Bishop Barron on Misreading Genesis

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Table of Contents

Connections and How They Are Created
Feeling Connected to God/Creation
“We Are All in the Same Boat”: Implications
Conclusion
References

A sense of belonging is part of human nature and psychological well-being. By establishing interpersonal connections, people learn more about the kind of contributions to society that their unique roles involve, and a sense of connection to concepts also maximizes self-knowledge. This paper implements the module’s readings to explore the peculiarities of connections and creating them, the implications of interconnectedness, and personal links to God and creation.

Connections and How They Are Created

The people I feel the most connected to do not belong to particular socio-economic groups, political camps, or religious movements. Instead of using these categories, I would define such people as anyone with a sincere desire to spread kindness and explore the world, which does not depend on the characteristics above. For me, this type of connection is the strongest since a group of truly similar people has virtually no barriers to communication and efforts to change the world. These connections are created through recognizing a like-minded person by means of non-verbal communication and the likeness of energy. Bishop Robert Barron (2017) compares communication between humans to various interactions at the cellular level. Similar to human cells that distinguish between other cells of the same type and potentially threatening invaders, I can feel others’ energy and understand some of them even without words.

Feeling Connected to God/Creation

I feel connected to God and the narratives of divine creation, especially when they are understood as abstract symbols of unity. Semiotics, a study of how meanings are created, conceptualizes a symbol as a meaning created by society instead of being inherently connected to the object (Occam’s Answers, 2017). Aside from their original religious meanings, God and creation could be the metaphysical symbols of unity between diverse nations. The act of creation implies that modern humans have the same origin despite seeming to be radically different. In his lecture, Bishop Robert Barron (2011) explains that Genesis, with all its logical flaws, might seem a naïve work of mythological cosmology if understood literally rather than an example of theological poetry. Instead of detailing the process of the universe’s emergence as it is, the Book of Genesis argues that diverse nations have one and the same Father (Simone, 2019). For non-religious individuals, this statement also makes sense if “God” is understood as “nature.” Overall, I definitely feel connected to what these symbols mean since overcoming division is among the central values and goals that I pursue in everyday life.

“We Are All in the Same Boat”: Implications

Realizing interconnectedness, people can become more peace-seeking and cognizant of their unique value. “The Same Boat” by Zac Brown Band (2021) argues that many interpersonal or intergroup differences that modern people stress are artificial and exaggerated. Sometimes, serious diseases urge individuals to understand the world as a giant semiotic web of interconnected meanings that reinforce each other (TED, 2008). This extension of the unity principle involves the recognition of actual and seeming differences as a form of beauty, which might probably encourage some individuals to reconsider relationships with their ideological opponents. Another implication of the principle of interconnectedness in human society is recognizing that there are no individuals whose life would be truly purposeless and unnecessary. In his thought experiment, Tom Chi illustrates that the most primitive creature’s breath contributes to the possibility of life after this organism dies (TEDx Talks, 2016). This consideration might become a reassuring discovery for those thinking that their efforts and activities change nothing. With that in mind, the principle above could be conducive to psychological health at diverse levels.

Conclusion

Finally, being wired to connect, people establish meaningful relationships with individuals and ideas. My deep connections with others are intuitive and extend the limits of formal similarities, such as fitting into the same social category, whereas the links to God are based on the symbolic meanings of creation narratives. The ideas of unity and interconnectedness should be popularized to establish healthier interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships.