Feeling and faith speaks louder to me
than the wiseman’s glass and eye
(Adam Mickiewicz, a Polish poet from the 19th century)

I’ve been doing computer programming since I was a child. Yes, really, I was 6 or 7 when I started. Thus, programming is very close to me and without realizing this, I often try to implement its rules in all of my life.

It’s usually beneficial!

The most important part of programming is the idea. Then you need to dissect it into all smallest possible steps, and then write the code, which really is the easiest part of the process.

I have been trying to apply this MO to the way I read and interpret the Bible but I forgot about one little detail.

According to the common rules of biblical exegesis you need to make sure, that the text is translated correctly, then you need to get to know its historical and cultural context.

I was sure it was enough.

I was wrong.

It seems 2+2 is always 4, at least this is what a vast majority of people would answer.

Not all, though.

Mathematicians would ask which numeral system we’re talking about. For decimal one 2+2 = 4, but 2+2 in a ternary one is actually 11.
Most people would never think that 2+2 can be read in a system different than decimal. The numeral system was a detail, a detail barely anyone would care to ask.
Well, there is a detail which should be taken into consideration while reading the Bible.
This detail is…

MYSTICISM

I used to dislike this word. When I heard it I thought about a boring, ascetic life, where there is only one interesting, though not a very pleasant one, aspect – paranoid visions.

But it doesn’t really define mystics. They are people who, apart from analyzing all “hard facts”, i.e. facts which can be validated in a repeatable way, also analyze information from the spiritual world.

They get the information by various ways – through intuition, messages from “other worlds”, divination etc.

There are many ways one can practice mysticism, but all mystics agree in one thing:

To be able to understand, or at least hear, mystic knowledge, you need to find a way to separate yourself from this world.

Praying, meditation, fasting, looking for answers in dreams, using some psychoactive substances – it all opens (to be precise – it is able to open) our mind to information which we normally would not be able to understand, or even be aware of.

Mystical practices were a part of lives of all…

I used to think that having all these wonderful tools that today are offered – biblical programs, interlineal translation, lots of great Internet websites – I can erase the abyss that divides my world and the world of people who wrote down the Bible, and this – understand it well.

I was wrong.

Knowledge about language and culture can definitely help but there is one small detail left..
As little one as the numeral system of the equation I was talking about.

We can create a lot of equations which will be true in both decimal and ternary system: 1+1=2, 2*1=2, 1+0=1, 2/1 = 2 etc.
And also many biblical messages can be easily understood by people having nothing to do with mysticism.

Some can’t, though.

My perspective entirely changed after I had a mystical experience. Some passages that I hadn’t been able to understand – suddenly became clear.

You don’t have to understand all of the Bible to be happy. But, if would like to understand it – especially, if there are some passages you’ve given a lot of work to which still confuse you – I wholeheartedly encourage you to practice things which will bring us closer to the state of heart and mind that belonged to the people who were its authors.

I was wrong then… assuming that all you needed was enough of “computing power” which means analyzing facts.

Am I wrong now? By all means this is absolutely possible! My only belief that I never question is that I… question all of my beliefs!

I started this blog with a quote, but to be able to really agree with it I would need to change one word. Science and mysticism are not contradictory, they complement each other!

Feeling and faith speaks more to me
than the wiseman’s sole glass and eye

Adam Nonmickiewicz 😺

 

Last edited – 13 January 2022