Searching for answers or attempting to gain knowledge and a skepticism of any “established” answers or knowledge are, to me, two sides of the same coin. The search implies being skeptical and being skeptical implies you’re open to learning more.
I find myself skeptical of even empirical, evidence-based knowledge. Our senses, developed over time through evolution (at least for now I’m pretty sure it was something like evolution) based on surviving our surroundings, could not possibly take in all the empirical data that makes up the reality we live in. I do believe that for now at least, the scientific method and empirically driven research are the best things we currently have to expand our body of knowledge, or even better, expand our capacity to ask new and more nuanced questions.
As far as belief in the intangible—ideas, hope, faith—the moment I become certain of a belief is the moment I’ve become stagnant and lost any chance of the sublime experience of wonder. Paradoxically, if I break down an idea or belief to where it becomes meaningless, I’ve also lost the ability to hold on to anything that might raise me up to question further. To quote (or probably paraphrase; I’m too lazy at the moment to properly look it up) Flannery O’Connor: “If you tear a mystery to tatters all you have are tatters.”
I appreciated this so much. I also don't believe in anything, not as a dogma, but because I've never seen convincing evidence. I want to believe in something. I can see the comfort and sense of certainty it gives people, and I long to have that, but can't just believe in something I don't believe in. I have never thought of my disbelief as a good thing before, and I love that you suggest it is. I'm going to try to think of it this way. Thank you for sharing this.
I know only what I have experienced through my senses. But can my senses be wrong at times? No doubt. I love my children and grandchildren. Every pore of my being screams this. But a God? No. At least not what the ancient texts describe. There's a mystery in what I experience and that I cannot. Your words resonated. Thank you.
“ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!””
Love this, very thought provoking. I think faith is a big component of belief, and it leaves room for doubt and questions, which I certainly experience and have at times despite my faith in Christ. I believe in Christ simply because the feelings I received upon making that heartfelt commitment produced an odd spiritual high that I've never since experienced (never done DMT or anything), so it was made real for me in that instant; and probably much more importantly for me, by studying the scriptures and praying and meditating on them I feel I am able to transcend my worst impulses, intrusive thoughts no longer bother or have power over me, and I am able to recover from much more quickly and generally just avoid harmful actions, plus act in a calm flow of decent behavior--that without those practices I simply feel insane and terrible and feel I generally behave worse toward others. I'm not sure why that is. I just feel that the practice of Christianity helps me be happier and to be a better person. Having said that, I'm unclear on all the details of what the afterlife is, virgin birth etc., there's some questioning there. That's where my faith comes in, if I say by practicing this religion it helps me in this way, and these things are purported to be true then I can accept them on faith, or simply say that for me those details are not really a relevant focus for my faith. For me, where people's faith and belief needs to be limited is when it actively seeks to oppress and harm others, I like many other Christians believe that LGBTQ people are deserving of equal rights and that has nothing to do with whether they are a good Christian or not. I also support women's right to choose and every other progressive policy that I can think of. So, while my belief and faith is very personal, I would never want anyone to have the power to legislate based on the scripture that speaks to my heart, that they may (in my view) misappropriate and misinterpret to grab power.
This reminds me a bit of listening to Alan Watts lectures which I really enjoy (in chunks). "Uncertainty is the engine that powers belief." Agreed. I very much relate to not believing other people's belief in things. I think they want to believe but I doubt their devotion or absolute belief in it. Whatever "it" is.
During the pandemic, I proposed a simple shift in attitude: Replace "I believe..." with "I think..." Why? Because belief is too easy a path for a lazy human to explore. It requires no due diligence of an kind. You can literally believe in *anything* without any proof, justification or shred of sanity. To *think*, however, at least implies you're applying logic, education and a more rigorous attention to the problem at hand. That is the opposite of lazy. If more people replaced "believe" with "think" it might actually move them to use their brains once in a while, rather than relying on foundless gut feelings.
Quinn Cummings recently touched on some of these same points in a TikTok video. You may like her essays as well. It seems like a lot of people are pondering these kinds of things lately.
After all, quantum mechanics tell us that nothing is certain, only a series of probabilities
Oh no, not this old misunderstanding again.
NOTHING WE BELIEVE IS REAL BECAUSE CAT DEAD/NOT DEAD SIMULTANEOUSLY!!!1!1!
But that only happens at the micro scale.
Quantum physics is HIGHLY IMPROBABLE at a macro scale.
