BREAKING THE

CHAINS
Philosophy With Answers

Kenneth L. Searcy

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and ain de!eit" a#ter the tradition o# men" a#ter the rudiments o# the world" and not a#ter Christ$%
Colossians &'()*
K+,

The Theory Of Balance Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. Matthew 10:2 K!" This theory is #ase$ on so%ethin& an$ nothin&ness. By so%ethin&' ( %ean all %atter an$ ener&y. By nothin&ness' ( %ean a co%plete )oi$ where nothin& e*ists. ( a% &oin& to try to fin$ the relationship #etween these two. ( +now they see% to #e the opposite of each other. ,owe)er' li+e a -i&saw p.//le' to &et the si$es of two pieces to fit to&ether perfectly they ha)e to #e e*act opposites. Science co.l$ #e li+e a p.//le0 a tho.san$ theories co.l$ %a+e one theory. So%e scientists thin+ that the .ni)erse is #alance$. They #elie)e that for e)ery piece of %atter there is a piece of anti1%atter. There %ay #e another way to pro)e the .ni)erse is #alance$. Let .s .se an apple for an e*a%ple. ,ow can we pro)e that this apple is #alance$2 We can .se si%ple %ath to $o it. 3irst' we nee$ to %a+e this into an e4.ation. 5sin& science' we +now there is no other apple in the worl$ that is e*actly li+e this partic.lar apple. Altho.&h it is si%ple' it wo.l$ #e safe to say that this apple can only e4.al itself. That wo.l$ %a+e o.r e4.ation one e4.als one' which is a tr.e state%ent. 161 To see if it is #alance$ we will set the e4.ation to e4.al /ero. (n $oin& so we will nee$ to %o)e the one to the other si$e an$ %a+e it a ne&ati)e. 11160 (n or$er for .s to %athe%atically pro)e that it is #alance$' we %.st s.#tract the two si$es fro% each other. (t is still a tr.e e4.ation. 7e)ertheless' let .s contin.e #y s.#tractin& the ones. 060 This not only shows .s that the apple is #alance$ #.t it %ay also lea$ .s to another concl.sion as well. A 4.estion re%ains. What $oes it %ean when we say this apple is #alance$2 ( will atte%pt to answer this 4.estion in a %o%ent. ,owe)er' let .s first loo+ at nothin&ness. 7othin&ness is an i$ea we try to .se to e*plain why there is so%ethin& in the .ni)erse. To .n$erstan$ this i$ea' i%a&ine infinitely nothin&. Where there is no ener&y' no ti%e' an$ no %atter anywhere. There are pro#le%s with this theory. 3or instance' how can so%ethin& 8the .ni)erse9 co%e fro% nothin&2 (f only nothin&ness ha$ so%e other characteristic that we are not seein& then %ay#e we co.l$ p.t the% to&ether. The only way for these two theories to &o to&ether is if nothin&ness has a nat.re. ,owe)er' can nothin& ha)e a nat.re2 Pic+ two or %ore points in this nothin&ness an$

