P.S. the shortest explanation of faith that I’ve come across is a story about visiting monasteries on Mt. Athos. A sincere but puzzled seeker once asked a monk who seemed approachable, “ What do you guys do all day?” The answer came without hesitation: “We fall down. Then we get up. We fall down again. Then get up. Fall down, get up, and so on”
Bethel, you hit it out of the park. I am always moved by your beautiful, profound writing. This one especially struck a chord. I'll be passing it along to others.
A great article. If we do not believe Christianity because it is true, we do not believe Christianity at all. There is, I think, a Kierkegaardian leap of faith in every belief we hold. I have never seen a convincing argument against Pyrrhonism. In the end all the chains of reasoning we use must stop somewhere, and we must accept some belief without justification, and there is our leap of faith. I believe Christianity is true, and I believe this for reasons, and yet those reasons can be doubted, for reason itself can be doubted. Perhaps its foolish to still be bothered by skepticism, but like Pascal, I cannot dismiss the possibility:
"When we think to attach ourselves to any point and to fasten to it, it wavers and leaves us; and if we follow it, it eludes our grasp, slips past us, and vanishes for ever. Nothing stays for us. This is our natural condition, and yet most contrary to our inclination; we burn with desire to find solid ground and an ultimate sure foundation whereon to build a tower reaching to the Infinite. But our whole groundwork cracks, and the earth opens to abysses."
I want to be a foundationalist, but I really struggle with skepticism, and have for many years. That is why Pascal is the most precious Christian writer to me. I doubt I would still be a Christian without him.
Are you referring to Justified true belief. If so, the problem with justified true belief is more that I feel as if justification almost has to require certainty, otherwise you will have justified false beliefs, and its questionable in what sense it helps to have a justified belief if it can still be false. And what would a properly basic belief look like? It would seem like it would have to be of a sort that no rational person could deny. Yet there are people who believe in paraconsistent logic, denying the law of noncontradiction and the law of the excluded middle. If reasonable people can deny even what feels like the most indubitable propositions, how can they be properly basic?
I benefit very much from reading your essays and reflections. Often they bring me back (and indirectly require me through their patient and quiet elaboration) to come back to where I’d like to be. This essay especially. I too was puzzled by her announcement. Now I’m thinking that I might need to make similar announcements regularly to the audience of my own mind and heart, then look for many outside sources, yours included of course, to help clarify and confirm them.
Very nicely written! I also follow the founder Sarah Haider of ex Muslim of North America and she wrote this on Twitter:
“ The truth claims might just not be that important to her. They are not to many.
I can’t get past them, however.”
There are still many who need to hear and be convinced that Christianity is not just helpful in its result, but that it is true! We need to believe because we believe them to be true.
Nevertheless, godspeed to her and maybe she will change as she develops in her view. It is something to see the atheist Hitchens commending her in a YouTube video and then now seeing her change in the years since.
I love how Christianity is able to irritate and then challenge and then stretch and then mollify and then satisfy all who sincerely come. From the simple to the erudite. Our Lord is stunning.
BTW, I’m sure you caught Rosaria’s speech at Liberty. Love your “take” on that one. I say kudos all around.
No, I am actually referring to things like paraconsistent logic. As for external world skepticism, it does bother me, to the point that I have strongly considered Berkeley as a solution. And I would love to talk to a friendly epistemologist. None of my family members have understood my concerns when I attempt to explain them.
Ah, Bethel, if there are recent moments of doubt about whether or not you should continue writing and sharing your “takes” with us, this piece (and the responses) should sufficiently keep you motivated.
“It may, however, require an abandonment of what some people have assumed to be reasonable.“ That insight is worth the meager subscription fee to access your posts. After I read that statement, I paused and reflected on how, it seems to me, to be difficult to express the ideas articulated in this post to the “simple” people in the church in which I am a pastor. And then, as is so often the case, you addressed those musings! Not sure how you do it (unless the same Spirit is in us—and of course he is), but I’m very grateful for it. Hold fast.
Thank you. This moved me to tears. When I cannot find words to explain my beliefs or my love for Christ I see 'the fleshy hand' reaching out to me, and I am indeed 'lost in wonder, love and praise.' The front of Bob Dylan' album 'Saved' depicts this so well. I'm praying for Ms Ali, but also for Dean and his wife, and hope that he is drawn to God's love for himself and for Indi.
P.S. the shortest explanation of faith that I’ve come across is a story about visiting monasteries on Mt. Athos. A sincere but puzzled seeker once asked a monk who seemed approachable, “ What do you guys do all day?” The answer came without hesitation: “We fall down. Then we get up. We fall down again. Then get up. Fall down, get up, and so on”
Indeed.
Wow. This was astonishingly good.
Thank you. ❤️
Bethel, you hit it out of the park. I am always moved by your beautiful, profound writing. This one especially struck a chord. I'll be passing it along to others.
