A matter of faith

It seems some scientists have found that faith can help ease the pain (or, at the very least, some tabloids seem to think so…). This is not entirely new, nor entirely true… or at least, one’s “faith” in this kind of discovery should be filtered by prior studies in this matter. Namely one, also reported by the media, where it was found that praying for someone would help sick people heel faster. Meanwhile, more recent evidences found no such relation – in fact it was noted that, although without statistic meaning, more heart patients who prayed had died, than those who did not… But, as always, how can one be sure their prayers were not, in fact, listen to?... I must begin by stating clearly that today’s theory has nothing to do with God or His existence. It is limited to the faith itself. Faith is, for me, an evolutionary advantage. That does not mean it is a false believe. It just explains how it could be false, and nevertheless be felt as true. In other words, how could so many, believe in something so strange… other than, because it is true? Well, this is how. Faith is a true and measurable evolutionary advantage. Even if one discusses the effects of faith in pain (and I am sure there will be many willing to engage in that discussion)

there is no doubt that those who believe have an easier life. Thinking God works in mysterious (and not to be understand) ways, is certainly easier to deal with than just realizing one’s impotence against all bad things that happen every day. Any idea of after-life is certainly more helpful to one’s sanity that the concept of a few years of conscience… and then nothing. The explanation is tied to some ancient times, when a so-called Darwin Law was still biding among us humans. At that time there existed several different types of humans: the ones with eyebrows, and the one without; the ones with faith, and the ones without. The ones with eyebrows would eat more, because when they were out hunting, running and climbing, their sweat would follow the eyebrow, dropping by the side of the face; the ones without eyebrow, on the other hand, would have their vision blurred all the time, since the sweat would fall directly into the eyes. The same way, those with faith would be more immune to emotional trauma. They would have social activities to celebrate their faith, they would return to their normal activities faster after a death, and they would be more motivated, since they believed someone “up there” would take care of them. As you might already have guessed it, we are the great-great...great-sons of those with eyebrows and faith.

The god way, or the bad way?... (two kinds of elders)

I used to think age offered knowledge. People would became wiser as time went by, the same way we get older and gain wrinkles. Some would even achieve that sort of bliss that elders get in African tribes, to whom younger ones came and ask for advices on life, relations and other difficult decisions.

As time goes by and I get to know more of these "elderlies", I came to realize I was mistaken. And that wisdom does not come free, or easy. As I think about it, it makes perfect sense: when I look around, most people of my own age are not particularly bright, or particularly interested in making sense of it all. How will they learn anything if they are asleep?... Even thought life can be the best school, one steel needs to be open to the idea of learning...

Even more surprisingly (to me), I am starting to realize that the true elders, the ones who have gain the invaluable wisdom, are the ones that made more mistakes in life. The ones who, more often than not, took the "wrong" path. The ones who broke the laws, the ones who cheated on their espouses with their secretaries, the ones who stepped on everyone else's toes to get where they are, the ones who do not care about other's people feelings, the ones who parked they cars locking other cars, the ones who never give back the excessive exchange money. The ones who made mistakes.

The other, who led their lives following the rules and choosing the "god" way... had no problems. It is like a river that follows its bed. There is nothing to do, and nothing to learn. And so, nothing to teach. They have little or no advices to offer about why they did what they did, or why should one do the same - they just know their way.

Of course, this does not explain the Delai Lama. But how many Dalai Lama are there?...

In fact, this makes me wonder if one should be so keen to do the right thing, not to fall, not to make mistakes, to listen to the elders' advice. It makes me wonder what kind of elder one should aim to be.

Love

A long time ago I devised a test to prove love. As so many other things, it was inspired by a simple and everyday life event: from my window I saw a couple walking by, holding hands. «Oh, how sweet is love!»... And I wondered, how could I know that I was watching real love?...

The test began as something small and scientific: a couple would be placed in a white room, with a chair and a table. All they had to do was prove to someone else that they felt real love. I rapidly concluded that words and sex would not be enough, and so I gave up on science. The couple could do whatever they wanted, wherever they wanted. No need for a controlled environment.

The first important find was that if someone took his own life to save the other, it would probably mean they loved that person. Although not necessarily, since some people would give their life for a worthy cause... Nevertheless, this could not be my final answer. If one would have to die to prove one's love, the Earth would be filled with graving loved ones...

The needed help came from where I least expected. In law people study the nature of things. Things are divided in two groups: things that can be felt by our five senses, and the others. Well, love cannot be sense by any sense, except by the one that feels it. So, love cannot be proved, since it cannot be felt by anyone else.

At the end, my test is a failure, and love is all about trusting. In fact, today I think love is only about trust.

Tristan's complex

Sooner or later, there is a Tristan in every men's life. A long haired, don't fallow the rules, always do what I want guy. Who gets the girl. Faster... Or even slower. Over the rainbow. On a horse. Dumb as the door. Doesn't say please, doesn't care, doesn't stay and help. He just gets the girl.

As one ends up playing the (older) dog.

I always prefer playing Tristan, when the part is available!





Hint for the title:Legends of the fall, 1994

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The meaning of life

This topic is a working progress. Nevertheless, there are some progresses to account for.

There is no simple, unanimous (good for everybody) and unique (in time and space) meaning for all human life. If there was a sole meaning, i.e., if there was a master plan, then everybody should be able to at least have a shoot at the trophy. For the sake of argument, let's assume the meaning of life was to love and to be loved. In order to make sense of it all (in other words, to have a meaning) everyone should have the possibility to be in love. And not everybody has (I mean objectively, medically). Nor does every human has the possibility to achieve any other “meaningful” achievement I can think of as a potential meaning for life.

So it can't be objective and universal. If it exists, it must be complex, mutable, and maybe even subjective...

Happiness is a good answer. Because is a formal concept. No core. Happiness is subjective and mutable. A different toy when we are five. A love at eighteen. Security and a family at thirty. Grandchildren. Health...

But it solves not the problem... for if everyone must find his or her meaning, the problem subsists: do all individual meanings join up to a greater sense?... In the end, if there are only egoistic purposes for one's life, there is not, in truth, a real meaning...

Truth vs Happiness?

Some day in the future, believing in God will be a choice between happiness... and truth. Faith is a genetic advantage which makes life a lot easier. Truth on the other hand... is something completely different. We believe in order to have an easier life, a happier one. The truth however, to His existence, is a completely different mater. One which I think my opinion is clear since line one.

I heard the proof of genetic predisposition to faith is around the corner.