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I really enjoyed the interview of Terryl and Fiona Givens about their new book The Crucible of Doubt. http://richalger.blogspot.com/2014/10/other-ways-of-knowing.html Thanks for sharing Rich, Yes, there are other ways of knowing something that are also relevant.
This is most applicable to those of us that feel dissilusioned in what we once thought we knew. We can still recognize beauty, and value, and goodness. And those can be valid reasons for staying LDS, but the burden then is on the person that chooses to stay for these reasons. They will likely not be applauded for their choice. Often they will be misunderstood, less than fully accepted, perhaps the object of mistrust or derision. The church seems to be saying “Join with us …. but keep it to yourself.”
I have faith in things that are so beautiful that I want them to be true. That too is a form of imperfect knowledge. I find value in my faith and it helps me to be a better person. That is enough for me right now.
That was interesting. I’m not sure I would use the phrase “other ways of knowing.” I might say “other ways of valuing.” I don’t think art has anything to do with knowing, but everything to do with providing deep experiences and value in our lives that can’t be quantified by science and can’t be contained in knowledge. I feel kind of the same way about intuition. I see intuition as the result of subconscious processes that aren’t under our direct control, but I don’t call it a form of knowledge and I don’t think it should necessarily be valued over our conscious thinking. But it should be part of the input into our decision making, and it can make a big difference in how we feel and experience our lives. People generally don’t define “knowing” in strictly scientific terms. Rather, for lots of things (perhaps most), they define it in terms of experiences and deep feelings. Since everyone has different experiences and different ways of feeling, I believe strongly in “other ways of knowing” – and, honestly, I generally don’t quibble with people when they say they know something, unless I think there is reasonable evidence to move that something into the realm of scientific fact (or close enough to accept it as such at the time). PLEASE, everyone, don’t respond directly to this particular example I am going to use, since I don’t want to derail this thread, but how people see homosexuality is a great example, imo. Things were “known” previously that have been proven inaccurate with “greater light and knowledge”, so we now “know” more than we did when I was younger. I could hold onto our previous knowledge or I can embrace other ways of knowing and allow those other ways to change my view. I can talk with people with lots of differing experiences – and read the latest scientific research – and talk with people who are homosexual (and see the radically varying experiences and views even among them) – and intuit things personally – and see how my “heart” feels about each argument / view I hear and read – and on and on and on and on.
I know that is different in an important way than what is addressed in the original link, but the general concept is that we all understand / know things as a result of our own filters, both internally and externally – so we all are going to understand / know things in different ways. Recognizing that simple fact ought to blunt our own ego and allow us to be more charitable toward others – even when we disagree vehemently with some people about some things. It ought to prompt us to be more open to seeing and understanding things in new, evolving ways – and learning even from people whom we might naturally see as less evolved and/or less open to change.
I learn from people all the time with whom I disagree strongly about some things, simply because they have other ways of knowing.
Roy wrote:I have faith in things that are so beautiful that I want them to be true. That too is a form of imperfect knowledge. I find value in my faith and it helps me to be a better person. That is enough for me right now.
I like this Roy.Don’t you feel like we all see through a glass darkly, therefore…all knowledge is less than perfect, therefore…it’s a good idea to stick to the things that bring value? To me, you’ve come up with a good method for dealing with imperfect knowledge. You can know some things through experience. Wisdom comes from knowing the limitations of this approach, as well as other approaches, and staying alert to make sure you’re not just rationalizing or being prideful. Would you agree?
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