I have just listened to a radio show entitled: "Blind Faith." This is very interesting to me. By its very nature all faith is blind. This includes the faith of the scientist as well as the religionist. The religionist has faith in an un-provable proposition (i.e. My loving god exists.). The scientist also has faith in the un-provable notion that the universe operates by consistent laws, and that human senses can accurately perceive reality (i.e. The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics accurately predicts the eventual heat death of the Universe.).

Now, just because I can't prove the Laws of Thermodynamics or the existence a loving god does not mean I am should give up my refrigerator or stop going to mass. Nor should I. I do, however, have a responsibility. I must admit that I just do not know. This is very difficult to do for both the fundamentalist religionist as well as the fundamentalist scientist. Here is where the honest person will introduce the tool of reason. Before I go on, there are a few things that must be said about reason. 1st) Reason always starts with an un-provable proposition. Put another way, reason always starts with faith. 2nd) Reason makes a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. Reason has its limits. 3rd) Wrongly used, reason is dangerous. Jim Jones and Hitler were impeccably reasonable people (i.e. If a heavenly Kingdom awaits us after we die, it is perfectly reasonable to drink the poisoned Kool-Aid. If the Jews are a millstone around the neck of a superior Aryan race, it is quite reasonable to eliminate them.).

What I am saying here is that, we need to mix a little reason with our faith. This we must do at the very beginning of the faith process. We must shed the light of reason on our beginning propositions. (You remember those: My god is a loving god, and the 2nd law of thermodynamics accurately predicts the heat death of the universe.) Used in this way, reason tells us that we cannot be certain about our beliefs. This has the very positive effect of making us uncertain. Uncertainty allows us to live life in a more open and humble manner. If Jones or Hitler had been strong enough individuals to apply their, otherwise, impeccable reason to their opening propositions they would have experienced realistic uncertainty. Millions of lives and untold suffering could have been spared.

Unlike the above mentioned radio program, I am not in favor of blind faith. I promote a faith that can humbly hear others’ opinions and is open to the complexities of an ever-changing universe.

Here are some (but not all) articles of my faith:

• I believe we are free.
• I believe that meaning, justice, compassion, and love are inherent in the universe.
• I believe in a living universe and that I and all other beings are incarnations of the universe. (This has nothing to do with reincarnation.)
• I believe that compassionate living reveals the nature of the universe to us and is a true path to wholeness and joy.

Humbly and uncertainly yours,

Jim