Acquiring Faith

The previous post discussed the dual nature of man & the universe -- physical and spiritual. And the vitally important role of faith in understanding and acting in both of those realms, through science and religion.

Acquiring religious or spiritual faith -- assurance of God, His revelations and dealings with man -- like anything worth having, requires effort. Among those revelations, He has also provided guidance for us to determine their truth for ourselves – in various ways. He does not expect blind faith by asking us to lay aside that divine spark of rationality within us, or to proceed without any evidence. Here, too, it is interesting to note the parallels with science in the scientific method.

The Scientific Method

According to Wikipedia, “Scientific method refers to bodies of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. A scientific method consists of the collection of data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.

“Although procedures vary from one field of inquiry to another, identifiable features distinguish scientific inquiry from other methodologies of knowledge. Scientific researchers propose hypotheses as explanations of phenomena, and design experimental studies to test these hypotheses. These steps must be repeatable in order to dependably predict any future results. Theories that encompass wider domains of inquiry may bind many hypotheses together in a coherent structure. This in turn may help form new hypotheses or place groups of hypotheses into context.

“Among other facets shared by the various fields of inquiry is the conviction that the process be objective to reduce a biased interpretation of the results. Another basic expectation is to document, archive and share all data and methodology so they are available for careful scrutiny by other scientists, thereby allowing other researchers the opportunity to verify results by attempting to reproduce them. This practice, called full disclosure, also allows statistical measures of the reliability of these data to be established.

Our Spiritual Natures

Scientific methods are generally transferable from the physical to spiritual realm. But it is important to remember that the phenomena are different, just as the body and spirit are. Our bodies are equipped with various physical senses for observing physical phenomena around us, including physical scientific experimental evidence. Our spirits have a separate set of “senses” that observe and communicate spiritual phenomena. One should not expect that evidences of non-material spiritual things will necessarily be physically obvious or provable by conventional science (as much as we might like that), nor necessarily invalid because they are not. Just as it is not expected that prophets will typically reveal natural physical truths that are the realm of conventional scientific research.

While spiritual truths may be relatively easy to communicate, evidence of them is often more subtle, and difficult to communicate in the conventional sense. The prophet Elijah looked for the Lord in a great wind and then an earthquake, but He was not there – then came “...a still small voice....” and the Lord was there. (1 Kings 19:12) “...behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost,...” (D&C 8:2) The truth of spiritual things will be manifest to our minds and hearts – our intellect and emotions. Other “sensations” akin to a “burning in the bosom” have also been described. These are the data we collect through observation – empirical in the spiritual sense.

The Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead who is a spirit, and because of that He can communicate directly with our spirit – individually – bypassing physical sound and hearing, or sight. Although on occasion, God, Christ and angels have appeared to and spoken with man directly in the conventional sense. But this was not the basis of Peter’s faith that Christ was the Messiah – “...flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matth. 16:17)

Of course our intellects and emotions are bombarded by many things that are not necessarily spiritually true or good, and can take us in many directions. Just as our physical senses are bombarded by many things, good and harmful, that we either embrace or reject. The challenge is to discern. That is an ability that comes with experience, and a gift given to those who seek and follow greater spiritual enlightenment. Just as with physical communication and learning skills. One of the gifts of the Holy Ghost is the spirit of discernment. Another is the gift of wisdom.

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,...” (John 14:26)
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: ...” (John 16:13)

Following are some basic methods we are given to acquire faith: seek, ask, act (experiment), reason (including thought experiments) & discern. The results of those methods are the very essence of “... faith ... the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1)

“...Seek, and ye shall find;...” (Luke 11:9)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) The revelations of scripture (assuming the hypothesis that they are inspired) provide a starting point for seeking spiritual truth and developing faith. They are given for that very purpose (among others) by a God who has shown desire and propensity to reveal Himself and truth to His children. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39) When I have not been afraid to dig deeply for answers, I have been rewarded greatly.

