October 2009 You Wanted To Know

Q: There are so many opinions out there, how can I know what to believe?

A: Jesus himself had to deal with this question. He was getting reports from his followers that people had different opinions of him; and he followed these up with a question, "And who do you say that I am?" Faith has always involved three major elements — intellect, emotion and will. We try to make sense of the various claims people make for themselves and whatever they're trying to persuade us about. But in addition to our minds we want to feel right about what is being offered. Only then are we ready to make a commitment. But we do have to choose. One problem today is that, according to some recent studies, most people's faith is stuck at a ten-year-old level. This would certainly seem to be the case with most of the so-called "new atheists." The God they attack is certainly not one I can believe in either! — It's also worth noting that the earliest Christians were often called atheists because they refused to accept the divinity of Roman emperors and other accepted deities. — Faith and doubt often go together! Having recently retired as Director of Education for Ministry, Canada, I can testify to the transformation the program has brought about in people who have engaged in serious study of the Bible, tradition, culture and issues of faith, and have learned to reflect theologically on their lives as individuals and church members.

Authentic faith always promotes truth, beauty and goodness. Perhaps this can be summed up by a phrase in Paul's Letter to the Romans, "All things work together for good for those who love God…" Sin is a state of alienation from these three qualities, and is characterized by their opposites — lying, ugliness and selfishness. Paul recognizes the prevalence of sin, but celebrates the grace of God, which in the end overcomes it. Part of today's confusion stems from the fact that we have moved from a relatively homogeneous culture into one which is increasingly multicultural. There is no longer a dominant religious element, and government and other social institutions have become increasingly secular. This is fine if it means the state upholds the dignity of all persons; but in western society there has been a strong reaction against a once-dominant Christianity. The result is that almost anything except Christianity goes. The "new atheism," however, tends to attack all religion as evil, and paints it as both ignorant and fanatical. In the process it becomes the mirror image of what it so energetically condemns.

So let me conclude with three observations. The first is that truth is always greater than our own understanding of it. We must always pursue it, knowing we can never possess it, and it is always multi-faceted and paradoxical. Because of this I am always skeptical of both religious and secular fundamentalisms. The second is that we should maintain a healthy ambivalence about all religious, political and social institutions. Perhaps Andrew Greeley (the Roman Catholic priest, sociologist and novelist) summed it up best when he said, "Holy mother church is a whore, but we love her nonetheless." We are always tempted to betray our best insights and values when we become complacent and corrupted by power, so the marginalization of the church is both a challenge and an opportunity. We need to explore new ways of being faith communities. Lastly, let's remember we are all a bundle of contradictions — which should encourage both humility and a sense of humour. May you find some good companions to challenge and support you on your journey of faith.