I was in
church a few Sundays ago and the topic of the day was Faith. It made me think
way back to my days in Catholic School in Canada to an insignia that appeared in
my catechism titled "Faith, Hope and Charity". They were symbolized in
the insignia as a heart, anchor and cross. It seems that the three of
these go together (that's what Paul says in 1 Cor 13:13) and I've always thought
about why. So, after years and years of thinking about it, I think I finally
have it figured out. Here goes:
Faith and Hope are kind of like the Scientific Method of the spiritual world.
You've probably studied it before in school but let's review the Scientific
Method:
 | Define/Identify the Problem
| Form a Hypothesis
| Make Observations or Test Hypothesis and Perform Experiments
| Organize and Analyze Data
| Do Experiments and Observations Support Hypothesis?
| If No, Perform New Experiments and Repeat Step 4
| Draw Conclusions Communicate Results
| |
I even found a happy little picture of it!
You're
probably saying to yourself, "Uuuh, that's nice but what does it have to do
with faith, hope and charity?" Let's start with hope. The scientist hopes
he has correctly identified the problem and formed a correct hypothesis. But
before he can put any kind of faith in his hypothesis, he has to test it.
And the scientific procedure goes on to detail the testing procedure. If his
experiments work out, it helps to support his hypothesis. It builds his faith
in it. And it gives him new hope that he is correct.
So hope can lead to faith if what is hoped for is true. If the experiment fails, you assume the hypothesis was false and faith dies. The prophet Alma words it as thus:
Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away. And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.
Is he teaching the scientific method? I think so! But wait, there's more. Paul left out an important concept which Alma hits on hard: knowledge. If your first experiment works out, it's not proof. Both science and religion are fuzzy here on exactly when a long string of successes turns into proof. The scientific method says to draw your conclusions (typically: I am right!) and publish your results. They would then be subject to a grueling review by your peers. Alma jumps ahead a bit and says it's at the point where you don't question the hypothesis anymore and are ready to base some other hypothesis on it.
And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.
His position is that at some point knowledge takes the place of faith and that's something that Paul missed. But maybe Paul did that on purpose. Scientific theories have evolved over time and new theories frequently contradict old ones. I'll bet you've heard of Ethernet. It's the underlying communication protocol of most computer networks. It's everywhere! In fact, that's why is called Ethernet. Ether, according to the now outdated wave theory of light, is the medium that permeates all space and transmits transverse waves. This theory was replaced by quantum physics. As it turns out, there is no medium that permeates all space and transmits light. Everyone was wrong on that one. There's a long list of overturned theories. Suffice it to say at some point, theories are accepted, especially when there are physical phenomena they help to explain. At that point, the are assumed to be knowledge.
Okay, looks like that horse is dead enough, no point in smacking it anymore. So hope prompts faith and faith grows when hope is proved. Then, as Alma says, faith turns into knowledge. And that's the end of the matter. Oops, did I forget charity? Let me lay a little groundwork for that one:
What is man, is he a creature of spirit or a beast of the earth? Whichever way you answer, you're right, he's both. As a beast of the earth, he's subject to all the forces of nature. In order to survive and even tame these forces, he attempts to understand them and the Scientific Method is a powerful tool in doing so. As a creature of spirit, he's subject to all the... all the... Hmmm, I'm really at a loss for words here. I can hardly even describe the human spirit, it's way too big and incomprehensible. I'll just say that charity is the heart of all human spirit and that faith and hope are powerful tools for discovering truth in that arena. Charity is to the spiritual world what physical phenomena are to the physical world, the focus of our search for understanding.
I'll give Paul the last word:
And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not
puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and
rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things,
believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for
charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of
all.