Note: This essay only addresses Christianity, as it’s the only faith tradition I have much experience of. Some of the points might easily apply to other faiths, but I’m not a religious scholar and wouldn’t want to claim something I don’t know much about.
I'm also very interested in how we define "faith," and how that definition shapes our religious practice (or choice not to have one.)
You noted your sadness that faith seems to be mostly about certainty, of that sort that folks feel they need in order to fear less. I agree this is how faith is often understood.
A turning point for me was learning to understand it as exactly the opposite: faith is trust. Not belief, in the sense of asserting that something is objectively True. And not knowing beyond all doubt, which I do not think is possible. In fact, I presently understand certainty as the opposite of faith. Faith has plenty of room for my doubts, but if I was certain of that God is or what I'm supposed to do with my life or any other big existential question, I wouldn't need faith as a guide.
Wow, so much here, thanks for this today. I’m recovering from surgery, and I have so many thoughts, will for sure bounce back over here to put some of them down when I’m in a better state. Have a great weekend! Best,Paul
Thank you for this thoughtful searching, Nia.
I'm also very interested in how we define "faith," and how that definition shapes our religious practice (or choice not to have one.)
You noted your sadness that faith seems to be mostly about certainty, of that sort that folks feel they need in order to fear less. I agree this is how faith is often understood.
A turning point for me was learning to understand it as exactly the opposite: faith is trust. Not belief, in the sense of asserting that something is objectively True. And not knowing beyond all doubt, which I do not think is possible. In fact, I presently understand certainty as the opposite of faith. Faith has plenty of room for my doubts, but if I was certain of that God is or what I'm supposed to do with my life or any other big existential question, I wouldn't need faith as a guide.
Wow, so much here, thanks for this today. I’m recovering from surgery, and I have so many thoughts, will for sure bounce back over here to put some of them down when I’m in a better state. Have a great weekend! Best,Paul
Not long ago, we watched the Ridley Scott/Christian Bale version of Exodus. It's an interesting take on this God and his motivations.
This was wonderful, Nia; thank you. Much food for thought for this atheistic Jewish boy.