FORMS, SHADOWS, AND CHRISTIAN EXCLUSIVITY – LESSONS FROM PLATO

Philosophers have pondered the nature of God since the beginning of recorded history, and probably well before. Using Plato’s “allegory of the cave” as a guide, let’s examine humanity’s inability to comprehend that which lies beyond our immediate senses, such as the nature of God. If you’re not familiar with this allegory it goes something like this. 

 Plato describes a metaphorical cave in which prisoners are being held. They are shackled in such a way that they can only see a wall directly in front of them. A fire burning behind the men lights the cave. During their captivity, objects are carried behind the men so that all they can see are the shadows of the objects projected onto the wall in front of them. The men spend considerable time trying to determine what the items are from the fuzzy shadows they see on the wall. Plato uses this metaphor to question the nature of perceived reality.  The items being paraded behind the men represent what Plato called pure “Forms” and the shadows represent the imperfect projection of these forms into the world we inhabit. The shadows hint at the nature of the “Form” behind them but can never capture the deep essence of the original object.

 We can put Plato’s abstraction into a familiar context using a table as an example. There are many kinds of tables; round tables, square tables, rectangular tables, short tables, tall tables, tables with a single pedestal, tables with four legs, and so forth. Each one of these manifestations contains elements - “tableness” - that, when taken together, we recognize as a table. Plato argues that behind these instantiations lies a perfect form of “table” that we cannot comprehend in the real world. We see only reflections of the perfect Form - “table” - in the imperfect manifestations of “tableness” we recognize in our reality. 

Now let’s extend Plato’s thesis to our understanding of God. Following Plato’s logic God represents one of those “perfect Forms” we cannot comprehend. What do you think of this? Is it possible for us to understand God in totality or is that beyond human comprehension? What does that say about world religion in general and Christianity in particular? Do all the world religions represent unique expressions of humanity’s imperfect comprehension of a perfect God? Could humans have perceived a perfect God in different places at different times in different ways, resulting in the different responses to God we recognize as religion?

I like to visualize the many human responses to God as the facets of a brilliant cut diamond. A brilliant cut diamond is unique in that light appears to emanate from the stone itself. And, in fact, this is the case. When light strikes a brilliant cut diamond some of the light is reflected from the surface of the external facets.  However, some of the light passes through these facets and is captured internally. This internal light is reflected within the diamond until it eventually exits the diamond via one of the facets, making the diamond shine from deep within. I like to think of God in this way.  God is a brilliant cut diamond with light emanating from its center.  Each facet represents a human religion that is lit by the internal light of God.  One diamond (God), many facets (responses to God - religion).

If this is true, then, are all religions equally valid since they represent a valid response to the "light" of God? Even more important, is Christianity the only way, or even the best way, to find God?

I realize this may be controversial in some circles but I would argue that Christianity is a unique, but not the only, path to God. Christianity’s uniqueness comes from its claim of a deeper revelation of God through Jesus. By taking on human form God provided humanity with a deeper understanding of His/Her true nature.  Jesus represents an instantiation of the perfect Form, “God”, projected into our reality. Now this does not mean that we have a complete understanding of the nature of God through Jesus. As Plato claims, the pure Form remains beyond human comprehension. Nonetheless, through Jesus Christianity claims humanity can see a larger part of God, the perfect Form, and gain a deeper understanding of God’s nature.