Donna’s Comments (group member since Feb 06, 2012)

Donna’s comments from the Q&A with Don Ray group.

You will enjoy Josef Pieper -- Tradition is another of his books that really explores the concept of tradtion and sacred tradition -- some more of those incredible connections.

I love your binocular image! A kindred spirit seems a rare experience -- I appreciate your perspective.

Perhaps the parameters of an academic environment spawn comparative questions regarding meaning. In reading the description of this group I had to examine my own responses to the desired nature of a sought discussion. Seems the thought that science is somehow separate from anything of the spirit; that education would be in conflict with faith; or that a lab is different from church--is perhaps suggesting that they may not co-exist.

I am an educator, a writer and a Christian and do not experience an angst in these topics at all. In fact, I have often puzzled over the contradictions that surface in both Christian and secular writings. For discussion purposes I am responding briefly to the three pairings of words: For me, the scientific method does not negate a conclusion inspired by the spirit and infused with sound research. Faith gives me the courage and fortitude to keep on learning and digging into the more of life's meanings and mysteries. The learning process requires faith in my opinion, and faith makes the vital connection with others and the knowledge they impart -- the educational process. The final pairing of words -- lab and church -- requires a bit more explanation. A lab is that wondrous place fully equipped to explore theories and hypotheses A church is a gathering of people seeking to explore meaning in a relationship with God. They neither replace or contradict one another.

Have you read any of Josef Pieper's writings? Divine Madness is an amazing expression of the way the arts are possible because of the connection with God. I feel the same way about science, education and the lab.