Imagination is the act or power of
forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before
wholly perceived in reality. Religion is a
set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the
universe. Philosophy is the critical study of the basic principles and
concepts of a particular branch of knowledge, especially
with a view to improving
or reconstituting them. (Dictionary.com) In
popular culture there is not a movie, book, or religious sect that do not have
some aspect of these three concepts. In
this essay I do not want to discuss there differences (as there are many) but
rather find how each of these concepts have affected me (through there
application in popular culture) in my life and how I believe they are
intricately related.
Since I was a child
I had a huge fascination with imagination, ingenuity, and the future. Growing up I watched films like Star Wars
and Star Trek. Science fiction a
steadfast catalyst to my own imaginary characters and ideas of what the future
holds. I was always fascinated with the
concept of technology, the future, and how my faith played into that view. I found myself posting quotes from Albert
Einstein, “I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination
encircles the world.” (goodreads.com)
Excited to see what the future holds, to my delight, as technology grew,
many of the concepts I had seen on television and in science fiction movies
were being developed for real use application.
An perfect example is the iPad.
As I grew up, I developed a love for science. Taking class after class relating to
biology, astrology, and human development.
As much as I believed in the science that I was being taught many people
that shared my faith believed I was taking believes that were not of God, as my
own. In their perception I suppose they
were right but I could not help but think that science, imagination, and faith
were all on the same side somehow; that they were intricately connected in some
way. How exactly was it that religion,
philosophy, and imagination are connected?
Most people would argue that they had nothing to offer the other, that
these concepts and beliefs were polar opposites fighting for their claim of
truth.
It was not until I was watching a popular preacher
(Christian Popular Culture) named Louie Giglio that I found the answers I was
looking for. He preached a sermon
called, “Indescribable.” He describes
science and faith as being on the same path of discovery, both searching for
truth. As I watched it had a profound
affect on confirming what I had already believed.
Then a book called, “The Secret” came out. It was all about how thoughts manifest into
things. This philosophy had taken root
and further confirmed what I already believed.
In imagination, we are free of limitation, free to create something new,
and as history of civilization has proved from the creation of the wheel, to the Hubble telescope: That this philosophy was true. Thoughts (imagination) manifest into things.
With these three completely different concepts at how to
look at life, I found the answers I was looking for. And to think, it all started with Star Wars, a Sermon, and The
Secret. It is funny that the use of
popular culture has affected me is such a reflective way, but I am thankful for
it.
