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Post by meagangcurrie on Jun 19, 2024 0:44:34 GMT
As a Christian, absurdism is a complex thing.
I can understand it through an academic lens but nothing else.
If nothing matters, and we live for ourselves, then how come certain things are they way they are?
Take for instance DNA and fingerprints, all incredibly unique. The same with snowflakes and how nature functions. Absurdism doesn’t quite make sense in this light.
I suppose one of my questions is how do absurdists view God?
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Post by connorswauger on Jun 19, 2024 1:48:07 GMT
Hello! That is an interesting question. I like how you point out or individuality. Like even though there may be a grand scheme of things that is vastly unknown to us, we still notice our differences and can speculate as to why we exist.
I don’t think absurdism counts religion out. The way I think of it is that maybe absurdism relates to Christianity in the way that God is supposed to have a plan for everything in existence right? By taking that leap of faith, it is okay to not have all the answers to why we are put on this earth and what our purpose is but Christianity says that God has a plan for us. I would think that it’d be up to the person to accept the fact that they don’t know exactly what that plan is or not. Being comfortable in not knowing our purpose or meaning in life, I think, invites us to create our own meaning and believing in God’s plan and still living our lives is another version of that in my mind.
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Post by Dr. Nemmers on Jun 19, 2024 2:06:44 GMT
That's a great question, Meagan, and one that I think theologians have pondered for quite some time. I think Connor has some good insight, especially in the idea that things may not make sense to humans, but may make sense to God--- from a human perspective absurd, but from a divine perspective, all according to plan. I also noted with interest that no less an authority than the Pope said this week that it's ok to laugh at God: www.timesofisrael.com/pope-francis-tells-visiting-comedians-its-okay-to-laugh-at-god/In particular, the Pope said we could do so in the same way that “we play and joke with the people we love.” So, to me that suggest that humans might even consider the actions of God absurd... I think there would be very few believers who would say they've fully understood everything that's going on. Finally, to your question about "how come certain things are the way they are," I think there are many theists who believe that a deity allows the world free will and for things to proceed according to randomness (at times) while intervening and planning at others. I do think the matter of Christian existentialism is something we'll continue to discuss all semester! |
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