2011-07-08 Rationalization

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in IAUA (ee-ah-oo-ah) our Father,
Greetings on this day of preparation for the weekly Sabbath. I pray this newsletter finds you in good health and happy in the service of IAUA. This is the 6^th day of the 4^th month of God's Sacred Calendar in the estimated year 6014 Anno Mundi.
The yearly Fall Sabbaths begin in 11 weeks and 6 days starting with Trumpets Sabbath the evening of the 1^st day of the 7^th month (Thursday, September 29^th on the 2011 Gregorian Calendar, beginning sunset on Wednesday, September 28^th).
An amazing thing occurs in the Gregorian Calendar years of both 2011 and 2012. Those who follow the Millerite Calendar and the Jewish Calendar agree with what my research, and many others, has determined for the Gregorian Calendar dates of God's Sacred Calendar!
_____

God is a reasonable, rational being. God is the definition of reasonable and rational. God created us to be reasonable and rational beings. God created us with the capacity and the thirst to learn, to grow, and increase in knowledge. God said:
³ And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
Exodus 31:3
He said this about a specific person for a specific purpose but I believe it is absolutely appropriate to apply this to all God's created beings for all purposes. Consider:
⁶ And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;
Exodus 31:6
Note: "In the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom." Those who are wise hearted are those who follow and obey God. Therefore, I believe we can extrapolate from verse 3: "I have filled all who follow and obey Me with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship".
There are some who look on the pursuit of knowledge as somehow dangerous and evil. They seem suspicious of the desire to grow in Biblical knowledge. I hesitate to suggest, they are afraid of what they will learn. The Bible repeatedly speaks of the value of growth in knowledge and often associates it with the grace of God. There are some who look down on the related ideas of reason and rationalization. Satan has indeed corrupted the pure purpose of these concepts but God is still in charge and the true pursuit of these ideals is a holy thing.
I have always been fascinated by Isaiah 1:18 and have studied its meaning deeply. This verse is set in a plea by God for us to turn from evil and obey His guidance
¹⁶ Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes, cease to do evil;
¹⁷ Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
¹⁸ Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
¹⁹ If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land;
²⁰ But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken.
Isaiah 1:16-20
The idea of a God who is willing to reason or discuss with us is very appealing. Many portray God as being unreasonable. The French Revolution was said to introduce the Age of Reason and rejected religion. This did not turn out well. Men of science claim to be rational beings yet many reject a rational God. Satan seeks to portray God as unreasonable. Many fall prey to Satan's deceptions.
The word "rationalization", is slowly losing its principal 19th century meaning “to make conformable to reason” and “to treat in a rational manner”. In the 20th and 21st centuries, modern psychology has given it the now more common meaning “to ascribe (one's acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that seem reasonable but actually are unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious causes.”
There are two different types of rationalization. The healthy older meaning is to use reason to seek an understanding or explanation. Many reject this application to religion but I believe Isaiah 1:18 and other texts show God as very reasonable.
The unhealthy newer meaning is to seek excuses and justification for our actions, which we don't want to change. Some apply this method to their choice of religious beliefs.
I believe it is valuable to review and meditate on some dictionary definitions. The closest related word from Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary of American English and some other related words.

Ratiocination (noun)
The act or process of reasoning, or of deducing consequences from premises. [See Reasoning.]
Rational (adjective)
1. Having reason or the faculty of reasoning; endowed with reason; opposed to irrational; as, man is a rational being; brutes are not rational animals.
"It is our glory and happiness to have a rational nature."
2. Agreeable to reason; opposed to absurd; as a rational conclusion or inference; rational conduct.
3. Agreeable to reason; not extravagant.
4. Acting in conformity to reason; wise; judicious; as a rational man.
Rational (noun)
A rational being.
Rationale (noun)
1. A detail with reasons; a series of reasons assigned; as Dr. Sparrow's rationale of the Common Prayer.
2. An account or solution of the principles of some opinion, action, hypothesis, phenomenon, &c.
Rationality (noun)
1. The power of reasoning.
"God has made rationality the common portion of mankind."
2. Reasonableness.
"Well directed intentions, whose rationalities will not bear a rigid examination."

A portion of a modern dictionary where the old definition is relegated to a lower place and a new meaning is the first definition:

rationalization (verb)
1. to ascribe (one's acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that superficially seem reasonable and valid but that actually are unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious and often less creditable or agreeable causes.
2. to remove unreasonable elements from.
3. to make rational or conformable to reason.
rationalize (verb)
1. to justify (one's actions, esp discreditable actions, or beliefs) with plausible reasons, esp after the event
2. (psychology) to indulge, often unchallenged, in excuses for or explanations of (behaviour about which one feels uncomfortable or guilty)
3. to apply logic or reason to (something)
rationalize (noun)
1. (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your true motivation is concealed by explaining your actions and feelings in a way that is not threatening [syn: rationalization]
2. the cognitive process of making something seem consistent with or based on reason [syn: rationalization]

Are your decisions and beliefs based on reason or excuses?
I pray we may all continue to seek love, peace, and unity in truth preparing for the soon coming of Iaushua (ee-ah-oo-shoo-oh) Messiah, the Son of God.
Frank T. Clark
Eliau@IAUA.name
www.IAUA.name
Next: 2011-07-22 Changes

Revised 2011-07-22