The peculiarity of the research subject makes a differentiation necessary

 

First of all, the reconstruction of the Catholic worldview brings to light a number of findings:

• The worldview emerged and changed over a longer period of time, so that it looks different in retrospect than when looking at a certain point in time.

• In parts it reflects the knowledge of the time - example: astronomy - which has been replaced by scientific knowledge.

• Other parts reveal a deliberate manipulation of natural phenomena that had to be corrected by science. In botanical literature, the passion flower is no longer represented with a crown of thorns, cross nails and the tip of a lance. The Bible-related naming has remained, and is by no means an isolated case, as evidenced by names such as Christmas rose, Blood drops of Christ, Christ's crown, Marys onion, St. Johns plant, Mary's tears, God's eye, and almost a hundred other plant names.

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     Jean Franeau, Jardin d'hyver ou cabinet des fleurs, Douai 1616.

• Other manipulating interventions, such as the musical intervals, have remained uncorrected: Hence the mathematical disaster that an octave consists of 5 whole tone and 2 semitone steps and that a counting leads over the "small two" (minor second) and "big three" ( major third).

• Two variants can also be distinguished with regard to the biblical reference: The unchanged adoption of concrete contents - e.g. the creation story - and the change of biblical contents in adaptation to the worldview, e.g. the limitation of the number of beatitudes to 8, the increase of the gifts of the Holy Spirit from 6 on 7, the restriction on the representation to five wounds.

• In addition, we find dogmas that have no biblical reference at all, such as the Trinity.

• The dissemination and defense of the worldview also took various forms in history: crusades, inquisition, index, ignorance, charity, mission, teaching.

 

The Catholic worldview today

The Catholic worldview is reflected in numerous objects of art, which as historical documents can be subjected to a cultural-scientific examination.

Nevertheless, numerous works of art are currently in use, as services continue to take place in cathedrals. In the liturgical rite, too, numerous elements of the worldview are handed down and there is a mixture with beliefs, which as such elude scientific analysis and are therefore not at all discussed here. Wherever there is pure spirituality, music and art studies have no starting point anyway.

The knowledge of the worldview is also incomplete in church circles - for example, the rediscovery of the Christian symbolism of the occidental sound system was rejected as a scientific theory by the Pontificio Consiglio della Cultura in 2015, only to single out a research result of the author as a doctrine of faith: "Musica sacra, scala verso Dio " (see blog B27).

 

An attempt to make an assessment

The underlying intention is unmistakable to make the existence of a creator of all things seem at least plausible and to increase the number of allegorical connecting elements that support the thesis.

Comparing the Jacob’s ladder with the scale is such a simile, whereas a physicist would have to admit that there are no high and low tones, but only slower and faster vibrations. So you can't move up with tones.

It is in the nature of the parables that they appear causally or in the mere word meaningless, because they are linguistic images - and these, too, consist only of paint and canvas, whatever they represent. To recognize something on them means to be satisfied with a foreshortening, with an implied resemblance. In the case of religion, this suggestion brings the goal of longing felt closer, because it intensifies it to the point of ecstatic rapture. Symbols also allow a kind of inner foresight and trace illusionistically. This is what makes the role of the arts so important.

Many people have contributed to the painting of the world view, be it by creating altars, designing soundboard roses, which allude to the Trinity with the 3 in 1 or by giving the passion flower its name because it evoked associations with the instruments of suffering. It goes without saying that the early Christians had no knowledge of this as the plant only came to Europe with the discovery of the New World. The mathematician and chaplain John Wallis (* 1616- † 1703) made his own contribution with the introduction of the reclining eight as a symbol of infinity.

Generally speaking, it can be stated that humans have a predictive perception mechanism that made an important contribution to survival in evolution, because fleeing early was always more sensible than first asking about causalities. The experiences were passed on as good and bad omen, linguistically illustrated and linked like magical cause and effect relationships. As a rule, however, they are not causally linked, although black cats can also cause accidents.

Symbols and signs can be triggers for fear as well as for well-being, but memories can only evoke where their meaning has been learned beforehand - if not drummed into it - usually in early childhood. The regular repetition of cult acts is therefore a characteristic element of religions. A stranger stands unsuspecting and may interpret on his part in the diametrically opposite direction and consider the ringing of bells on Sundays to be a warning signal.

However the nature of the psychological bracket is that has become identity as such - it becomes the decision-maker alongside reason when it comes to classifying a situation - here: the existence of God - as truth. Hence the worldview contains numerous testimonies of simple piety. For believers, it represents a place of well-being that as such does not need any proof.

On the other hand, there is an attitude that can be read from the way in which the world view is defended and that is often diametrically opposed to the doctrinal opinion - be it the 5th commandment: You shalt not kill! or to the gifts of the Holy Spirit: love of one's enemies and wisdom. Here the worldview is misused as an instrument of power to select for obedience and disobedience.

Even though its construction is so simple, the durability of the worldview is amazing. It develops a regenerative power in every new generation, because it encounters related psychological properties. This makes it possible at all, within the scope of research, to empathize with an earlier mode of perception - and it follows from this that the Enlightenment cannot be considered complete either, but also requires an update with each generation. In democracies in particular, it is essential that the formation of opinions takes place without being influenced and that all interrelationships have been disclosed. This always includes uncovering tendentious representations and questioning who is benefiting in which way.

The human drama shows itself in all epochs in the clash of worldviews and claims to power and culminates in the potential of self-extermination.

The theory of harmony in the ethical sense, on the other hand, is not a pious wish. Quite a few people are able to practice them regardless of their level of education and to build intercultural bridges. Such dispositions keep on course, which would have gotten out of hand without them. They pursue individual goals and have their own definition of success, completely independent of the mainstream. In their eyes, for example, the arms race is nothing bot a waste of resources. Wise people can be found in all cultures.

While strategic thinking and acting only ensure local and time-limited advantages, synergetic thinking and acting lead to sustainable results that are also balanced in relation to nature. Consideration is not a foreign word to the wise person and he also listens to the voice of a weak counterpart.

© Aurelius Belz 2021