Merely Functional?
How do you explain the functionality and beauty of our universe? In other words, why isn't the world around us simply functional and not beautiful? What is the purpose behind the beauty we see in nature?
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ReplyDeleteAnd why are we even capable of observing beauty and deriving pleasure from it?
ReplyDeleteHmmm, another good question Eric- thanks.
ReplyDeleteI think beauty reflects the glory of God in the world. The presence of beauty, and even the concept itself doesn't make any sense in a world without God, or even a relativistic world. When we create beautiful things, we are acting like God. When we enjoy beautiful things, we are using the ability that God has given us to recognize God's invention of beauty.
ReplyDeletegreat question!
This question is one that I have often pondered. I can, but imagine the intense love that our Father has for us.
ReplyDeleteA world of mere functionality would, in a sense, be a world of devoid of choice. No choice no free will. I know there are differing views on free will; I guess I would consider myself a moderate Calvinist. God is the creator of time, and therefore, timeless, and not subject to its dimensionality.
In allowing a world of beauty and also giving us the faculties to observe and to take pleasure in this beauty, we now have choices.
Simply put two bicycles, for example, built exactly the same with the same dull grey paint offers no choice. One could chose either there the same, both equally functional. Now add a shiny red coat to one of them and we have a choice. (I know that this is a simplistic analogy but it was the best I could think of at this moment.)