似非而是、奧秘與矛盾Paradox，Mystery, and Contradicion
摘自《神學入門》《Essential Truths
of the Christian Faith》，7-9頁 , R.C. Sproul著/姚錦榮譯，更新傳道會出版。
近年在西方社會興起了不少運動——諸如新紀元運動、東方宗教和非理性哲學等——它們對人的認知造成很大的危機。又最近有一種新的神秘主義流行，以高舉荒謬作為宗教教理的標志，這流行之說，我想可用一句禪宗佛教徒的格言來形容：「神是一個巴掌拍不響。」
「神是一個巴掌拍不響。」這句話，在乍聽之下好像包含著很深的哲理，教人冥思苦想，仍無所得，因為這句話本身違反了正常的理性，因此看來莫測高深，引人入勝。其實經過精細分析，就會發現這只不過是一句沒有意義的話。不合理性的思想是頭腦混淆的表現，是因為與真理的主宰不和諧才導致的，而真理的主宰絕不是制造混淆的主宰。
建基於聖經的基督教，很容易被這些高舉非理性的思想所困擾，因為基督教並不諱言，聖經中也包含了不少似非而是之說與各樣的奧秘。由於似非而是、奧秘與矛盾三者間的界線很難區分，因此把它們弄清楚，是十分重要的事。
當我們在探索神的深奧時，必會感動茫然，因為沒有任何血肉之軀可以完全測透神。聖經所啟示有關神的真理，雖然我們無法完全明白，但卻知道這些都是真的。舉例來說，我們人類沒有足夠的參考點可藉之用來了解神的三位一體，或基督的神人二性。這些真理雖然都是確切的，但對於我們來說卻是「高不可攀」，遠超過我們理解的範圍。
對自然界我們也會遇見類似的問題，我們知道萬有引力的存在，但並不理解萬有引力，也不會試著運用非理性或矛盾對立的語句去解釋它。我們都同意，運動是實體不可或缺的一部分，可是它的本質是什麼，卻困擾了哲學家和科學家幾千年。有太多關於實體的奧秘，是我們難以理解的，但這並不表示我們就應促進荒謬。無論對宗教或科學而言，非理性主義都會帶來致命的傷害；事實上，它是真理的殺手。
已故的基督教哲學家克拉克曾如此為似非而是一詞下定義說，這是「腦筋的痙攣」。他藉著這句詼諧之言指出，有時人們所稱為似非而是的事，其實是因為思想沒有條理的緣故。不過，克拉克也否認似非而是有其合法的地位和功能。這個名詞的英文paradox源自希臘文，含有「看來」，或「似乎」之意。似非而是對我們是難以理解的，因為乍看之下它「似乎」十分矛盾，但經過細察之後，又可從中找到解釋。
例如主耶穌說：「得著生命的，將要失喪生命；為我失喪生命的，將要得著生命」（太十39) 即是一例。表面上看來，它有點像「神是一個巴掌拍不響」那句話一樣地自相矛盾，但耶穌的真正意思是，人若在某個層面上失去生命，就可在另一個得著生命；由於這種得和失，是在不同層面上，因此並不矛盾。這就如我可以同時是某人的父親，也是某人的兒子一樣，所指的顯然是不同層次的關系。
由於似非而是一詞已久被人誤當作矛盾一詞的同義詞，因此有些英文詞典，甚至把這個字解作矛盾一詞的第二個釋義。其實，矛盾乃是一種違背了傳統的非矛盾定律的看法。非矛盾定律指出，A不能在同一時間和同一方面，既是A又是非A；也就是說，一件事物不能在同一時間和同一方面，既是其本身又不是其本身。這是所有邏輯定律的基礎。
沒有人能理解矛盾，因為矛盾在本質上是不可理解的，連神也不能理解矛盾。但神肯定能認出矛盾的本質——就是錯謬。矛盾一詞的英文（contradiction）源自拉丁文，意為「對立的言論」。神若說話矛盾，祂就等於沒有思考能力，而且一口二舌。認為真理的主宰說法矛盾，對神是莫大的羞辱，也是恣意的褻瀆。說話矛盾是撒謊者——那藐視真理的說謊者之父——才會使用的伎倆。
了解奧秘與矛盾之間的關系，可幫助我們減少對二者的混淆。我們只是不明白奧秘，但我們是不可能明白矛盾。奧秘與矛盾的共通點，是二者都有不可理解的成分。我們現在還不明白奧秘，是因為我們缺欠認識奧秘所需要的資料和視野，但聖經應許，有一天在天上我們可得著認識現今奧秘的亮光；只要再多一點亮光，我們就可以明白現在所不明白的奧秘。至於矛盾，無論是天上或地下都沒有足夠的亮光能幫助我們明白它！
總結：
1.似非而是表面上看來是矛盾的，但仔細考察後便有答案。
2.奧秘是我們現在尚不知道的事，但日後必有答案。
3.矛盾是違反非矛盾定律的看法，它是神和人類，今生或來世都沒有辦法解釋的。
思考經文：
太十三11；太十六25；羅十六25-27；林前二7；林前十四33
Paradox, Mystery, and
Contradiction
The influence of various movements within our culture such as New Age, Eastern religion, and irrational philosophy have led to a crisis of understanding. A new form of mysticism has arisen that exalts the absurd as a hallmark of religious truth. We think of the Zen-Buddhist maxim that "God is one hand clapping" as an illustration of this pattern.
