Great questions about the future of religious faith

[rug]

E.J. Dionne, Washington Post Columnist
Posted: Thursday, January 1, 2015, 1:08 AM

It is a mark of our pluralistic moment that I learned of an old joke among rabbis from the writings of a great Christian scholar, Jaroslav Pelikan.

In his book Jesus Through the Centuries, Pelikan tells the story of a rabbi who is challenged by one of his pupils, who asks: "Why is it that you rabbis so often put your teaching in the form of a question?" To which the rabbi replies: "So what's wrong with a question?"

Trying to imagine what will matter in a new year is daunting, but it takes no clairvoyance to see that in 2015, one of the struggles around the globe will be between those who acknowledge that religion is at least as much about questions as answers, and those who have such a profound certainty about their answers that they will kill in the name of the divine.

To cast the matter this way, I know, invites dissent from both believers and nonbelievers. The believer can plausibly argue that you can be utterly certain about the truth without killing anyone. Nonbelievers might note that both halves of my formulation undercut religion. If religion is primarily about questions, what truth can it contain? And if it preaches certainty, where is the space for dissent and dialogue?

http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20150101_Great_questions_about_the_future_of_religious_faith.html#TSFyZygutHO0Lerr.99

[immoderate]

1. Dionne concludes that one must go outside religion to seek morality.

Which makes sense. Gods have no ethical sense, but they know what they like.

--imm

[cbayer]

3. What did you read that led you to that conclusion?

I read it entirely differently. I read that one must turn inward on one's religion and ask question to seek morality.

Unlike you, I have no idea what a god or gods may have or may know.

[immoderate]

8. You read it differently, but with the same effect.

I don't know what gods might know, but I do know that conceptualizations of gods don't make sense. I also don't recognize religion as the authority on morality, because when you "turn inward on one's religion and ask questions," where do the answer's come from?

--imm

[cbayer]

9. You are not a believer so it would be quite odd if you did think

religion had anything to do with your personal morality.

Where do the answer's come from is a very interesting question. The non-believing skeptic, like myself, thinks that they come from me and only me. I would take the position that I know the answers and the hardest thing is to have the courage and wisdom to ask myself the right questions.

But, a believer may have a completely different take on this. They may feel that their god guides them or even speaks to them. They may feel that their god inspires them or leads them to the right questions.

Who would I be to say that is not true? I have nothing to support that it is false, I simply don't believe it.

And, quite honestly, it makes no difference to me whether it is true or not. If one is driven to be insightful and ask hard questions, I could care less whether they think it is divinely inspired or not.

[immoderate]

10. Bingo! Supreme beings (existing or not) are always subject to second guesses.

--imm

[cbayer]

11. As often happens, imm, I'm not sure what you mean by this.

I guess I would say that everything should be subjected to second guesses, even things that we feel absolutely certain are true.

[immoderate]

14. Right. Believers have to decide where god is right. And when to "deflect" god's law.

Hence, morality is a "rational" decision. And while people may be inspired by some literature, ultimately, they will judge it for their own purpose.

The dilemma with god and morality, is whether god is bound by it, or whether she makes it up as she goes along. Either way, it necessarily limits that beings powers.

Two words I usually avoid are "absolutely" and "certain," especially together. They may apply to math/logic issues, but have little real world application, except where superfluous, as in analytical statements.

--imm

[cbayer]

15. I think believers are all over the place on these issues.

The extent to which their religious beliefs guide their decisions varies from person to person, but I agree that ultimately it is a personal decision.

[pinto]

2. Love the anecdote. Jesuits have a similar tradition. Answer a question with a question.

"Why is it that you rabbis so often put your teaching in the form of a question?" To which the rabbi replies: "So what's wrong with a question?" - A funny, succinct example of the teaching style.

[TexasProgresive]

5. Who came first the rabbi or Socrates?

That's the Socratic method of teaching through questioning. And there ain't nothing wrong with that.

[cbayer]

4. I like that he stresses empathetic understanding of the beliefs of others.

Interestingly, this could be coupled with the atheistrev piece about being open to the opinions and beliefs of others and not shutting them out just because you disagree.

[Ink Man]

6. As millions of people

went out to party and bring in the new year a local church go out in the cold to help the homeless.

http://www.dailypilot.com/news/tn-dpt-me-1231-cold-homeless-20141230,0,6493722.story

Most nights, Daniel Parra wards off the bitter cold inside three sleeping bags and two blankets.

Parra, 54 and unemployed, often sleeps in a tent in the Newport Beach city yard. But Sunday night, frigid temperatures drove him to seek a warm bed at the Lighthouse Outreach Ministries in Costa Mesa, which offers interim shelter in inclement weather.

In Costa Mesa, Lighthouse Outreach Ministries on Anaheim Avenue has offered shelter for the past four years when the weather turned bad. Tim Brown, an administrative assistant and volunteer at the Lighthouse, said the shelter has reached its capacity of about 50 people. He has spent the last few days distributing blankets and sleeping bags to those sleeping outdoors. <snip>

This is what I see as religious faith in my front yard.

[cbayer]

7. And that happens everywhere every day.

Kudos to the Lighthouse Outreach Ministries.

[Ink Man]

12. To some

people the glass is always half empty. And to others we thank God it's half full.

Now go out with your glass half full and do good with what you have.

Happy New Year cbayer.

[cbayer]

13. I am very happy with half full, and I have much more than most.

I wish you a very happy, healthy and loving New Year, Ink Man.