Spirituality Lies in the Realm of Experience

Re “Putting Our Faith in Science,” Commentary, July 25: Thanks to Andrew Klavan for showing that eminent scientists like Francis Crick and Richard Dawkins miss the point. When I drive my car I want it to operate without problems; it’s nice to know how all its parts work, but my ultimate purpose in turning on the ignition is to get where I want to go.

As a physician I’m always fascinated by “neuro-bio-physical” information about how my body works. It’s the vehicle that takes me where I want to go, which for me is toward greater understanding of myself and a more serene life. To apply Alfred North Whitehead’s observation that abstract understanding of an event is different from the event itself: Knowing how the vehicle works (the abstract understanding of the event) is one thing and experiencing the journey (the event itself) is quite another. That’s where spirituality enters.

Jay R. Hodes MD

Sherman Oaks