Believe It – Sherlock Holmes and the Case for Reason

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55:8-9)

I’ve been blessed this year to have been to the cinema twice.  The first time was the last time I expect to be going to a cinema in Stoke-on-Trent.  It was roughly two weeks ago and I managed to watch the new Sherlock Holmes film.  Now a good question right here, is why am I mentioning this here rather than at the other place?  Good question.  The answer will be forthcoming as you walk with me.

So Sherlock Holmes, the blockbuster that reinforced the resurrection of Robert Downey Jr.  As a piece of escapist entertainment to alleviate the troubles of those who go to their cinema not to be bamboozled with deep issues of life, it works as a good romp.  I’m aware that some have been critical of it’s faithfulness to the ethos of Doyle’s creation especially in comparison to other famous portrayals of the great detective.  Not being a Sherlock Holmes expert myself, I had no problems with Downey Jr.’s characterisation and he brilliantly utilised the vehicle to showcase the breadth of his ability.  Here he showed how he could be deceptively deeper than first appearances may suggest and with a frailty and aspects of flaws in his Homes that can make him endearing.

What intrigued me about the film though, beyond it’s entertainment value was the implicit glorification of the power of reason over that of witchcraft, superstition and any other comparative source for truth and facts.  There seemed to be an unerring desire to tie all the loose ends by that great power of deduction and investigation.  All things explained by reason and what cannot be explained today will eventually be uncovered.  Today that same dependence on the faculties of man to give us the answer underpins the quests for everything from cures of all known diseases to climate change to crushing financial recessions.  I don’t throw out reason, I know God gave man a brain for a reason (geddit?) and many great accomplishments and exploits have been wrought through this capacity.  I’m also of the belief that we have not even begun to untap the full potential of what the human mind can conceive and comprehend.

There is a difference, however, between acknowledging a place for reason and the human mind, and going onto establish as the altar on which all must be sacrificed to meet the requirements of the worship of man’s ability to rule over all.  The problem of reason’s glorification is its attempted dethroning of God and the subsequent disappointments and failures that follow. It’s no surprise that if you get one thing out of place then everything falls apart eventually.  Unsurprisingly beneath it all is the issue of worship and along with that is the question of faith and our heart’s desire.

A question I’ll explore a bit further in the next post …

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd