Social Models

Deuteronomy 5
32 So be careful to do what the LORD your G-d has
commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or
to the left.

33 Walk in all the way that the LORD your G-d has
commanded you, so that you may live and prosper
and prolong your days in the land that you will
possess.

www.biblegateway.com

In this passage, Moses was given what we know as
the Ten Commandments. It's a model for social
stability. Look at the last verse again. '...
that you may live and prosper and prolong your
days...' In other words, if everyone will follow
these simple rules, then you will enjoy a model
society and will live happily ever after. But
it seems to much to ask. Not that it's difficult
or complex. The model is simple. There just is
not an interest in following the rules. The Ten
Commandments were a gift to all people, in all
places, for all times. But they are mostly
ignored, and so we are given to our own devices.


One of those devices is the theory of biological
evolution -- a model for living by our own rules.
After all, if there is no higher authority, then
we have to make and modify a social model not
that we adapt to, but rather that adapts to our
changing mood. And so we have done, but it's not
a novelty to the 21st century. It's always been
that way by means of other devices.


As Walter ReMine points out in his book, that I
mentioned yesterday, the usefullness of the model
relies on the ability to maintain an illusion.
Whether the illusion is sustained to support our
own faith, or the faith of others, isn't so
important. As long as the illusion works for
most people, most of the time. P. T. Barnum knew
about maintaining illusions and he understood
that people really enjoy being fooled. If he
were alive today, he might be thinking, What's in
your wallet?


So, today, I'd like to take another look at a
quote from ReMine that I used yesterday:

--->
"...Life was designed to look *unlike* evolution,
and to see this, one must understand evolutionary
theory deeply..."

In other words, you can take someones word for it,
but in order to become aware of the genuine flaws
in the theory of biological evolution, it is a
must that you learn a few of the details. And we
know who lurks in the details.
--->

Well, not exactly. As I see it, there is not a
need to '...understand evolutionary theory
deeply...', or to '...learn a few of the
details...'. To be more exact, there is a need to
understand the *relevant* aspects of evolution and
to learn a few of the *relevant* details. You
see, when ReMine says it's an illusion, he's
exactly correct, and his claim that his background
in the art of illusion has been critical for
recognition is exactly correct. Because he has a
high level of technical training, he knows the ins
and outs of science, and is not fooled by the
spurious assertions of authorities. He knows that
it's done to maintain illusion. Please, don't
misunderstand what I'm getting at. I'm not
writing that there is no need to respect the effort
of those who have made valuable contribution to
the advancement of science. All I'm saying is
that you have to be able to recognize when they
are bluffing. There is in the advancement of any
scientific theory, a high degree of promotional
effort to have your work recognized. It's all
well documented. It happens every day. But, that
does not impy that the work is what it is claimed
to be, exactly. Evolution has to be sold to the
public, and the scientific community. Read the
liturature and tell me it's not so. In fact, most
social interaction works that way. As some are
fond of saying, It's all about perception.


One of my problems is that I am just so NOT about
perception. Let's just say that I'm
idiosyncratic, so I have a predisposition to...
let's say... be sceptical. For instance,
yesterday I spent way too much time on the phone
talking to auto mechanics. They want to know,
What's in your wallet? I want to know, Can you
get the job done? It makes for sometimes strained
communication. People can get really excited
about money. I used to have the most wonderful
mechanic. He just liked to fix cars right. He
wouldn't do things that weren't needed and he
knew his business. He always had work. These are
a rare species. Much of the time, scepticism is
not well received. The point is that scientific
theory has alot to do with convincing others
about your authority on the subject, and not just
about a love of the truth. There is deeply vested
interest in promotion and recognition. Too bad
that it has to be that way. But unless you can
accept that there is alternative motivation, then
progress is difficult. Good work ought to be
recognized on it's own merits, not based on a
perception of authority. That's where I want to
begin the discussion on this blog.


Jesus holds the record for good works recognized
on its own merit. And if you will read the text
it shows that his authority was always in question
by the social engineers of his day.

Matthew 21
The Authority of Jesus Questioned

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he
was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of
the people came to him. "By what authority are
you doing these things?" they asked. "And who
gave you this authority?"

24 Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one
question. If you answer me, I will tell you by
what authority I am doing these things.

25 John's baptism—where did it come from? Was it
from heaven, or from men?"
They discussed it among themselves and said, "If
we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why
didn't you believe him?'

26 But if we say, 'From men'—we are afraid of the
people, for they all hold that John was a prophet."

27 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."
Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what
authority I am doing these things.

And at the end of the day, this is where the
conclusion will always be found -- who really has
possession of the authority that they claim?
Nothing's changed in over 2000 years. The
controversy over creation vs evolution will
continue to collide with the question of authority
until the end of time. But Jesus just stands
there, same as he always has, extending the offer
of life everlasting.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and
forever.

II Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

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=== NOTES ===
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As time permits, it would be interesting to parse
through the literature and take a look at it in
terms of filtering out the claims to authority.
In other words, what aspects of evolution theory
are based on science and what aspects are based
on some claim to authority on the subject?

Another facet of this filtering would be to
examine the social modeling implications.