That's so kind, thank you Ginny! 😊
A great article. If we do not believe Christianity because it is true, we do not believe Christianity at all. There is, I think, a Kierkegaardian leap of faith in every belief we hold. I have never seen a convincing argument against Pyrrhonism. In the end all the chains of reasoning we use must stop somewhere, and we must accept some belief without justification, and there is our leap of faith. I believe Christianity is true, and I believe this for reasons, and yet those reasons can be doubted, for reason itself can be doubted. Perhaps its foolish to still be bothered by skepticism, but like Pascal, I cannot dismiss the possibility:
"When we think to attach ourselves to any point and to fasten to it, it wavers and leaves us; and if we follow it, it eludes our grasp, slips past us, and vanishes for ever. Nothing stays for us. This is our natural condition, and yet most contrary to our inclination; we burn with desire to find solid ground and an ultimate sure foundation whereon to build a tower reaching to the Infinite. But our whole groundwork cracks, and the earth opens to abysses."
Blaise Pascal, Pensées
Tribeca Press. Kindle Edition.
I'm a foundationalist, so I think you can start with a few absolutely certain things and work your way up from there. 🙂
I want to be a foundationalist, but I really struggle with skepticism, and have for many years. That is why Pascal is the most precious Christian writer to me. I doubt I would still be a Christian without him.
I don't think the Christian truth claims are properly basic, but it sounds like you would question even the TJB model for knowledge?
Are you referring to Justified true belief. If so, the problem with justified true belief is more that I feel as if justification almost has to require certainty, otherwise you will have justified false beliefs, and its questionable in what sense it helps to have a justified belief if it can still be false. And what would a properly basic belief look like? It would seem like it would have to be of a sort that no rational person could deny. Yet there are people who believe in paraconsistent logic, denying the law of noncontradiction and the law of the excluded middle. If reasonable people can deny even what feels like the most indubitable propositions, how can they be properly basic?
Yes, that's the acronym. I would disagree that justification has to require certainty. Are you referring to things like the Gettier problem?
Well, if you're Al Plantinga, just about anything can look like a properly basic belief. :D
Bethel I love your writing. Thank you for this essay. I have sent it to a non-believing friend who is very precious to me. May God be glorified!
Thank you so much! Great to hear!
I benefit very much from reading your essays and reflections. Often they bring me back (and indirectly require me through their patient and quiet elaboration) to come back to where I’d like to be. This essay especially. I too was puzzled by her announcement. Now I’m thinking that I might need to make similar announcements regularly to the audience of my own mind and heart, then look for many outside sources, yours included of course, to help clarify and confirm them.
It probably generated more buzz than she was expecting!
Very nicely written! I also follow the founder Sarah Haider of ex Muslim of North America and she wrote this on Twitter:
“ The truth claims might just not be that important to her. They are not to many.
I can’t get past them, however.”
There are still many who need to hear and be convinced that Christianity is not just helpful in its result, but that it is true! We need to believe because we believe them to be true.
Nevertheless, godspeed to her and maybe she will change as she develops in her view. It is something to see the atheist Hitchens commending her in a YouTube video and then now seeing her change in the years since.
Thank you. This is extremely encouraging.
Thanks for reading! Cool name, by the way. :)
I love how Christianity is able to irritate and then challenge and then stretch and then mollify and then satisfy all who sincerely come. From the simple to the erudite. Our Lord is stunning.
BTW, I’m sure you caught Rosaria’s speech at Liberty. Love your “take” on that one. I say kudos all around.
Thanks for the comment! I did see some of Rosaria's talk, yes. I haven't caught up with her in a while but should soon!
Her new book “5 lies....” is so biblically retro, conservative, and reformed it sounds cutting edge.
If one has eternal life, present tense, then one is a Christian.
If one does not, or does not know, then the most important question has been missed.
I don't know if Ms. Hirsi Ali's path will get her there. I pray so.
No, I am actually referring to things like paraconsistent logic. As for external world skepticism, it does bother me, to the point that I have strongly considered Berkeley as a solution. And I would love to talk to a friendly epistemologist. None of my family members have understood my concerns when I attempt to explain them.
Let me see what I can do. 🙂 I don't think I have your email. You can write me at [firstname][lastname]@gmail.com
Thank you.
I see nothing to indicate that Ms. Hirsi Ali is actually a Christian, but I wish her well on her journey.
Because it's true IS the answer to the question.
Ah, Bethel, if there are recent moments of doubt about whether or not you should continue writing and sharing your “takes” with us, this piece (and the responses) should sufficiently keep you motivated.
“It may, however, require an abandonment of what some people have assumed to be reasonable.“ That insight is worth the meager subscription fee to access your posts. After I read that statement, I paused and reflected on how, it seems to me, to be difficult to express the ideas articulated in this post to the “simple” people in the church in which I am a pastor. And then, as is so often the case, you addressed those musings! Not sure how you do it (unless the same Spirit is in us—and of course he is), but I’m very grateful for it. Hold fast.
Exceptionally well-reasoned and insightful. This is why I signed up. Thank you.
Thank you. This moved me to tears. When I cannot find words to explain my beliefs or my love for Christ I see 'the fleshy hand' reaching out to me, and I am indeed 'lost in wonder, love and praise.' The front of Bob Dylan' album 'Saved' depicts this so well. I'm praying for Ms Ali, but also for Dean and his wife, and hope that he is drawn to God's love for himself and for Indi.