A dachshund and a dolphin are thought to be more closely related than a dachshund and an iguana. Why is that? Because we have constructed a convention of similarities. However, if we look from a slightly different perspective, we could find just as many points in common between a dachshund and an iguana as between a dachshund and a dolphin. But we think some points in common are more important than others. Why do we think that? After all a dachshund and a dolphin are no more likely to have puppies together than a dachshund and an iguana. Why do we think, for example, that skin covering (i.e. hair vs feathers) is more significant than number of legs (Aristotle’s scheme)?
The reason we believe some points in common are more important than others is wholly made up, and even though we call the points ‘natural relationship’ they are simply imaginary. We have put together an entire system of relationships between living things that is fabricated entirely out of our imaginations. We have even gone so far as to develop words and expressions in our language to describe that imaginary construction. We use words like mammal, reptile, bird and amphibian and have come to believe they have meaning they don’t actually have. In fact, university courses are built and taught around such imaginary constructions. They give names to such studies – names like taxonomy. University degrees are awarded in the field of taxonomy.
The study of taxonomy seeks to divine relationships between living creatures using certain rules. Names are given to creatures based on those relationships (usually the names are in Latin). There are stories of taxonomists nearly coming to blows over naming disagreements. But, such classifying and naming is good. It helps us maintain order in our minds when we can find order in the things around us. In the Bible we find God helping the very first human being find order in the world around him by bringing the animals to him and giving him the opportunity to name them. (See Genesis 2:19).
While maintaining order and identifying things is good, we must keep in mind that such constructions are artificial. Great care must be taken when we set about building other constructions on top of them. We must keep in mind that there will be problems when we build on weak foundations.
The taxonomic scheme – the classifying and naming of animals – is just such a weak foundation. And yet we have attempted to build the structure of evolution on it – itself a weak construction. On such weaknesses our culture is attempting to build disciplines of study and the education of our people.
Sooner or later people will suffer from the fragile nature of such synthetic ideas. Suffering which is needless, because in the case of the relationship of animals the truth is available. (See Genesis 1:20-28.)
Each of us is a unique spiritual being. We are born individually, die individually and stand before God every moment of our lives as an individual. No matter how large a group we are in, our relationship with God is one on one. Therefore our worship and each of our styles of worship must be accordingly unique. That concept is developed and expanded in the book “Worshiping Alone” available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Booklocker. If you haven’t read it, please consider doing so.
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God Everyday 