynamics of it all. Chatter is slung around the table in ping pong fashion and if you want to put in your two cents you'd better toss quickly. Rabbit trails are pursued, exhausted and exhumed. Books come out so that quotes can be accurately digested along with the steak and potatoes. More often than not, the Internet is asked to join us for dessert so that ideas and sources can be verified.
THE BEST OF TASTY TUESDAY:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 Dinner:6:30pm Present: Scott, Dianne, Sean & Jessica, Katie & Mike.
Food Menu: Grilled Marinated Alaskan Salmon, Strawberry Spinach Salad w/Poppyseed Dressing, Seasoned Red Potatoes, Fresh Bakery Bread, Homemade Fudge & Butter Pecan Ice Cream.

Mind Menu: Style over Substance. Image vs Reason & Truth.
Pascal makes the point in Pensees #44 * that imagination (sensory images) is the "dominate faculty in man" and the enemy of reason. "This arrogant force which checks and dominates its enemy, reason, for the pleasure of showing off the power it has in every sphere, has established a second nature in man." ..."Imagination cannot make fools wise, but it makes them happy." It entertains them. It satisfies them so they seek not wisdom. He goes on to say that it is imagery, not truth and reason, that establishes reputation. And that "Everyone knows that the sight of cats or rats, the crunching of a coal, etc. is enough to unhinge reason. The tone of voice influences the wisest of us and alters the force of a speech or a poem ..." regardless of what true is or is not stated. "Men ...hardly stir except when jolted by imagination (images)..." "Reason never wholly overcomes imagination, while the contrary is quite common." Man, most often, does..."resort to (these) vain devices in order to strike the imagination, which is their real concern, and this, in fact, is how they win respect." Not through truth but through perception, through image.

Discussion:
We are immersed in an image driven culture. No one can escape it. No one can remain untouched. If we are to hold on to truth , at all, we must realize that this dominating force exists and seek to reign it in rather than be ruled by it. Awareness to the impact of images and especially how we are shaped by our response to them is central to keeping our sharpness and gaining wisdom. Succumbing to the senses, to images, imagery dulls reason and clouds truth.

We must be careful, especially as the Church, possessors of Truth, that we do not forfeit the Truth for a lie by which our senses have hypnotised us. Yes, we must be relevant. Yes, we must manage images as they are a permanent part of our human existence. Yes, we must even appeal to the senses but we must be ever wary, knowing that it treats truth and lies as equals, confusing our unguarded hearts and easily dominating our judgment. And because of this, we must never forget that images are the enemy of reason. We must constantly remind ourselves that perception is not reality or we will begin living as if it is. Truth is reality, even if it doesn't appear that way.

*Christianity for Modern Pagans/Pascal's Pensees; pg 101-102 (Peter Kreeft/Blaise Pascal)