I just finished Anne Lamott's latest book, "Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith" and heartily recommend it if you (1) are not easily offended, and (2) enjoy learning how others live their faith. Follow the link above to hear Lamott on NPR.
Wouldn't it be great if Julia Sweeney and Anne Lamott interviewed each other? They are both thoughtful, sincere, and loving truth-seekers, yet where Julia finds absurdity, Anne finds inspiration (as well as absurdity).
There is nothing to fear in exploring differing points of view. To quote Lamott:
"The opposite of faith is not doubt: It is certainty. It is madness. You can tell you have created God in your own image when it turns out that he or she hates all the same people you do. The first holy truth in God 101 is that men and women of true faith have always had to accept the mystery of God's identity and love and ways."
When you're absolutely certain you have nothing to learn. There is no mystery. There's no risk.
The cost of our misplaced certainty can be measured in human lives.
ReplyDeleteFrom CBS 60 MINUTES:
"Just retired Europe Head Central Intelligence Agency Administrator emphatically maintains there absolutely were no intelligence facts to justify the Bush Administration declaration to the U.S. Congress the nation must go to war in Iraq. The Administration deceived the United States Congress and took the nation into an unjustified war. Yet, the C.I.A. European Sector Administrator declared, "I have since retirement told some of my own relatives of these realities, and a few in my family have absolutely refused to believe the facts. They hold to a view that is difficult…as if they believe that Bush is like a monarch…as if when he says something, it must be the truth, just because the president says it."
Wake up, fellow Americans!