I believe in believing in God
Part 2: It is our faith that changes everything
But is there any way round this?
Let’s consider some statements.
- I believe in God
- I don’t believe in God
- I doubt God’s existence
The first person is happy in their faith
The second person is content that they have made the correct decision about God not existing – though this may fill them with joy or sadness, but probably they are content that they have made the right decision.
The third person finds it difficult to believe in God – and let’s say that they would like to believe if only they could deal with their doubts.
What about adopting the point of view:-
- I believe in believing in God
What is such a person saying?
They believe that believing in God is a good thing. If God existed, that would be great.
They accept that there is legitimate doubt about whether he does actually exist.
But they are willing to make a commitment to believing in him, on the basis that such belief is beneficial.
The third person above, who doubted God’s existence, was troubled in their faith. This person has consciously incorporated into their faith an acceptance that God may not be real (though he may be) but that a life of faith is the best way to live their life. Nevertheless, their faith is on shaky foundations.
The first person had no doubts and was able to commit themselves to a life of faith in God
The second person had concluded that God is not real and so did not live a life of faith in God
The third person wanted to live a life of faith in God but was blighted by their doubts
The fourth person is able to commit to a life of faith in God because it is a life of faith that they are committing themselves to. They have no doubts about the reality of the faith that they are committing to.
Yes, but is this really getting us anywhere? There is no point fooling yourself into believing something that is not true.
So, is this fourth person taking up a valid way of life?
I suppose what they’re saying is that the idea of God is their supreme value.
For traditional believers, God is the ultimate and they commit to him because he is the ultimate.
In fact, the name “God” is a term that means, “what we hold to have ultimate value”
So, it is not unfair for someone to say that the idea of God is what they find to have ultimate value. And as we explore this idea, it contains all the wonder that God holds for those who have no difficulty in believing. God still stands for the supremacy of love, for the willingness to care for others, to forgive, to pay back good for evil. God stands for the wisdom not to judge at face value, but to show supreme discernment, and to judge not on the basis of your own self-interest, nor to condemn others, even if they are repulsive, but instead to show a commitment to redeeming those who are lost and working for the best interests even of those who hate you. And to do all this because you have a deep understanding of the weaknesses of humanity, but also of our potential to become better people – under the impact of God’s love.
This is what it means to believe in believing in God, and it is completely in tune with traditional belief in God. Traditionally, people have believed that the qualities I’ve just described are God’s qualities, and, as God is God – that is ultimately supreme, it right and good and proper that we should live in tune with him. For those who find it hard to believe that God exists as a personal being, it is still possible to believe in believing in God. That is, the person makes a commitment – exactly equivalent to the typical faith commitment – to give themselves to living in tune with the love and wisdom that they conceive to be of ultimate value.
Spiritual Devotion 