What do you mean by, 'Existence naturally is not understood'?Belinda wrote: ↑Fri Dec 02, 2022 9:00 pmExistence naturally is not understoodHarbal wrote: ↑Fri Dec 02, 2022 1:10 pmTo my mind, spirituality is about creating a story to account for that which isn't understood, but for which an explanationis is desired. While there are many things about our existence that I don't undedrstand, perhaps I am more prepared to accept my lack of understanding, and the absense of an explanation, than those who call themselves spiritual are.
Anthropologists and self-important clergymen are two common themes in her books, which makes me assume that she probably has personal experience of both. I hadn't picked up on your observation about her attitude towards the meaning of words. You've given me something to think about with that.What I like about Barbara Pym's stories is nobody is right and nobody is wrong. Everybody is observed without evaluating them. Some of her characters are anthropologists and her own style is like that of an anthropologist who has literary merit and sense of humour. I think she would have agreed with Wittgenstein that the meaning of a word is its social use.
By who is 'Existence', Itself, naturally, not understood?
Belinda wrote: ↑Fri Dec 02, 2022 9:00 pm and philosophers have created a jargon that deals with the several theories of existence, describes, criticises, and explains them.
I doubt if philosophers' jargon includes the word 'spirituality'.
Barbara Pym was a sort of administrative secretary for the International African Institute during the 60s and 70s (it's in the introductions)so she knew a lot of anthropologists and their jargon which as you know she makes fun of. I guess she writes mostly about 'high' Anglicans because the rituals are more spectacular and therefore more fun than the 'low' church.