December 14, 2008

Ockham's Razor

Since I shaved this morning for the first time since Thursday morning, it seemed like a good time to talk a little bit about Ockham's Razor and how it works in my life.

It is a very interesting way to face life. Strip away the unnecessary and get to the answer that is simplest. I know I am butchering the definition (AndyC's cleaver) somewhat, but it is an elegant approach to employ Ockham's Razor in viewing life's questions.

For me it works in this way. The simplest way to explain the world is with an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God. The simplest way to explain how such a God would want to love me is through grace and mercy. The simplest way to manifest that in the world is Jesus Christ.

I can explain my brokenness, my redemption, my willingness to try to be obedient to God's Word even knowing I will fail by the fact of Jesus Christ. Plain and simple. Eternity does not work for me, I do not fit into eternity given my failings without the atoning, substitutionary death of my Lord and Savior upon the Cross. Cut away all the rest and you come down to Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. Basic Gospel in simplest terms. Seems right to talk about on the Lord's day.

This may not be what William of Ockham had in mind but it works for me. And since it is my blog, that is how it goes this time around.

4 comments:

Rick Dawson said...

I believe the correct spelling is Occam's Razor...

Ancoti said...

There is an alternate spelling. Occam's or Ockham's is acceptable.

Rick Dawson said...

You are correct, sir :) - I'd never seen it other than Occam's until after I'd made my comment and followed your link.

Mea culpa...mea maxima culpa :)

Ancoti said...

I probably picked the spelling because it is the less frequently used. My road is narrow and often less traveled.