Conatus: REVISED EDITION by Tom Wallace - HTML preview

C O N A T U S

think, face similar problems trying to discern our correct path, and, as I’ve said, often the questions are the same.

In terms of the themes of this book — essence and narrative — God is clearly the ultimate essence and gives us a very compelling narrative for how the world is (and for some, how the world came to be and where it is going). However, when the meanings and purposes behind God’s work are really wrestled with, things get very complex! That’s not to say that the attempt should not be made. Just that it is easy to see why many people (including religious people) avoid the challenge.

In all that’s been said in this chapter, it has not been my intention to come down in favour or against a belief in God, or a particular religion. We all of us pick our truth, one way or another, and for a variety of reasons. When we pick our truth we also start to build meaning and value into our lives. Trying to argue people in or out of their particular truth, meaning, value and manner of living is going to be a very tough call, for anyone who wants to take that up! But the alternative is simply to take a step back. In doing so, we try to understand where the great areas of thought in science, philosophy and religion are taking us, and what that all means for how we conduct ourselves as societies, cultures and as a species in the bio-sphere of the Earth.

Religion, at least, gives an ethic to inform our personal lives, beyond just direct interactions with other people, society and the Earth. So it covers a lot of ground compared to the truth-

152