Those who wish to succeed must ask the right preliminary questions.
— Aristotle
Those who wish to succeed must ask the right preliminary questions.
— Aristotle
There are few things in the world more powerful or useful than asking a good question. Without asking good questions we can't identify our problems. Where we don't notice our problems, we certainly can't solve them.
Today we find ourselves in a fiercely divided human world. Whether we prefer to approach the problem of humanity from a framework of science, religion, philosophy, or fierce individuality and emotion—most of us find it difficult to have our assumptions challenged and rejected by others. What's even more difficult (and just as necessary) is finding the honesty and courage to challenge our own assumptions and reject them if they're proven false. Of course, without asking good questions this project is impossible.
Consider this carefully. What makes you right when others are wrong? What justifies "your truth"? Today's pop-philosophers say: "Don't worry about it, everybody can be right?" Well, what if I disagree with that? What if I disagree with you? Am I "right"? How does that work in a logical world? We live in one—don't we?
Others may say: "I'm right because "So-and-So" was right." Or, "I'm right because my favorite book says so." But why are they right when so many others make different truth-claims based on competing books and sages? Are all books equally "true"?
What does the word "true" mean? How do we measure the merits of a "just-so" claim? How do we test the reality of a "brute-fact" when it's unique to one particular worldview? Most importantly, if I really am wrong about something important, is it possible for me to recognize it and change my mind? In short, can the truth be tested? And if it can, should it be?
Notice that I have revealed several absurdities and brought some troubling problems into focus simply by asking the "begged-questions." The project of western philosophy was sparked in the late 5th century B.C. by a guy called Socrates. He turned asking begged questions into an art form and used it to reveal many unwarranted assumptions infecting the Greek thinking of his day. Socrates was pretty good at this, and many of his contemporaries became frustrated by his questions and wanted him silenced—so they came up with an excuse to "cancel" him. Socrates was tried and convicted of blaspheming the gods and corrupting the youth of Athens. He was executed for these "crimes" in 399 B.C.
It was too late. The fire was well and truly lit. Plato, Aristotle, and many others began trying to answer as many of Socrates' questions as they could. Of course, each question they examined revealed a bunch of new questions to work on, and the western love of wisdom (philosophy) grew out of Socrates' spark—a good-question.
Still, the Greeks didn't invent the love of wisdom. They're just one culture who discovered it and recorded parts of their journey. Many cultures throughout history have ignited similar beacons from a common Spirit of inquiry. This shouldn't surprise us if we all come from an ultimate Lover of Wisdom who wants to know us—and be known by us.
A long time ago, this Great-Philosopher taught wisdom to a man called Job. How? He confronted Job with his begged-questions and showed him the unwarranted assumptions infecting his thinking. Contrary to popular opinion, this isn't Socrates' Method. It's God's method. See Genesis 3:9-13; Genesis 4:6-9; Job 38-42; Isaiah 1:1-20; and 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22 among others.
Christianity is a theistic worldview built on the radical idea that God, our Great-Philosopher, was born of a virgin in a barn in Roman Judea roughly 2,000 years ago. He lived a Perfect Human life for the sake of all humanity only to be "cancelled" and killed by those He had come to save.
Why? That's a huge topic, and there's certainly more on it to come. But in the eyes of His contemporaries, He had blasphemed God and the Roman Emperor, and He had corrupted the youth of Judea. Like Socrates, Jesus of Nazareth was killed to prevent Him from asking thorny questions that challenged the unwarranted assumptions infecting the Jewish and Roman thinking of His day.
Of course, the strategy backfired—again! Killing Jesus ended up begging the biggest questions of all! Why isn't He in Joseph of Arimathea's tomb anymore? How did hundreds of His followers see Him alive after He was killed? Why did His sworn enemy become His greatest champion? Is He really risen from the dead? How can that be true in a logical and scientific world?
Who is Jesus of Nazareth? Might He be exactly who He says He is? Is He God after all?
Jesus asks each of us an ultimate preliminary question: "Who do you say I Am?" (Matthew 16:15) Facing His question honestly, finding out it's true-answer, and sharing it with anyone willing to take a serious look is the mission of Preliminary Questions.
Why? Because finding the right answer to Jesus' question will impact the right answer to every other question we'll ever ask. Is Jesus who He claims to be or not? The nature of the whole universe hangs on the right answer. Your nature hangs on it too.
So, how do we test the truth about Jesus? First, by finding the courage to honestly challenge our assumptions, whatever they might be. Second, by identifying and rejecting whatever cannot be true. And finally, by taking a well informed "step of faith" in the direction best supported by right-reason, sound-evidence, sensible-attraction, and meaningful-revelation. The journey begins by asking good questions.
I hope you find the arguments and evidence given here compelling. If you don't, please continue to bravely and honestly question your assumptions. Be responsible for finding "better" answers to the questions I've asked. Don't leave them begged. Ask them boldly, and do your level-best to find the real answers. If you're honest, I'm confident that the Truth will win out. My fervent hope is that more and more of us would find the courage to seek the Truth for its own sake.
Socrates said: "The unexamined life is not worth living." Today, I dare you to examine yours.
Welcome to Preliminary Questions.
— JMH
Socrates 470-399 BC