Christianity and Suprarationalism
There is no doubt that the Christian faith possesses a significant rational element – aspects that can be grasped and confirmed by human reason. But there is no doubt that there other aspects of Christianity which lie outside the bounds of reason. These aspects are by no means IRRATIONAL, rather they supersede human reason. In this way these aspects of the Christian faith are SUPRA-RATIONAL.
Suprarational:
“Transcending the rational : based on or involving factors not to be comprehended by reason.” (Merriam Webster Dictionary)
“Transcending or beyond the rational; founded on, or involving factors which cannot be understood by reason alone.” (Word Online)
Ron Krumpos
on May 11th, 2010
In my e-book at http://www.suprarational.org is a chapter “A divine formula?” It makes a convenient comparison.
Albert Einstein revolutionized physics in 1905 with his Special Theory of Relativity. His formula, E=mc^2, states that energy equals mass at the speed of light squared. The speed of all light is 186,262 miles per second. That means all particles of matter, e.g. atoms, contain vast potential energy, e.g. one gram can produce 25 million kWh of electricity: the foundation for developing nuclear power.
Perhaps we can reinterpret, and adjust, that formula to help us to better understand the relationships between divine Essence, matter and consciousness: E=mc^f(x). Unlike the speed of light, which is a constant, there are now no exact measurements for consciousness. In this hypothetical formula, basic consciousness may be of insects, to the second power of animals and to the third power the rational mind of humans. The fourth power is suprarational consciousness of mystics, when they intuit the divine essence in perceived matter.
Divine essence might be felt as spiritual energy, an interpretation acceptable tomany religions and mystics. Matter is the mass, the apparent physical makeup of this Universe. As spiritual awareness, suprarational consciousness could figuratively be “seeing the light” or, more literally, penetrating the cloud of ignorance that prevents people from realizing the divine. Some mystics speak of awareness of a divine light; Einstein himself said that the “most beautiful and profound emotion we can experience is the sensation of the mystical.”
Note: The fifth power of consciousness may be devekut, fana, samadhi, satori, or unio mystica; it is a temporary absorption in the divine.
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