[Pearls Ep 170: Answering atheism Tuesday]
Jesus says He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The spiritual masters see an important progression in this. We start by following the Way – like a parent telling a child to “do what I tell you.” Over time, we develop a deeper understanding of the Truth that pulses throughout Christ’s example and teaching. And the more we interiorize that Truth, the more it leads to peace and interior freedom – we’re no longer chomping at the bit and struggling to unite ourselves to Christ. As has been said many ways, true freedom isn’t doing whatever we want, it is wanting to do what we ought. That is Life in the full. That is true happiness (which, for the Christian, is synonymous with holiness).
As we wrap up this week’s Pearls series, let’s see what the secular world has to offer for the way, truth and life.
The Way. Here’s the American Humanist Association explanation of their philosophy of a happy life without God. See if you can decipher “a way” from all that gobbledygook. It seems to boil down to, “do whatever makes you happy and doesn’t offend anyone, and so long as it doesn’t involve the bearded guy up in the clouds.”
The Truth. Let’s see what L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology, has to say on this. He laid out 21 secular precepts for “The Way to Happiness” (promoted by many celebs including Tom Cruise). The 7th Precept is, “Seek to live with the truth.” Here’s what L. Ron has to say about truth, “What is true is what is true for you. If it is not true for you, it isn’t true.” OK, L. Ron – we think that’s not true, so by your own decree, “it isn’t true.”
The Life. Here’s a question – what does it mean to be alive? For the secular world, and judging from popular websites, this seems to boil down to something like “pursue your bliss.” A site called happiness.com places bliss in the context of mindfulness and fulfillment, and that those things will bring happiness. But ultimately, they leave you to figure out what defines your bliss. Psychology Today keeps it simple and distills bliss and living a full life to, “engaging in activities that make you happy.”
This leads to another question … what is happiness? Which takes you back to their starting point, “whatever brings you bliss…” And round and round you go.
Secular leftists are obsessed with telling everyone else how to live their lives – from DIE (diversity, inclusion, equity) to ESG (environment, social, governance) to trans ideology – they are far more puritanical than the Puritans. It seems fair to ask how they can be trusted with all that if when it comes to the most critical questions of life, like truth and the way to happiness, it seems the best they can muster is, “you’re on your own.”
Easter blessings –
Steve and Karen Smith
Interior Life
Postscript: Jn 14:1-12
Jesus said to His disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in Me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.”
Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing His works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.”