co%pare the%. Are they e4.al2 There sho.l$ #e nothin& in each point yo. chose. The e4.ation wo.l$ #e /ero e4.als /ero. 060 :oes this so.n$ fa%iliar2 (t is -.st li+e the e4.ation of the apple. The nat.re of nothin&ness is that it is #alance$. This -.st shows that in nothin&ness there is potential for there to #e so%ethin&. Bac+ to the 4.estion a#o.t what it %eans when we say the apple is #alance$. (t is statin& that the only way for the apple to e*ist or to co%e into e*istence is for it to #e #alance$. (n sayin& that the apple is #alance$ si%ply %eans that it e*ists. (f all %atter an$ ener&y is #alance$ then when we s.#tract it fro% itself an$ it e4.als a #alance$ nothin&ness' it is proof that it e*iste$ in the first place. This ass.res .s that whate)er the tr.th is' we +now it is real. (n science' the re$.ction strate&y is .se$ to learn what thin&s are %a$e of an$ how they wor+. Altho.&h this strate&y has #een )ery s.ccessf.l' it appears to ha)e a pro#le%. (n o.r search for +nowle$&e when we as+ a 4.estion an$ lo&ically answer it we then try to re$.ce the answer with another 4.estion an$ th.s startin& a repetiti)e chain of 4.estions that %ay ne)er #e satisfie$ with an answer. (f we as+e$ what are ato%s %a$e of2 We co.l$ re$.ce it to 4.ar+s. ,owe)er' we $o not ha)e any real proof that ato%s are %a$e of 4.ar+s. This %eans that it is -.st an i$ea. (f we accept it as a fact then we will try to re$.ce it. ($eas of co.rse are in o.r %in$s. O.r %in$s are where re$.cin& i$eas will ta+e .s #eca.se we ha)e a choice. This shows .s o.r free will. When tryin& to .n$erstan$ the o.tsi$e worl$ o.r 4.estions lea$ .s to o.r %ental sel)es. This is not a pro#le% #.t a choice. We can choose to accept it as a fact or not. (f we $o not e*cept it then all we can $o is wait for the proof we nee$ to %a+e it a soli$ theory. (f we $o e*cept it as a fact then when we re$.ce it' it will ta+e .s to o.r %in$s an$ we will #e force$ to as+ the 4.estion a&ain. The e*periences in o.r li)es rely co%pletely on o.r free will #eca.se if we $i$ not ha)e one then we wo.l$ #e li+e a tree. We nee$ to loo+ at another pro#le%. ,ow can so%ethin& co%e fro% nothin&2 When we .se the wor$ nothin& or nothin&ness we %ean that nothin& e*ist. Therefore lets .se the ter%s e*ist an$ non1e*istent. The 4.estion wo.l$ now #e how e*istence co.l$ co%e fro% non1e*istence. (f who we are is %ore or less %a$e .p of o.r e*perience' o.r %e%ory' an$ o.r free will then #efore we were concei)e$' we were non1e*istent an$ now we e*ist. (f ( ha)e a tho.&ht' $i$ it e*ist #efore ( ha$ it2 The tho.&ht was a possi#ility. Before ( ha$ it there was potential for it to e*ist. !.st li+e nothin&ness has potential for there to #e so%ethin&. Let .s say that so%ethin& $i$ so%ehow co%e into e*istence. Then nothin&ness wo.l$ no lon&er #e #alance$. (f the e4.ation of nothin&ness is /ero e4.als /ero an$ the e4.ation of so%ethin& is one e4.als one then the e4.ation of the .ni)erse as we see it is /ero e4.als one. 061

This is #eca.se it appears that this .ni)erse is %a$e .p of so%ethin& an$ nothin&. The /ero represents nothin& an$ the one represents so%ethin&' which %eans they are e*act opposites. When these two are separate' they are #alance$ #.t when we p.t the% to&ether' they see% to ha)e a har$ ti%e &ettin& alon&. When %atter co%es into e*istence there see%s to #e a nat.ral force that co%es fro% nothin&ness that wants to #alance itself o.t #y tryin& to p.ll %atter apart as if space has a )ac..% effect. 7ewton;s thir$ law states that e)ery action has an e4.al an$ opposite reaction an$ that' forces always occ.r in pairs. Therefore' the opposin& force of this )ac..% is &ra)ity. The )ac..% tries to p.ll %atter apart an$ &ra)ity tries to hol$ it to&ether creatin& #alance. So how can so%ethin& that e*ists co%e fro% a state of non1e*istence2 We ca%e into e*istence fro% non1e*istence an$ the tho.&ht ca%e into e*istence fro% non1 e*istence. Therefore' it is )ery possi#le that so%ethin& ca%e fro% nothin&. ,owe)er' ( a% not concerne$ with how #.t #y who%. What $oes all this %ean2 7ot only %.st this .ni)erse ha)e the re4.ire%ents to contain life' it %.st also ha)e the re4.ire%ents for life to ha)e a free will. What re4.ire%ents co.l$ the .ni)erse possi#ly ha)e to allow for a free will2 We can see o.r li)es as %any choices that we can freely %a+e. 7e)ertheless' #efore we choose to $o so%ethin& it is -.st a possi#ility. Possi#ilities are what this .ni)erse %.st ha)e 8what see%s to #e an infinite a%o.nt of9 in or$er for life to ha)e a free will. The .ni)erse %.st #e #alance$ at a point where there are infinite a%o.nts of possi#ilities so we can ha)e an infinite a%o.nt of choices. (t appears that this .ni)erse is perfect as far as #ein& a#le to ha)e life an$ allowin& life to ha)e a free will. 7o %atter how precisely we try to $efine it' it will always lea$ .s to a choice. (f %atter is #alance$ then it shows .s that it e*ists an$ if nothin&ness #eco%es .n#alance$ #y the e*istents of %atter then the .ni)erse is a #alancin& act of co%plete opposites. (t lea$s .s to an infinite a%o.nt of possi#ilities to choose fro% li%ite$ #y o.r willin&ness to %a+e a choice an$ o.r i%a&inations. We can loo+ aro.n$ this worl$ an$ see there are %any i$eas' theories' #eliefs' an$ reli&ions that try to e*plain how an$ why we are here. Therefore' there are %any possi#ilities that we can .se to try to e*plain the .ni)erse0 howe)er' in an honest search for the tr.th we %.st &o thro.&h the possi#ilities .ntil it is fo.n$ if there is anythin& to fin$. 7ow we %.st as+ the 4.estion is there a <o$.

