This is an insightful take from a Christian perspective, but it puts forward a stark choice for regular folks who aren’t profoundly weird tech oligarchs—either you believe it all or you shouldn’t even try. I think our culture is somewhat biased in seeing religion as largely about beliefs. It makes sense because we live in a time when bel…
This is an insightful take from a Christian perspective, but it puts forward a stark choice for regular folks who aren’t profoundly weird tech oligarchs—either you believe it all or you shouldn’t even try. I think our culture is somewhat biased in seeing religion as largely about beliefs. It makes sense because we live in a time when belief-based religions are the main ones (although Jewish people might argue that their religion is less about beliefs than Christianity). I can see why someone might want to follow certain rituals and practices even if they can’t believe specific historical and/or theological claims. If there is in fact a natural need for religion, it likely has more to do with rituals and community and meaning, and less to do with assenting to a list of creedal statements.
"But at least learn your inability to believe, since reason brings you to this, and yet you cannot believe. Endeavor then to convince yourself, not by increase of proofs of God, but by the abatement of your passions. You would like to attain faith, and do not know the way; you would like to cure yourself of unbelief and ask the remedy for it. Learn of those who have been bound like you, and who now stake all their possessions. These are people who know the way which you would follow, and who are cured of an ill of which you would be cured. Follow the way by which they began; by acting as if they believed, taking the holy water, having masses said, etc. Even this will naturally make you believe, and deaden your acuteness."
This is an insightful take from a Christian perspective, but it puts forward a stark choice for regular folks who aren’t profoundly weird tech oligarchs—either you believe it all or you shouldn’t even try. I think our culture is somewhat biased in seeing religion as largely about beliefs. It makes sense because we live in a time when belief-based religions are the main ones (although Jewish people might argue that their religion is less about beliefs than Christianity). I can see why someone might want to follow certain rituals and practices even if they can’t believe specific historical and/or theological claims. If there is in fact a natural need for religion, it likely has more to do with rituals and community and meaning, and less to do with assenting to a list of creedal statements.
"But at least learn your inability to believe, since reason brings you to this, and yet you cannot believe. Endeavor then to convince yourself, not by increase of proofs of God, but by the abatement of your passions. You would like to attain faith, and do not know the way; you would like to cure yourself of unbelief and ask the remedy for it. Learn of those who have been bound like you, and who now stake all their possessions. These are people who know the way which you would follow, and who are cured of an ill of which you would be cured. Follow the way by which they began; by acting as if they believed, taking the holy water, having masses said, etc. Even this will naturally make you believe, and deaden your acuteness."
(From Pascal's Pensées)