I am reading (along with waaaay too many other things) Alistair McGrath’s new book Doubting. Here’s a quote:
"To believe in God demands an act of faith – as does the decision not to believe in him. Neither is based upon absolute certainty, nor can it be. To accept Jesus demands a leap of faith – but so does the decision to reject him. To accept Christianity demands faith – and so does the decision to reject it. Both rest on faith, in that nobody can prove with absolute certainty that Jesus is the Son of God, the risen Savior of humanity – just as nobody can prove with absolute certainty that he is not. The decision, whatever it may be, rests on faith. There is an element of doubt in each case. Every attitude toward Jesus – except the decision not to have any attitude at all!- rests on faith, not certainty. Faith is not belief without proof but trust without reservations – trust in a God who has shown himself to be worthy of that trust."
I appreciate McGrath’s use of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem "The Ancient Sage" here:
"For nothing worth proving can be proven,Nor yet disproven; wherefore thou be wise,Cleave ever to the sunnier side of doubt."
I have met many a ranting, raving believer that suddenly bursts with their great frustration over people who refuse to see the certainty of their faith. They speak as though the Bible were some great book of mathematics and that those who do not "get it" must be some form of moron. I believe the not-so-hidden rage of these folks speaks more of their own struggle with doubt rather than others. Their faith is a house of cards and their anger is a wall to keep out any subtle breeze that could topple it utterly.
We must remember what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:20-25 –
Where are the wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Harnessing Chaos 
I finally found out how to get my name to show!!! :o)
"I have met many a ranting, raving believer that suddenly bursts with their great frustration over people who refuse to see the certainty of their faith. They speak as though the Bible were some great book of mathematics and that those who do not "get it" must be some form of moron." Yes, so have I. This is an unfortunate consequence of faith and salvation being seen as an intellectual exercise which we, in our brainy and moral capacity, have mastered, while those other stupid unbelievers over there haven\’t.
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Hey! Congrats on figuring out the name thing (you\’ll have to teach certain other people we know…).
Well said! In a way any arrogance Christians show is misplaced because we have nothing to be arrogant about. We have done nothing to save ourselves – the life preserver was thrown to us. It would be kind of like a person being hauled onto a life boat and then looking out at those still drowning in the water and smugly pointing out their fortunate position.
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i really enjoyed that pete. thanks
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