G-. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John !:"#$ %J& This theory co.l$ possi#ly re)eal to .s that there is not a <o$. The si%plest answer wo.l$ #e that the .ni)erse e*ists #y its )ery nat.re. ,owe)er' we once tho.&ht that the earth was flat which was the si%plest an$ %ost o#)io.s answer. <o$ co.l$ also e*ist #y his )ery nat.re. With o.t the #i#le we wo.l$ not +now anythin& a#o.t hi%. Therefore' we %.st see if the #i#le can pro)e to .s that he e*ists. (n or$er for .s to +eep o.r search honest' we %.st &i)e <o$ a chance to pro)e hi%self to .s. What co.l$ pro)e that there is a <o$ or not2 (t see%s that physical e)i$ence co.l$ &o #oth ways. We cannot .se personal testi%ony #eca.se chances are that no %atter what yo. #elie)e' yo. are 8e)en as yo. are rea$in& this9 tryin& to fin$ reasons why yo.r #eliefs are ri&ht. The #i#le says this in Pro)er#s 812:1=9. >The way of a fool is ri&ht in his own eyes: #.t he that hear+eneth .nto co.nsel is wise.? (t appears that no %atter how %.ch lo&ic we .se so%eone co.l$ always $eny it. Therefore' it %.st #e that we ha)e the free will to choose o.r #eliefs as in$i)i$.als' #ase$ on o.r own reasonin&' +nowle$&e' an$ o.r own .n$erstan$in&. (t %ay not %atter what yo. #elie)e to #e the tr.th #eca.se e)ery #elief is ta+en on faith. This is lea$in& #ac+ to the fact that all thin&s are possi#le. The #i#le shows this in Matthew 81@:2 9. >B.t !es.s #ehel$ the%' an$ sai$ .nto the%' with %en this is i%possi#le0 #.t with <o$ all thin&s are possi#le.? (n philosophy' we cannot 4.ite fi&.re o.t who we are. When as+e$ who ( a% ( co.l$ say %y na%e. ,owe)er' a na%e is -.st a title. (t is a way for .s to classify an$ reco&ni/e each other. (t $oes not really re)eal who ( a%. ( co.l$ &i)e characteristics a#o.t %yself' #.t it co.l$ ta+e a lifeti%e to &et to +now who ( a%. A)en that %ay fall short #eca.se yo. $o not +now %y tho.&hts. (f <o$ is a li)in& <o$ an$ we are in his i%a&e' then he sho.l$ ha)e a si%ilar pro#le%. The #i#le &i)es what see%s to #e a perfect reflection of this in A*o$.s 8B:1B11C9. >An$ Moses sai$ .nto <o$' Behol$' when ( co%e .nto the chil$ren of (srael' an$ shall say .nto the%' The <o$ of yo.r fathers hath sent %e .nto yo.0 an$ they shall say to %e' What is his na%e2 what shall ( say .nto the%2 An$ <o$ sai$ .nto Moses' ( a% that ( a%: an$ he sai$' Th.s shalt tho. say .nto the chil$ren of (srael' ( a% hath sent %e .nto yo..? (f <o$ is or if he is li+e a father to .s then how he interacts with .s %.st chan&e as o.r +nowle$&e an$ .n$erstan$in& increases. At one ti%e <o$ %.st ha)e treate$ .s li+e a +i$. <o$ &a)e A$a% an$ A)e only one r.le. ,e tol$ the% not to eat fro% the tree of the +nowle$&e of &oo$ an$ e)il. Why wo.l$ <o$ only &i)e .s one r.le2 Do.l$ he ha)e +nown that we $i$ not ha)e %.ch wis$o% or .n$erstan$in&2 (n a$$ition' <o$ #ein& &oo$ ri&htf.lly chose not to worry %.ch a#o.t what wo.l$ happen if his chil$ren $iso#eye$ hi%. ( a% s.re %ost parents ha)e learne$ that yo. can tell yo.r +i$s not to $o $r.&s an$ e)en tell the% that they will s.rly $ie if they $o' #.t so%e of .s -.st ha)e to learn for o.rsel)es. <o$ sent Moses to &i)e .s %ore laws an$ co%%an$%ents. Why wo.l$ <o$ the father &i)e .s %ore r.les2 May#e he lo)es his +i$s. Whether they .n$erstan$ the% or not

