Chimeras

The Persian chimeric amalgamation of a man and bird is perhaps one of the most recognizable symbols emerging from the Arabian desert region.  The faravahar is often compared the Western conception of a guardian angel, though the actual roots of the ideology suggests something much more of a coalescence of mortal and immortal than an angelic being.  This is not a treatise against the existence of seemingly chimeric, or apparently blended compositions of two or more distinct natures or creatures, as I myself am quite sure these do exist (Ezek. 1:10, Rev. 4:8).  I think we would be quite surprised sometimes if we explored a little more in depth what we say we truly believe.  A naturalist, for example, by necessity, believes we came from rocks (inorganic compounds) – and before that, from nothing at all…even when the hand-waving rhetoric of ‘quantum fluctuations’ is used to explain how something can come from nothing.  I simply do not have enough faith to believe that.  Nonetheless, the faravahar captures the sentiment not merely of an age gone by, but also of a ‘New Age.’  That is, we can transcend our mortal plot assigned to us by stochastic fate if we pursue this end diligently – whether that be through computer-biological hybrid systems, or something more of the flavor of meditative transcendence like yoga.  This is a hopeless pursuit, not necessarily because of the desired end, but because of the prescribed means to that end.  The end itself is actually endorsed, though perhaps in a different way…”Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2).