We Live in the Olden Days: Reflections on the Importance of Scientific and Theological Humility

Abstract: Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a unique perspective on truth: Salvation likely involves participation in complex eternal activities requiring significantly more understanding than we currently possess naturally leads us to seek truth and to seek an understanding of that truth. A lack of complete understanding of accepted scientific truth generally leads the truth-seeker to enhanced investigative and educational efforts without doubting the ultimate veracity of the conceptn. Unfortunately, an inability to fully understand some revealed truths all too often leads to rejection of that truth rather than an acceptance of one’s conceptual limitations and an enhanced effort at understanding the concept in question. Such an approach can be as disastrous as disregard of the reality of gravity. Consideration of examples of both scientific and spiritual experience may lead to a more rational reaction to truths that we do not completely comprehend.