Makes Sense Tommorow Column

From an edition of What's Up Yukon.


I’ve been thinking about how people think.
I believe those amongst the more “hip”, would call my train of thought “meta”.
I was prompted onto my cognitive journey after reading recent comments from the Pope. In a respectful nutshell, the pontiff wrote that evolution cannot be completely proven, and that science has narrowed views on creation.
(Uh-oh, he’s gonna talk about creationism…)
Sort of.
Before anyone starts dusting off their favourite “Letter to the Editor” stationary, I don’t want to wade into a diatribe of why we’re all here. I want to explore common avenues of popular thought – and show you how wishy-washy they are.
I’m assuming the Pope meant that evolution couldn’t be completely proven – by science. I’m not taking any great mental leap here by stating that big “C” Creation also cannot be proven by science.
It seems strange for someone backing a wholly metaphysical entity, to refer to scientific process as a defence for their non-scientific belief system. Creationism and evolution are in completely different worlds, and it isn’t rocket “science” to see that ne’er the twain shall meet.
And yet, all of us wander down these fallacious roads all the time. Hence my fascination via how we think.
Well, hop on board; the train’s leaving the station!
Quite a lot of people drop the word karma in their daily lives. They believe that if they do something nice, some goodwill will come their way in the future. And vise-versa.
One generally held tenet here in the Yukon is that one should regularly pick-up hitchhikers, as should the day come when you need to stick your thumb, you’ll find greater success.
Sounds nice, unfortunately, I doubt many people think beyond that. Belief in karma means you have to accept there is an objective cosmic force handing out esoteric tickets.
If you’re going to hold highly abstract beliefs, don’t be lazy about it. C’mon all you Junior Theologians! You got that noodle on your body, use it!
(Also, look up the word altruism – it’s nobler concept)
Many (seemingly) completely rational folk, will tell you that they don’t believe in any particular cosmic deity. These same people do however believe that little grey aliens regularly stop by for visits and some informal probing. Just as many people believe that the deceased occasionally take it upon themselves to open and close cupboard doors in the middle of night.
People will nod their heads at plastic cards with pretty pictures that divine the future, and then scoff at the concept of transubstantiation. (Geez, do I love my five-dollar words!)
Having a firm belief in something that completely defies physical laws should make one tolerant of all metaphysical beliefs. Or so I’d like to think.
All the world’s people are completely free to believe in whatever they like, but when they pooh-pooh something they don’t believe in that is just as physically unexplainable as one of their own beliefs; it just seems ridiculous.
Show your work!
Have a firm grasp on your beliefs. And why you have them – there’s no sense in having lazy ambiguity in the ole thought-process department.
There, now I’ve given you something to chew on. Don’t worry, have a good restful sleep; it’ll all make sense tomorrow.