G'kar, "If I take a lamp and shine towards the wall, a bright spot will appear on the wall. The lamp is our search for truth, for understanding. To often we assume that the light on the wall is god. But the light is not the goal of the search; it is the result of the search. The more intense the search, the brighter the light on the wall. The brighter the light on the wall, the greater the sense of revelation upon seeing it. Similarly, someone who does not search, who does not bring a lantern with him, sees nothing.
What we perceive as god is merely the by-product of our search for god. It may simply be an appreciation of the light, pure and unblemished, not understanding that it comes from us. Sometimes we stand in front of the light, and assume we are the centre of the universe - god looks astonishingly like we do. Or we turn to look at our shadow and assume that all is darkness. If we allow ourselves to get in the way, we defeat the purpose, which is use the light of our search to illuminate the wall in all its beauty and in all its flaws. And in so doing better understand the world around us."
Full Version: science and god
in its entirety:
QUOTE
G'Kar is lecturing his followers on the evils of being too serious, as if that will prove that they are better than everyone else, more enlightened. They can't be free unlit they learn to laugh at themselves, and from laughter comes wisdom. G'Kar asks for the next question. A follower throws a couple of big ones at him: What is truth? And what is God?
G'Kar: You don't really want an answer to that question.
Narn: Yes, I do. Please.
G'Kar: If I take a lamp and shine it toward a wall, a bright spot will appear on the wall. The lamp is our search for truth, for understanding. Too often, we assume that the light on the wall is God. But the light is not the goal of the search. It is the result of the search. The more intense the search, the brighter the light on the wall. The brighter the light on the wall, the greater the sense of revelation upon seeing it.
The followers are not following this at all. G'Kar has them all confounded. Dr. Franklin stands in the background smiling at their confusion.
G'Kar: Similarly, someone who does not search, who does not bring a lantern with him...sees nothing. (He sighs in frustration) What we perceive as God is the byproduct of our search for God. It may simply be an appreciation of the light, pure and unblemished, not understanding that it comes from us. Sometimes we stand in front of the light and assume that we are the center of the universe. God looks astonishingly like we do. Or we turn to look at our shadow and assume that all is darkness. If we allow ourselves to get in the way, we defeat the purpose, which is to use the light of our search to illuminate the wall in all its beauty...and all its flaws...and in so doing better understand the world around us.
Narn: Ah...yes...but... What is truth? And what is God?
G'Kar laughs. At this rate, they're never going to get it. This time G'Kar answers more simply. Truth is a river, and God is the mouth of the river. The room is filled with murmurs of understanding. Franklin smiles and gives G'Kar a sympathetic shrug.
G'Kar: You don't really want an answer to that question.
Narn: Yes, I do. Please.
G'Kar: If I take a lamp and shine it toward a wall, a bright spot will appear on the wall. The lamp is our search for truth, for understanding. Too often, we assume that the light on the wall is God. But the light is not the goal of the search. It is the result of the search. The more intense the search, the brighter the light on the wall. The brighter the light on the wall, the greater the sense of revelation upon seeing it.
The followers are not following this at all. G'Kar has them all confounded. Dr. Franklin stands in the background smiling at their confusion.
G'Kar: Similarly, someone who does not search, who does not bring a lantern with him...sees nothing. (He sighs in frustration) What we perceive as God is the byproduct of our search for God. It may simply be an appreciation of the light, pure and unblemished, not understanding that it comes from us. Sometimes we stand in front of the light and assume that we are the center of the universe. God looks astonishingly like we do. Or we turn to look at our shadow and assume that all is darkness. If we allow ourselves to get in the way, we defeat the purpose, which is to use the light of our search to illuminate the wall in all its beauty...and all its flaws...and in so doing better understand the world around us.
Narn: Ah...yes...but... What is truth? And what is God?
G'Kar laughs. At this rate, they're never going to get it. This time G'Kar answers more simply. Truth is a river, and God is the mouth of the river. The room is filled with murmurs of understanding. Franklin smiles and gives G'Kar a sympathetic shrug.
who is G'kar and what is this from? ^^
Babylon 5
oh that narn!
yeah - bloody terrorist 
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