Continuing to blog through this book: Walking Away from Faith (Unraveling the Mystery of Belief and Unbelief) by Ruth Tucker. InterVarsity Press, 2002. * part 1, part 2, part 3
I’ve been moving right along blogging through this book, but the middle section of it has slowed me down. The author covers so much territory that I feel a bit uncertain on how to present the main ideas in a blog post or two. But here it goes…
The middle section of the book explores major challenges to the Christian faith – both historically and in modern times. The book is not meant to be apologetic, rather it just presents the various difficulties some people face in holding on to their faith.
The point is: We should be familiar with these objections to faith and take them seriously… rather than being dismissive, as Christians can unfortunately be sometimes. People struggling to retain their faith deserve respect and consideration. (Have you ever had a serious concern about an issue, only to be treated in a dismissive manner? It is very frustrating!) This section of the book looks at the influence of science, philosophy, the field of biblical criticism, psychology, social issues, and personal disappointment with God. Yes, it covers a lot of ground, but Tucker does an exceptional job of introducing and summarizing the issues. She provides enough information, but not too much, which can pave the way for you to explore any of these issues in more depth on your own.
In the chapter on biblical and historical reflections on doubt and unbelief, Tucker goes all the way back to the beginning – as in Genesis and the Garden of Eden. Even in paradise unbelief was only a temptation away. “From the Fall onward, God’s people have an inclination towards unbelief.” The point is that doubt and unbelief is nothing new. Christians can sometimes bemoan the terrible disbelief of our modern day, yet it has existed in different ways throughout history.
Even in the pages of the New Testament when Christ was still on earth, doubts and disbelief jump out as us:
From a cursory glance at New Testament figures we see an embodiment of faith that is not always unwavering and tidy. There is tension, uncertainty, and messiness. The good is mixed with bad, pride is mixed with humility, and the true is mixed with the false. Judas appears to have abandoned whatever faith he may have had. John the Baptist faltered in his faith. Peter denied and cursed. Thomas demanded proof. And they were all insiders, so to speak. Indeed, doubt and unbelief, as presented in the Scriptures, by no means constitutes the unforgivable sin. Time and time again there is a sense of understanding and forgiveness.
Some of the issues we struggle with today are the same as New Testament times. For example, our doubt may not be about whether there is a God, but about who Jesus is: Was he really the Messiah and Son of God, or just another rabbi? But modern times have indeed induced new doubts – through areas such as science and biblical criticism. But we can take some comfort in knowing that doubt and disbelief itself is not new and other people have “suffered” with it too. I think we can have a false idealistic idea of faith as being easier than it actually is. Yet realistically, a life of faith will have a degree of tension and uncertainty. (We walk by faith, not sight.) Coming to terms with this fact may be another key in retaining faith despite doubts.
Tucker makes some observations about the “practical atheism” we observe more frequently in our modern day. (Referring to people who affirm they “believe in God”, yet live in a way that does not reflect it.) Even solid Christian believers can be guilty of this too. In centuries past, before modern technology and science, daily life was hard and people really leaned on their faith. Today we may say we depend on God, but really we are depending on…the doctor, the airplane, or other technology! We all have a tendency toward practical atheism, and perhaps admitting this can give us a little more understanding towards the real atheists in our midst.
More to come on this section of the book. As always, thoughts are welcome!
Great job on this one too, Laura. I don’t always take the time to say it, but I can’t express how much I appreciate the way you deal with the subject of unbelief. You always stay open-minded and sympathetic. Thank you.
I do have one question regarding the paragraph on “practical atheism.” What do you think of religious people that eschew modern medicine today in an effort to rely solely on God’s care? Are they good examples of what it takes to live by faith? Or if they’re mistaken, then is relying on modern medicine really a sign of practical atheism? Not trying to make any particular points, by the way — that was just a question that came to me as I was reading.
Thanks!
Thanks Nate! And good question! I was a nurse in my “former life” (haha) – I practiced as a RN for 18 yrs and burned out permanently. So I’ve encountered this. As a Christian, I see it this way: Humans are made in the image of God. God created, and so we create to – whether it is art or inventions and discoveries. For me, it would be foolish to refuse to utilize these things. But ultimately where is our trust? Is it in the medical technology or in the God who is ultimately behind it all – who created us and gave us our abilities to be used for Him.
Okay, so whether the help comes through prayer or through medicine, in the end, God gives us our gifts; therefore, it’s really all from God anyway. I see that. When I was a Christian, I viewed it similarly.
There’s the old story about a man trapped in his house during a flood. Someone in a car stops by and asks if he’d like to go with them and evacuate. “Nah, God’s going to watch out for me. Thanks, though,” he replies. Later, the water has come into his house and he’s sought refuge on the second floor. Someone comes by in a boat and offers to rescue him. “Nope. God will deliver me,” he assures them. Finally, the water has risen so high, he’s stranded on his roof. Some rescuers in a helicopter come by and try to rescue him. “I don’t need help,” he responds. “God will deliver me.” Finally, the man drowns. When he stands before God, he asks why God never rescued him. God replies, “I sent you a car, a boat, and a plane — what else did you want?!”
I’ve always admired Thomas, Laura. Do you think he actually deserves the reputation as a doubter that he’s been saddled with? it’s apparently based on him asking for the same proof the other disciples received when they got to see and touch Jesus that first night. But when you consider his earlier conduct, I think it’s hard to call him a doubter. When Jesus said he was going to Jerusalem and the disciples were pointing out that people there wanted to kill him, Thomas spoke up and said “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Not much doubt displayed there.
Me, on the other hand, now I do doubt occasionally. I tend to follow G.K. Chesterton’s advice though. He said that if he ever feels like Christianity might not be true, he just lies down until the feeling goes away. That advice provides two things for me: one, time passes and I see if all I’m dealing with really is mere feelings and not real doubt; two, I get to lie down for a while!
Tim
Hi Tim! You are right – it seems we call Thomas “doubting Thomas” based on one incident. How would we feel if our entire reputation stemmed from one incident? Yikes! Maybe it was just an isolated episode of doubt, but maybe it was more – we can’t really know. But I’m glad the episode is there, as I like proof too and we can all have moments of doubt.
GK Chesterton can be such a hoot!! I’m reminded of something CS Lewis said: “Now that I am a Christian I do have moods in which the whole thing looks very improbable; but when I was an atheist I had moods in which Christianity looked terribly probable.”
Ha! Thanks for that Lewis quote, Laura.