laws will help +eep the% fro% h.rtin& the%sel)es an$ others. ( a% s.re little +i$s wo.l$ not tr.ly .n$erstan$ why they sho.l$ not r.n into the roa$. Parents; stress this r.le an$ they will $iscipline there +i$s if they $o r.n into the roa$ e)en if they $o not &et h.rt. Ki$s wo.l$ then +now not to #eca.se they will &et a span+in& an$ hopef.lly they will in ti%e .n$erstan$ that they $i$ it in lo)e so they wo.l$ not' in there i&norance &et h.rt. One pro#le% we are face$ with is who the %essiah is. The !ewish people #elie)e that he has not yet co%e. The Dhristians #elie)e that !es.s is the Dhrist. The !ews $o not #elie)e that !es.s is Dhrist #eca.se they $o not thin+ that he #ro.&ht peace an$ he was not a +in&. (t appears that since there are people who call hi% there +in&' that he is a +in& to those who #elie)e in hi%. What co.l$ #rin& peace to an e)il worl$2 The people %.st recei)e peace %entally or spirit.ally in or$er for it to #e )isi#le in the worl$. We %.st ha)e inner peace #efore o.r actions co.l$ %a+e the worl$ a #etter place. !es.s spea+s of this in the <ospel of !ohn. 81C:2E9 >Peace ( lea)e with yo.' %y peace ( &i)e .nto yo.: not as the worl$ &i)eth' &i)e ( .nto yo.. Let not yo.r heart #e tro.#le$' neither let it #e afrai$.? 81 :BB9 >These thin&s ( ha)e spo+en .nto yo.' that in %e ye %i&ht ha)e Peace. (n the worl$ ye shall ha)e tri#.lation: #.t #e of &oo$ cheer0 ( ha)e o)erco%e the worl$.? Why wo.l$ <o$ the father sen$ !es.s2 A father wo.l$ not only teach his chil$ren to #e ri&hteo.s. ,e wo.l$ also set an e*a%ple. !es.s was a%on& other thin&s a prophet. ,e spo+e of this in the <ospel of !ohn 812:CC1=09. >!es.s crie$ an$ sai$' ,e that #elie)eth on %e' #elie)eth not on %e' #.t on hi% that sent %e. An$ he that seeth %e seeth hi% that sent %e. ( a% co%e a li&ht into the worl$' that whosoe)er #elie)eth on %e sho.l$ not a#i$e in $ar+ness. An$ if any %an hear %y wor$s' an$ #elie)e not' ( -.$&e hi% not: for ( ca%e not to -.$&e the worl$' #.t to sa)e the worl$. ,e that re-ecteth %e' an$ recei)eth not %y wor$s' hath one that -.$&eth hi%: the wor$ that ( ha)e spo+en' the sa%e shall -.$&e hi% in the last $ay. 3or ( ha)e not spo+en of %yself0 #.t the 3ather which sent %e' he &a)e %e a co%%an$%ent' what ( sho.l$ say' an$ what ( sho.l$ spea+. An$ ( +now that his co%%an$%ent is life e)erlastin&: whatsoe)er ( spea+ therefore' e)en as the 3ather sai$ .nto %e' so ( spea+.? Therefore' !es.s #eca%e <o$;s wor$ #y sayin& e*actly what <o$ wante$ hi% to say. (n $oin& this' he #eca%e the e*a%ple. !es.s showe$ .s what it is li+e to &i)e .p yo.r own will an$ to ali&n e)ery aspect of o.r life to $o <o$s will. ,e showe$ .s a %at.rity a#o.t <o$;s laws. The laws help shape an$ for% .s into #ein& %at.re. (ts #ein& in co%plete control o)er o.r actions as well as o.r tho.&hts. 7ot lettin& any nat.ral l.st of the flesh to control .s. Why wo.l$ <o$ the father create .s2 Do.l$ it #e lo)e2 When a chil$ is #orn parents witho.t lo)e wo.l$ $efinitely lea)e the chil$ to $ie. (t is %ore of a #.r$en to ta+e care of a chil$ than to a#an$on it. Therefore it %.st #e lo)e that ca.ses parents to ta+e care of there chil$ren. The #i#le re)eals what <o$ wants fro% .s in !oel 82:1211B9. >Therefore also now' saith the lor$' t.rn ye e)en to %e with all yo.r heart' an$ with fastin&' an$ with weepin&' an$ with %o.rnin&: An$ ren$ yo.r heart' an$ not yo.r