Scriptures are the key “documentation, archival & sharing of data & methodology” in the scientific method as applied to spiritual truth. They also provide the hypotheses to be tested. But scriptures can also facilitate part of the evidence. Two roles of the Holy Ghost are to bear witness of the Father & Son, and truth in general. As we hear or read -- or ponder, reason or act -- the Spirit may speak directly to our spirit, both heart & mind. In the scriptures, the prophets and apostles use reason and truth, including everyday analogies and parables, to communicate with both believer and non-believer. Truth should be expected to be satisfying to the rational mind, whether religious or secular. And spiritual truth is satisfying to our emotions -- bringing joy, sometimes even tears of joy.

Ask

The New Testament counsels, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.” (James 1:5,6) God has given us the means to ask Him – prayer. The answer will likely come thru the (quiet) promptings of the Holy Ghost – “... a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:12)

“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Luke 11:9) I have asked & been given, sought & found, knocked & had it opened to me.

Regarding the Book of Mormon, its last prophet wrote, “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Moroni 10:4) I have read, asked, and its truth has been powerfully and undeniably manifest to me.

Do His Will –Experiment on the Word

Christ said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17) As much of His will as I have done, I know it is of Him – as many others know.

As one ancient prophet taught, (Alma 32:)
26 “Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

27 “But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

28 “Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me....”

[here he figuratively describes the testifying of the Holy Ghost. He further describes how we either neglect or nurture the sprouting seed. If the latter, then:]

42 “And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

There are other testable promises (hypotheses) in scripture associated with obedience to specific commandments. For instance, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” ( Malachi 3:10)

Use Discernment & Reason

If we wish to learn, we should expect to study (especially the scriptures), ponder and reason. And to compare ideas we encounter with the truths we already know through faith to be true, including scripture. So it is with the validity of any who claim to teach divine truth -- not all will. Christ said there would be false prophets (He didn’t say there would be no true prophets, but rather the contrary), and that “by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matth. 7:15-20)

And what are their fruits? Their teachings should be consistent with previous true revelation. Their lives and lives of their followers should “...shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2:9)
“That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim. 3:17)

Some Basics of My Faith

Here are some of the basics of my faith, and the faith of millions more, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They are testable hypotheses, and the results of those tests can be attested to by millions who have tried the repeatable experiments described above -- not insignificant, statistically. See for instance the experiences & testimonies in the first link at the bottom of this blog.

• God, the creator of heaven & earth, is the Father of our spirits.

• Jesus Christ, His Son, showed us in His life the perfect example & made possible through the resurrection & atonement our immortality & eternal life.

• The Holy Ghost witnesses of the Father & Son and all truth.

• Through the ages God has revealed Himself and truth to prophets and through angels, and written accounts are recorded as scripture.

• The apostles Christ chose were killed, and as He foretold, the church He established fell into apostacy.

• He also foretold a return of a fullness of gospel truth & re-establishment of His kingdom before He comes again.

• That re-establishment has occurred, through a modern prophet, Joseph Smith. It includes:
 modern revelations pertinent to our day, but in agreement with the bible
 the return of divine authority and the ordinances of salvation, with apostles & prophets to lead His Church in preparation for His 2nd coming
 among its purposes is to help each of us to achieve the purpose of our creation – joy, fulfillment & growth in this life, and the next

Faith and Works

But acquiring faith is far from the end. It would seem that works are intimately tied to faith – not only in developing faith, but in exercising, maintaining & growing it -- faith motivates & facilitates actions.

18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
(James 2:18-20)

Faith, Experience & Reason in the Secular & Religious Realms – a Unity & Symmetry

Faith today is often denigrated as weakness, and yet it is the greatest principle of power. Hebrews 11 tells us that “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God," and that many other great works in the bible were done by faith. Faith is also seldom appreciated as a practical, everyday principle in many fields outside religion. And for too many, their faith has been displaced completely from religion and onto tenets of secularism. Many demonstrate great faith in materialism, environmentalism, atheism, socialism, narcissism, etc.

