Contrast without confusion

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After quite a long hiatus, for those who are following this blog in real-time, here is the next post in the series for which I created this particular blog. Intervening posts have been off-topic.

A previous post introduced Popper's three worlds, as a technique for describing things which exist, by making distinctions between things which exist in the real world, things which exist as an individual mind, and things which have an existence of their own as it were. I will repeat here, for convenience, the paragraph of that post which gives the prescription for these distinctions.

I invite you to consider using Popper's three worlds as a way to organize your thoughts about things. Is it a real, tangible object? World one. Is it [a person, or] an idea flitting through your head? World two. Is it something that, while not tangible, has a life of its own, that people talk about or to which people pledge allegiance? World three.

Now, let's use this technique for making a few simple contrasts, hopefully without confusion.

An atheist is willing to admit that God exists as something which is not tangible, but which people talk about and to which many pledge allegiance. I have heard proponents of atheism claim that God exists only as a fictional character, or in the same way that an imaginary friend exists.

Let me introduce a notation to describe this:

[3atheism [1 [3God]]]

In that line, I am expressing my conception that atheism exists as an entity in world 3, and that one of its tenets is that, in world 1, there exists an entity in world 3, commonly referred to as "God."

A theist, on the other hand, contends that God exists in world 1 as a being. In the notation:

[3theism [1 [2God]]]

The difference between the two notations is quite subtle, but captures the contrast well, and, hopefully, without confusion.

For another example, I will turn to an experience that I had while a university professor in the 1980's. One of my students, during an office visit, allowed a brief discussion about Jesus Christ, in order to refute my claim that, as a Mormon*, I was a Christian. To conclude the discussion, he indicated that the Jesus Christ that I believe in is not the same Jesus Christ that he believes in. We agreed to disagree. I have often thought of this experience, and now attempt to diagram his position.

[3christianity [1 [2Trinity (including Jesus Christ)]]]

As a main-stream Christian, he believed that Jesus Christ was a manifestation of the Trinity while in the flesh during his lifetime as a mortal being, who after his ascension became again a part of the one God which is the consubstantial unity of three parts, comprising the incomprehensible Trinity. It is easy to understand the claim that "Mormons are not Christian" because we do not believe in this conception of Jesus Christ.

[3lds [1 [2God the Father] [2Jesus Christ] [2Holy Ghost]]]

This expresses the first of the thirteen articles of faith. As a Latter-day Saint*, I believe that Jesus Christ is one member of the Godhead, who exists as a being with a glorified body of flesh and bone. The Godhead is made up of three distinct beings who are one in purpose. It is based on our belief in the existence of Jesus Christ, as a real being, that Mormons claim** to be Christian.

As a final example, let's consider the first vision of Joseph Smith, from two different points of view.

[3atheism [1 [2Joseph Smith claimed to have seen [3God the Father] [3Jesus Christ]]]]

Atheists would not deny the existence of Joseph Smith as an individual who lived in the real world, and would likely agree that he claimed to have had a vision of two (imaginary***) beings.

[3lds [1 [2Joseph Smith] saw [2God the Father] and [2Jesus Christ]]]

As a Latter-day Saint* I testify not only that Joseph Smith existed as an individual in the real world, but that in 1820 he actually saw and talked with both God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, who are individuals who exist in the real world.

This is one way we can contrast without confusion at least portions of different belief systems using a notation based on the distinctions drawn by Popper's three worlds. Confusion is removed, because each claim that something exists clearly states in which world existence is claimed.

* In other words, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

** However, we do not claim to be an offshoot of any pre-existing (that is, established before 1820) Christian faith, neither Catholic nor Protestant, but rather a restoration of the original church established by Jesus Christ Himself during his lifetime as a mortal and during the brief period (of at least forty days--see Acts 1:3) during which he taught his disciples after his resurrection.

*** The notation is quite subtle here. Notice the closing bracket for Joseph Smith is at the far right, which puts the two beings he saw into his own head (i.e. still in world 2), rather than claiming they exist separately in world 1.

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