&ar%ents' an$ t.rn .nto the lor$ yo.r <o$: for he is &racio.s an$ %ercif.l' slow to an&er' an$ of &reat +in$ness' an$ repenteth hi% of the e)il.? (t co.l$ %elt a heart to .n$erstan$ that all the pain that we ha)e s.ffere$ an$ all that we ha)e afflicte$ since o.r #e&innin& is #eca.se of o.r i&norance. <ettin& .s to reali/e that !es.s s.ffere$ an$ $ie$ for .s is a &oo$ way for <o$ to &et o.r hearts. (t wo.l$ also help .s to .n$erstan$ <o$s &reat %ercy. (t is thro.&h i&norance that we pass o.r pro#le%s on to o.r chil$ren #.t it is lo)e that hol$s .s to&ether. 1 !ohn 8C:1 1219 >An$ we ha)e +nown an$ #elie)e$ the lo)e that <o$ hath to .s. <o$ is lo)e0 an$ he that $welleth in lo)e $welleth in <o$' an$ <o$ in hi%. ,erein is o.r lo)e %a$e perfect' that we %ay ha)e #ol$ness in the $ay of -.$&%ent: #eca.se as he is' so are we in this worl$. There is no fear in lo)e0 #.t perfect lo)e casteth o.t fear: #eca.se fear hath tor%ent. ,e that feareth is not %a$e perfect in lo)e. We lo)e hi%' #eca.se he first lo)e$ .s. (f a %an say' ( lo)e <o$' an$ hateth his #rother' he is a liar: for he that lo)eth not his #rother who% he hath seen' how can he lo)e <o$ who% he hath not seen2 An$ this co%%an$%ent ha)e we fro% hi%' That he who lo)eth <o$ lo)e his #rother also.? Do.l$ it #e #eca.se of lo)e that we were create$2 Do.l$ he ha)e &i)en .s co%%an$%ents an$ laws o.t of lo)e2 :i$ he re)eal his lo)e thro.&h !es.s2 Then wo.l$ it #e lo)e that #ro+e the chains2

Con!lusion 'ut (od hath chosen the foolish things of the world to )onfound the wise; and (od hath chosen the weak things of the world to )onfound the things which are mighty; * )orinthians *:#+$ %J& (t appears that there %ay #e no way o.t of this %ental #attle. O$$ly eno.&h at the point of #alance' reason #eco%es .nreasona#le. (t can help yo. &ather infor%ation #.t %a+in& the choice is .p to yo.. Feason is at the %ercy of +nowle$&e. (f there is any infor%ation that we are %issin& then reason $oes not help o.r search for the tr.th #.t it will h.rt it. We %ay ne)er +now if there is so%e hi$$en infor%ation that wo.l$ chan&e o.r %in$s. Feason is a )ery .sef.l tool' si%ilar to a ha%%er. We can #.il$ a ho.se with a ha%%er. ,owe)er' we cannot li)e in the ha%%er. We ha)e #een increasin& in +nowle$&e for tho.san$s of years searchin& for the .lti%ate answer. When the .lti%ate answer is whate)er yo. freely choose it to #e. ( %.st a$$ that when we p.t o.r $esires asi$e an$ we honestly search for the tr.th then we can fin$ a way o.t. The way o.t of this pit is to choose. We %.st reali/e that <o$ is o.r father' an$ then yo. nee$ to +now that yo. ha)e #ro+en his r.les an$ are in nee$ of his %ercy. Only #y acceptin& the sacrifice of !es.s Dhrist an$ h.%#lin& yo.rself #efore hi% can yo. recei)e <o$;s %ercy. Beca.se we %.st .n$erstan$ that' it ta+es sacrifices in o.r li)es to con4.er that what see%s to co%e nat.ral so we can ha)e co%plete control o)er o.r actions an$ o.r tho.&hts. ,ow is it possi#le for the son of <o$ to #e ali)e2 Will the s.n not &i)e its li&ht to $ar+ness2 Will it not e)en &i)e its li&ht to the all1cons.%in& #lac+ hole2 (f the s.n $ies for whate)er reason then how can it li)e on2 Do.l$ it li)e on thro.&h the li&ht that it &i)es .nto $ar+ness2 3ro% the point of )iew fro% the o.ter e$&e of the .ni)erse' will the s.n not appear as it were new altho.&h it has passe$ away2 The son %ay ha)e #een swallowe$ #y $eath0 howe)er' he is ali)e thro.&h what he has &i)en. ,e &a)e his life e)en .nto $eath so that we %ay li)eG

- praise the /-R." all ye nations( praise him" all ye people$ 0or his mer!i#ul 1indness is great toward us( and the truth o# the /-R. endureth #or e er$ 2raise ye the /-R.$%
2salms 334 K+,