MENTAL FENCES

Fences - a word recently on many minds. There are many kinds of fences, both physical and mental. Basically, fences do one of two things – they either protect, or they contain. I grew up on a dairy farm with many wire fences. Some kept the cows at home, others protected garden and crops from destruction. In other words, they either contain or protect. On a broader scale, fences may be appropriately designed with people or smallest to largest animals in mind. All fences, however, have gates. They may be rarely, or frequently opened, and their function is to allow controlled passage without needing to tear down the fence.

There are also mental fences. People take a position and develop a fence to support their position. They very seldom, if ever, install a gate in their mental fence. In developing their position, they may listen to conflicting theories, but once a position is taken there is seldom a willingness to consider anything that conflicts with it. No matter how terrible their position turns out to be, or how logical a conflicting position may be, once their position has been established there is refusal to change. This is readily seen in politics, as well as many other aspects of life. One fence, very solid and well taken care of, is the creation/evolution fence. Each side is solid in belief, and in feeling that the other side is, basically, imbecilic in their beliefs. Personally, I believe both are correct, but they are like two blind persons feeling an elephant – and developing different pictures of the animal based on what they feel. For example, the sides on the creation/evolution arguments are looking at the same thing, but different aspects. On any observation, there are five questions, four ‘W’ and one ‘H’ questions. They are Who, Why, When, Where, and How. The creation side is looking only at Who (God) and Why (because He wanted to). They are minimally interested in the other three questions. The evolution side take a scientific approach, looking at Where, When, and How, with no interest in the Who and Why questions. The five questions must all be examined if a correct answer is to be obtained. One problem is that some giving here and there will be required, and neither is willing to give anything. Their fence remains very firm and cared for. I wrote a book on this controversy, “Scripture Versus Science: Reconciling God’s Ancient Wisdom with a Modern World View.” In it I attempted to show the unity path of considering all five questions. Neither side accepted if, with very few other than family and friends buying it. Christians tend not to be interested in anything on this subject that is not in the Bible. On the other hand, few evolutionists give any thought to the possibility of there being an all-powerful God.