"Faith is pretending" L.T. Jeryl
The other day my parents engaged me in a conversation about faith. They are concerned for my eternal destiny since I no longer profess to be a Christian. So they turn the conversation to the subject whenever the slightest opportunity presents itself.
They asked if I believed in things like eternal life and whether Jesus actually existed. We talked about Noah and the flood, among other things. I was very honest with them even though I knew that what I was saying was very hard for them. I told them I wasn't sure about the historical Jesus, but that I felt certain that the biblical flood never happened.
I gave some really good reasons based on simple logic. However, whenever I gave them a real showstopper, something that was hard for them to refute intellectually, they would say something like. “Well there are some things you just have to take by faith.”
This is the nuclear option for ‘believers’ of many stripes. In fact I think the vast majority of people believe it at some level. It seems to make a little bit of sense at first glance and in certain situations. For example, I believe in life after death. I’m pretty convinced that physical death will not be the end of me. I have some reasons for thinking this is true, but they are not what I would call solid scientific arguments. Basically I am taking it by faith.
There is no way I can be certain that what I believe is true. It is impossible. Perhaps I just like to believe it; perhaps it is something I hold on to just to stay sane or to give me comfort. People use this kind of thinking in many areas. Whether you’re a 911 Truther, a health food enthusiast, a religious person or someone who believes in a political ideology... the list goes on. You may have reasons that help you back your up your position, but if there is no way to prove it, you are taking it by faith. There are just some things we can never be certain about, and uncertainty is hard on us humans. When we pretend that we do know, it is called faith.
I personally don’t have a problem with people who pretend. Especially if they admit that their particular belief is more or less a matter of opinion. I believe it can have many positive effects for them, even if it’s not working for me. Sometimes a positive attitude can give you an edge against illness or some other negative situation. Perhaps it brings you a little closer to the truth. Other times it might motivate you to join a cause that brings real meaning to your life. These are good things for the most part. The world is often better because of them.
I admit that I have my own faith. In other words, I believe some things simply because they comfort me or because they bring meaning to my life, or simply because it makes more sense to me than other possibilities. However, I do try to keep an open mind on these kinds of things.
I have a problem with folks who seem to insist that I jump on board with them and their faith. It’s fine if you want to have a friendly discussion about what you believe, even if your motive is to persuade others. But please don’t insist that there is anything that must be accepted by faith. Pretending should be optional.