Amy Nelson-Mile gives a heads up on a forthcoming book: Writers on Writing and Their Faith. Daniel Dennett not witstanding, I have a feeling we're entering a new age of genuine faith.
Faith - meaning capable of bearing doubt (Newman). Which does not run counter to knowledge, if only because there is so very little we can be sure about, hence, know.
Many years ago, before being raised to my exalted position of book review editor, I was perched at The Inquirer upon a much humbler rung: I did the racing charts.I actually loved that job and it's the only time I was really any good at picking the ponies (I think all the data settled into the sediment of my unconscious and fertilized my hunches). I mention this only because, if you go to the track, and choose only doubt, you will never place a bet. True, you won't lose any money. You won't win any, either. You'll just be a bystander. I think Jesus' parable of the talents has some bearing on this. Of course, in practice, we can't simply opt for doubt. We choose all the time in all sorts of ways - and almost never on the basis of any certainty.
Faith - meaning capable of bearing doubt (Newman). Which does not run counter to knowledge, if only because there is so very little we can be sure about, hence, know.
ReplyDeleteBut one must at times choose, in spite of doubt. And that's where faith comes in.
ReplyDeleteI choose faith...big, fat, unshakeable faith!
ReplyDeleteI figure it this way...if I'm wrong...then I've had a really happy life and I die!
If I'm right...then I get to live a happy eternity with the Lord, while the ones that don't believe get to spend an unhappy eternity without the Lord!
For me, that's a win/win!
I choose faith...big, fat, unshakeable faith!
ReplyDeleteI figure it this way...if I'm wrong...then I've had a really happy life and I die!
If I'm right...then I get to live a happy eternity with the Lord, while the ones that don't believe get to spend an unhappy eternity without the Lord!
For me, that's a win/win!
Many years ago, before being raised to my exalted position of book review editor, I was perched at The Inquirer upon a much humbler rung: I did the racing charts.I actually loved that job and it's the only time I was really any good at picking the ponies (I think all the data settled into the sediment of my unconscious and fertilized my hunches). I mention this only because, if you go to the track, and choose only doubt, you will never place a bet. True, you won't lose any money. You won't win any, either. You'll just be a bystander. I think Jesus' parable of the talents has some bearing on this. Of course, in practice, we can't simply opt for doubt. We choose all the time in all sorts of ways - and almost never on the basis of any certainty.
ReplyDelete