The Subjectivity/Objectivity Problem

For those who are honestly seeking answers regarding God’s existence, or His activity in the world, it can be a challenge because faith and belief are viewed as subjective and biased. These well-intending people turn to social media, politics, academics, or science searching for sources which are thought to be more objective and value-free.

The idea that there even exists subjective and objective “realities” comes from the philosopher Rene Descartes who made famous the idea of dualism, which is a view of the world that sees a physical world, and a spiritual world, separate but interacting. Thus, we have a spirit, and a body. Psychology embraces dualism as the mind (e.g. psyche) and the body. Additionally, what happens “inside,” such as emotions, values, and beliefs are viewed as subjective, while what happens “outside” a person’s experience is viewed as the objective, value-free reality.

Consequently, because science is the worldview that believes only things that are observable in the natural world are important, it is viewed as the neutral, objective, value-free way to discover truth. On the other hand, faith and religion is the worldview that believes God is deeply involved in the world. Because people of faith don’t separate the natural from the supernatural, they are viewed as subjective and biased.

Both of these worldviews are in actuality a set of beliefs about the world. The main difference is that those who believe in God are up front about their beliefs, whereas people who believe only in science pretend they don’t have values, but rather that they are simply neutral bystanders. However, the idea that “we should be value and bias-free” is itself a value. It is a value against values, or a prejudice against prejudice!

Here are a few examples of science’s non-observable and non-empirical beliefs about the world:

-          Only observable, “natural,” things matter

-          All answers can be attained without God

-          That there is a natural order to the world (e.g. natural laws)

-          All things and all people are governed and determined by these laws

These are only a few of the beliefs and values of science. However, that is just what these are, beliefs. In all reality, these beliefs and values are just as biased as religion's. They are a lens for seeing and experiencing the world. However, no person has a neutral perspective of the world, not even scientists.

My invitation is to be open to knowledge in all forms, including science! I’m not discarding science; rather, I’m inviting people to be open to their own biases and opinions. Furthermore, as Latter-Day Saints, we are encouraged to search for truth wherever it can be found. To share a few quotes from recent apostles: 

“Whether truth comes from a scientific laboratory or by revelation from God, we seek it!” (Russell Nelson, General Conference, October 2012).

“ “Mormonism,” so-called, embraces every principle pertaining to life and salvation, for time and eternity. No matter who has it. If the infidel has got truth it belongs to “Mormonism.” The truth and sound doctrine possessed by the sectarian world, and they have a great deal, all being to this Church. As for their morality, many of them are, morally, just as good as we are. All that is good, lovely, and praiseworthy belongs to this Church and Kingdom. “Mormonism” includes all truth. There is no truth but what belongs to the Gospel” (Discourses of Brigham Young, 3).

To be an honest seeker of truth requires openness and humility of our own misunderstandings. For understanding and knowledge to progress, we must own up to the fact that we don’t know everything. We all have values and opinions that guide our thinking, and that is totally fine! Truth is truth wherever it is found, no one has a monopoly. Additionally, God will not hold back truth from anyone who seeks it sincerely, “Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7: 7).

I know God lives; I have experienced him just as I have experienced the wind blowing although I have never seen wind. I see God’s effects and feel His influence daily in varying degrees. All truth comes from Him, because He is, “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14: 6).

Many of these ideas have been taught to me by Dr. Brent Slife and Dr. Jeffrey Reber. For more information, look into their research.