traveling the road labeled “why?”

Some theists are very, very uncomfortable with raising difficult questions. Why is there so much evil? If God is in the business of changing people, why do we act (at least at times) so unchanged? Why has the bible, the very source of Christian beliefs, been so often misread and misapplied? Why the many examples of faulty and/or silly decisions made by church members throughout history? Why do Christians themselves often find it difficult to agree and get along? Why have some Christian practices and habits actually hindered the progress of its adherents?

Now in these and countless areas, there are indeed reasonable answers and, in my view, a sound basis for belief. For every difficulty with the faith, there are many demonstrations of faith’s validity and power. Still, as I’ve said, many theists are quick to skim over the hard things and so paint a portrait that, in their view, is more helpful and feels better.

I think, for what it’s worth, that there is a better way, a way in which we remain honest about uncertainty and doubt and are able to face squarely those matters that appear contrary to faith. To take this approach, in my view, actually bolsters faith, albeit by traveling some bumpy and uncertain paths.

There are, in other words, avenues of belief that can only be located when we travel the road that is labeled “Why?” The mystery of it all, the sheer willingness to lay it all on the table, the dilemmas that ensue when we discuss difficult issues–all of these force us to view faith in a much less dogmatic, much less cocky, much more humble and open manner. Along the way, truth remains, along with strong convictions and a measure of dogmatism, but some of these things are best accessed by means of simple faith. Intellectual depth and childlike belief meet at the top of the mountain, where–I and many others believe–God is.