As CS Lewis argued:
close proximity to a man-eating tiger would be terrifying because the animal would present an immediate physical threat;
a close encounter with a real or imagined ghost would be dreadful because the mere existence and presence of such an entity would be experienced as eerie or uncanny;
the approach of a great spirit would be dreadful or awesome at least in part because of our own perceived unworthiness in its presence - it might also be about to blast us out of existence, of course;
the Incarnation (allegedly) bridges the gap between the human or mundane and the awesome or transcendent.
Dread is common to our responses to ghosts and gods - thus explaining the application of the term "Ghost" to God.
My closing question for tonight: is the universe haunted?
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, I would say the universe is haunted! By both hope and risk. Frank Tipler, in his book THE PHYSICS OF CHRISTIANITY, believes physically incarnate intelligent life exists for a REASON. Far too briefly, mankind exists at least partly to prevent the cosmos from expanding forever and pointlessly. But I need to finish his book!
Sean
Post a Comment