To say that God is one hand clapping sounds profound. It puzzles the conscious mind because it strikes against normal patterns of thought. It sounds "deep" and intriguing until we analyze it carefully and discover that at root it is simply a nonsense statement.
Irrationality is a type of mental chaos. It rests upon a confusion that is at odds with the Author of all truth who is not an author of confusion.
Biblical Christianity is vulnerable to such strands of exalted irrationality because of its candid admission that there is much paradox and mystery in the Bible. Because there are thin but crucial lines that divide paradox, mystery, and contradiction, it is important that we learn to distinguish among them.
We are quickly confounded when we seek to plumb the depths of God. No mortal can exhaustively comprehend God. The Bible reveals things about God that we know are true in spite of our inability to understand them fully. We have no human reference point, for example, to understand a being who is three in person and one in essence (Trinity), or a being who is one person with two distinct natures, human and divine (the person of Christ). These truths, as certain as they may be, are too "high" for us to penetrate.
We face similar problems in the natural world. We understand that gravity exists, but we do not understand it, nor do we seek to define it in irrational or contradictory terms. Most everyone agrees that motion is an integral part of reality, yet the essence of motion itself has perplexed philosophers and scientists for millennia. There is much that is mysterious about reality and much that we do not understand. But that does not warrant a leap into absurdity. Irrationality is fatal both to religion and science. Indeed, it is deadly to any truth.
The late Christian philosopher Gordon H. Clark once defined a paradox as a "charley horse between the ears." His witty remark was designed to point out that what is sometimes called a paradox is often nothing more than sloppy thinking. Clark, however, clearly recognized the legitimate role and function of paradox. The word paradox comes from the Greek root that means "to seem or to appear." Paradoxes are difficult for us because at first glance they "seem" to be contradictions, but under closer scrutiny resolutions can often be found. For example, Jesus said, "He who loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39). On the surface this sounds akin to a statement like "God is one hand clapping." It sounds like a self-contradiction. What Jesus meant, however, is that if someone loses his life in one sense, he will find it in another sense. Because the losing and saving are in two different senses, there is no contradiction. I am a father and a son at the same time, but obviously not in the same relationship.
Because the term paradox has been misunderstood so often as a synonym for contradiction, it now appears in some English dictionaries as a secondary meaning of the term contradiction. A contradiction is a statement that violates the classical law of noncontradiction. The law of noncontradiction declares that A cannot be A and non-A at the same time and in the same respect. That is, something cannot be what it is and not be what it is at the same time and in the same respect. This is the most fundamental of all the laws of logic.
No one can understand a contradiction because a contradiction is inherently unintelligible. Not even God can understand contradictions. But He can certainly recognize them for what they are—falsehoods. The word contradiction comes from the Latin "to speak against." It is sometimes called an antinomy, which means "against law." For God to speak in contradictions would be for Him to be intellectually lawless, to speak with a forked tongue. It is a great insult and unconscionable blasphemy to even suggest that the Author of truth would ever speak in contradictions. Contradiction is the tool of the one who lies—the father of lies who despises the truth.
There is a relationship between mystery and contradiction that easily reduces us to confusing the two. We do not understand mysteries. We cannot understand contradictions. The point of contact between the two concepts is their unintelligible character. Mysteries may not be clear to us now simply because we lack the information or the perspective to understand them. The Bible promises further light in heaven on mysteries we are unable to understand now. Further light may resolve present mysteries. However, there is not enough light in heaven and earth to ever resolve a clear-cut contradiction.