Quantum physics happening at a macro scale is just as probable as a Supermodel telling you that you "have a chance" to go out with her. 😄
https://www.wtamu.edu/~cbaird/sq/mobile/2014/04/22/why-do-quantum-effects-only-happen-on-the-atomic-scale/
Searching for answers or attempting to gain knowledge and a skepticism of any “established” answers or knowledge are, to me, two sides of the same coin. The search implies being skeptical and being skeptical implies you’re open to learning more.
I find myself skeptical of even empirical, evidence-based knowledge. Our senses, developed over time through evolution (at least for now I’m pretty sure it was something like evolution) based on surviving our surroundings, could not possibly take in all the empirical data that makes up the reality we live in. I do believe that for now at least, the scientific method and empirically driven research are the best things we currently have to expand our body of knowledge, or even better, expand our capacity to ask new and more nuanced questions.
As far as belief in the intangible—ideas, hope, faith—the moment I become certain of a belief is the moment I’ve become stagnant and lost any chance of the sublime experience of wonder. Paradoxically, if I break down an idea or belief to where it becomes meaningless, I’ve also lost the ability to hold on to anything that might raise me up to question further. To quote (or probably paraphrase; I’m too lazy at the moment to properly look it up) Flannery O’Connor: “If you tear a mystery to tatters all you have are tatters.”
When I stopped asking the question about god or no god, then my life changed for the infinitely better.
I appreciated this so much. I also don't believe in anything, not as a dogma, but because I've never seen convincing evidence. I want to believe in something. I can see the comfort and sense of certainty it gives people, and I long to have that, but can't just believe in something I don't believe in. I have never thought of my disbelief as a good thing before, and I love that you suggest it is. I'm going to try to think of it this way. Thank you for sharing this.
I know only what I have experienced through my senses. But can my senses be wrong at times? No doubt. I love my children and grandchildren. Every pore of my being screams this. But a God? No. At least not what the ancient texts describe. There's a mystery in what I experience and that I cannot. Your words resonated. Thank you.
“ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!””
Mark 9:23-24
Love this, very thought provoking. I think faith is a big component of belief, and it leaves room for doubt and questions, which I certainly experience and have at times despite my faith in Christ. I believe in Christ simply because the feelings I received upon making that heartfelt commitment produced an odd spiritual high that I've never since experienced (never done DMT or anything), so it was made real for me in that instant; and probably much more importantly for me, by studying the scriptures and praying and meditating on them I feel I am able to transcend my worst impulses, intrusive thoughts no longer bother or have power over me, and I am able to recover from much more quickly and generally just avoid harmful actions, plus act in a calm flow of decent behavior--that without those practices I simply feel insane and terrible and feel I generally behave worse toward others. I'm not sure why that is. I just feel that the practice of Christianity helps me be happier and to be a better person. Having said that, I'm unclear on all the details of what the afterlife is, virgin birth etc., there's some questioning there. That's where my faith comes in, if I say by practicing this religion it helps me in this way, and these things are purported to be true then I can accept them on faith, or simply say that for me those details are not really a relevant focus for my faith. For me, where people's faith and belief needs to be limited is when it actively seeks to oppress and harm others, I like many other Christians believe that LGBTQ people are deserving of equal rights and that has nothing to do with whether they are a good Christian or not. I also support women's right to choose and every other progressive policy that I can think of. So, while my belief and faith is very personal, I would never want anyone to have the power to legislate based on the scripture that speaks to my heart, that they may (in my view) misappropriate and misinterpret to grab power.
Beautifully said—I couldn't agree more.
Thanks for sharing this - very thoughtful!
This reminds me a bit of listening to Alan Watts lectures which I really enjoy (in chunks). "Uncertainty is the engine that powers belief." Agreed. I very much relate to not believing other people's belief in things. I think they want to believe but I doubt their devotion or absolute belief in it. Whatever "it" is.
During the pandemic, I proposed a simple shift in attitude: Replace "I believe..." with "I think..." Why? Because belief is too easy a path for a lazy human to explore. It requires no due diligence of an kind. You can literally believe in *anything* without any proof, justification or shred of sanity. To *think*, however, at least implies you're applying logic, education and a more rigorous attention to the problem at hand. That is the opposite of lazy. If more people replaced "believe" with "think" it might actually move them to use their brains once in a while, rather than relying on foundless gut feelings.
Quinn Cummings recently touched on some of these same points in a TikTok video. You may like her essays as well. It seems like a lot of people are pondering these kinds of things lately.