Patrick Pullicino
In ancient Israel, there was no distinction between reason and emotion, as both were seen to operate within the heart and the Hebrew word for heart incorporates both. The heart is a pivotal symbol in Ezekiel. The giving of a new heart implies a reordering of reason and emotion, so that the Israelites could correctly perceive and love God. Modern psychology shows that emotion and reason are inseparable in decision making and learning, and the ability to reason emerged as a defining human trait in ancient Greece.In ancient Mesopotamia (8th to 7th century bc), practical reason was used in the pursuit of rational interpretations of planetary movement through mathematics. This period has been called the ’first scientific revolution’. Since science is a rational discipline, the Babylonians de facto began to separate reason from emotion. It was into this milieu that Ezekiel was thrust at the age of 26 when he was brought with the Exiles to Babylon. The writing of the Book of Ezekiel started four years later with his experience of the Chariot Vision or Merkavah. It is not surprising therefore that the writings of Ezekiel mirrored his rationality-fertile Mesopotamian surroundings. I here pursue the link between Rational- ity, Science and Spirit within Ezekiel and the Chariot Vision.This new analysis of Ezekiel explores the implications of the Chariot Vision for a modern reader. Although written as a thesis the text is well illustrated and makes the biblical texts relevant, illustrating how biblical revelation, science, psychology and natural phenomena are linked, giving support to contemporary ideas regarding the unity of knowledge.Three key findings of the thesis are: 1. It shows that a science-based reasoning is present in Ezekiel and also that science can be a method of Divine revelation. Using the scientific- based structuring of Fuzzy Epistemology, it gives examples of ’experimental system’ organisation in the Bible. 2. It gives a modern psychological interpretation to the ancient moral decision making framework of the four faces of the Living Creatures. It also shows that the psychological traits of the Creatures have gender polarity.3. It explores Christ as the key to Ezekiel, showing examples within the Chariot Vision.