1.Paradox is an apparent contradiction that under closer scrutiny yields resolution.
2.Mystery is something unknown to us now, but which may be resolved.
3.Contradiction is a violation of the law of noncontradiction. It is impossible to resolve, either by mortals or God, either in this world or the next.
The influence of various movements within our culture such as New Age, Eastern religion, and irrational philosophy have led to a crisis of understanding. A new form of mysticism has arisen that exalts the absurd as a hallmark of religious truth. We think of the Zen-Buddhist maxim that "God is one hand clapping" as an illustration of this pattern.
To say that God is one hand clapping sounds profound. It puzzles the conscious mind because it strikes against normal patterns of thought. It sounds "deep" and intriguing until we analyze it carefully and discover that at root it is simply a nonsense statement.
Irrationality is a type of mental chaos. It rests upon a confusion that is at odds with the Author of all truth who is not an author of confusion.
Biblical Christianity is vulnerable to such strands of exalted irrationality because of its candid admission that there is much paradox and mystery in the Bible. Because there are thin but crucial lines that divide paradox, mystery, and contradiction, it is important that we learn to distinguish among them.
We are quickly confounded when we seek to plumb the depths of God. No mortal can exhaustively comprehend God. The Bible reveals things about God that we know are true in spite of our inability to understand them fully. We have no human reference point, for example, to understand a being who is three in person and one in essence (Trinity), or a being who is one person with two distinct natures, human and divine (the person of Christ). These truths, as certain as they may be, are too "high" for us to penetrate.
We face similar problems in the natural world. We understand that gravity exists, but we do not understand it, nor do we seek to define it in irrational or contradictory terms. Most everyone agrees that motion is an integral part of reality, yet the essence of motion itself has perplexed philosophers and scientists for millennia. There is much that is mysterious about reality and much that we do not understand. But that does not warrant a leap into absurdity. Irrationality is fatal both to religion and science. Indeed, it is deadly to any truth.
The late Christian philosopher Gordon H. Clark once defined a paradox as a "charley horse between the ears." His witty remark was designed to point out that what is sometimes called a paradox is often nothing more than sloppy thinking. Clark, however, clearly recognized the legitimate role and function of paradox. The word paradox comes from the Greek root that means "to seem or to appear." Paradoxes are difficult for us because at first glance they "seem" to be contradictions, but under closer scrutiny resolutions can often be found. For example, Jesus said, "He who loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39). On the surface this sounds akin to a statement like "God is one hand clapping." It sounds like a self-contradiction. What Jesus meant, however, is that if someone loses his life in one sense, he will find it in another sense. Because the losing and saving are in two different senses, there is no contradiction. I am a father and a son at the same time, but obviously not in the same relationship.
Because the term paradox has been misunderstood so often as a synonym for contradiction, it now appears in some English dictionaries as a secondary meaning of the term contradiction. A contradiction is a statement that violates the classical law of noncontradiction. The law of noncontradiction declares that A cannot be A and non-A at the same time and in the same respect. That is, something cannot be what it is and not be what it is at the same time and in the same respect. This is the most fundamental of all the laws of logic.
No one can understand a contradiction because a contradiction is inherently unintelligible. Not even God can understand contradictions. But He can certainly recognize them for what they are—falsehoods. The word contradiction comes from the Latin "to speak against." It is sometimes called an antinomy, which means "against law." For God to speak in contradictions would be for Him to be intellectually lawless, to speak with a forked tongue. It is a great insult and unconscionable blasphemy to even suggest that the Author of truth would ever speak in contradictions. Contradiction is the tool of the one who lies—the father of lies who despises the truth.
There is a relationship between mystery and contradiction that easily reduces us to confusing the two. We do not understand mysteries. We cannot understand contradictions. The point of contact between the two concepts is their unintelligible character. Mysteries may not be clear to us now simply because we lack the information or the perspective to understand them. The Bible promises further light in heaven on mysteries we are unable to understand now. Further light may resolve present mysteries. However, there is not enough light in heaven and earth to ever resolve a clear-cut contradiction.
1.Paradox is an apparent contradiction that under closer scrutiny yields resolution.
2.Mystery is something unknown to us now, but which may be resolved.
3.Contradiction is a violation of the law of noncontradiction. It is impossible to resolve, either by mortals or God, either in this world or the next.