God created man in His image – physically, rationally and spiritually. Each less than perfect, and yet clearly with the potential to become such – “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) This mortal existence is our opportunity to grow in each of these areas – resurrection to immortality is a free gift to all, but intellectually and spiritually much depends on our agency and choices, and taking advantage of what God & Christ offer us. And if faith is as important a quality as revelation would have us believe, this mortality is our opportunity to develop and live by it, and in this way also to become more like our Father in Heaven.

Science and reason can take us so far in the material and mental realms. Religion and faith can take us so far in the spiritual realm. The soul of man is comprised of a physical body and a spirit, and the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. So it is with science/reason and religion. If both natural and spiritual law were authored and created perfectly by the same being, and if He is a God of order (The more we learn and deeper we probe the universe at the micro and macro levels, the more complexity and order we seem to find), they must ultimately agree when both are understood fully. “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3: 25)

Some scientists seek a "grand unified theory" to consistently explain all physical laws. Similarly, some in religion seek a unified religious “theory” – “Till we all come in the unity of the faith ...” Eph. 4: 13. One might go beyond both, to a “supreme unified theory” that could explain both the physical and spiritual aspects of the universe in a consistent manner. Some secularists claim, far too narrow-mindedly and prematurely, to know that such consistency is impossible. They in essence claim the same omniscience in themselves that they deny to God.

The Hubble Ultra Deep Field Image -- 10,000 galaxies in a spot of sky the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length, or looking through an 8 foot soda straw.  Which means at least 200 billion galaxies in the visible universe -- within Hubble's grasp.  Who knows how many beyond.  And within a typical galaxy are some 100 billion stars.  Typical stars have multiple planets, and many of those discovered so far are earth-sized, and the right distance from their star to harbor life.

In this life we will undoubtedly not fully have all the answers in either the physical or religious realm. We do not abandon Newton’s or Einstein’s theories just because they each only take us so far, or because parts have not been proven (e.g., gravity waves). [Update as of 2017 -- 8 years after writing this, gravity waves were first barely detected from distant merging black holes].  Nor do we abandon current fundamental particle theory just because we don’t understand what some 96% of the universe is made of (“dark matter & dark energy”). So the religious do not abandon their principles and faith just because they don’t yet have all the answers, or 100% certainty. Man grows bit by bit, but has been given ways to discern truth at waypoints along the right trajectory.

Elements of both science and religion are needed and frequently used in both realms. Scientists & engineers apply faith when they act on hypotheses and principles they do not have 100% knowledge are completely infallible and universally valid. They have limited experimental or experiential evidence – often not first-hand, or through indirect measurement. And all of us demonstrate faith when performing any simple everyday action based on assurance that the laws of nature and reason will hold. The religious grapple with their faith in rational terms and act based on their limited experiential evidence – often first-hand, except for those who settle for blind faith.

Few have actual first-hand knowledge of the most hard-to-come-by aspects of either realm. In science & engineering, those who do are called research/experimental scientists/engineers, and in religion they are called prophets. The rest of us take their documented experience on faith, and practice our science, engineering and religion by building on those fundamental tenets, combining them with our own more limited personal experience at a more superficial level.

Matters involving religion will almost by definition (and probably design) always be at least partially matters of faith, and not completely empirically, logically or scripturally provable. That is not to say that they are necessarily invalid or illogical, or that there are not reasonable experiences, rationales or scripture to support them.

Assuming God's existence, His rationality is a given. Certainly a deity who created this complex universe and the laws that govern it, has a mentality and rationality surpassing our own (“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8). But as a patient and loving Father, He is willing and able to condescend, communicate and reason at our level with us, His creations, as He has in the bible, and since. And even to send His Son to come and live with us, to show us how it should be done, and make possible our return to Him.

Science does not have all the answers, but certainly Deity – the Creator -- would. We make great efforts (e.g., the SETI project & Kepler space telescope) to locate and communicate with greater intelligence in the universe. The truth is, greater (omniscient) intelligence has already long been communicating with us, and even revealed some secular truths, in addition to all the spiritual ones He knows we need. It is up to us to recognize these revealed truths for what they are by acquiring and exercising faith.