often times the seemingly mundane can provide a great deal of insight

4.01.2009

questions...


...they appear so innocent. It really does not take much thought process to ask a question. Little kids ask questions of other people all the time, and little kids are really not smart at all. If you were to pair them against great philosophers and theologians you could say they are rather stupid. Most times when the little kids ask a question they are not even thinking, they don't really want an explanation, they just want to ask a question. One of the most common questions asked is "why". This a a very innocent thing to ask. However, when this question is legitimately applied to perceptions and beliefs that have developed our worldviews and identities, it has the power to tear apart everything that we once stood on. What happens when we start asking ourselves "why"

the power is not as much in the question as it is in the answer.

We see that the challenge and stress is placed on the person who was asked the question. A certain amount of responsibility and personal investment must be acknowledged and accepted in order to truly answer the deeper questions that are asked. This means we must bypass assumptions and explore territory we thought we had already domesticated. This means we must step forth in humility, admitting that our perception might be inaccurate or incomplete.

this is different than doubt.

this is exploration.

The more we question and search, the more answers we will find, and the more certain of our answers we will be... eventually. If we question those things which have become foundational to our being, we will likely be uncomfortably shaken, and forced to reevaluate much of what we have assumed to be true for a large part of our lives.

This is where I am now. I have started asking "why" again... after a long time of assuming why.

Not necessarily out of doubt, but out of hunger and conviction and in this where i find myself; at a place of unsettled clarity. I feel messed up but it is in a good way.

I recommend trying it for yourself.

2 comments:

  1. Socrates asked why and was forced to drink hemlock. Do you want to drink hemlock? Do you???

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've probably had worse.

    ReplyDelete