St
BB. How are you? And why the rabbit costume?
BB
I've been watching Donnie Darko again. There's a precedent.
St
Hang on. Wasn't that about a deluded kid with an imaginary friend?
(Beat)
I forgot. You don't answer that sort of question do you?
BB
So what's the state of your faith?
St
Can't you ask about my health or work or reading or filing or something gentle first?
(beat)
OK, OK. My faith is as strong as ever.
BB
So why has it always been like that?
St
I've been asking myself that. Once upon a time I analysed all the things I believed and rationalised as to why they were, on balance, more likely than not. I proved to myself that being a Christian was the right thing to do and followed Jesus as a result.
BB
Once upon a time?
St
Yeah.
BB
So what changed?
St
I worked out (rationally) that that wasn't faith. It was logic. Having very little faith (Mustard Seed Shavings anyone?) and yet acting as if everything is proved, is having great faith.
BB
I like your reasoning. But isn't it still reasoning? Can't you ever let go of reasoning?
(Beat)
Well?
St
You don't like it when I do it to you do you?
(Beat)
(Beat)
(Beat)
(Beat)
BB
You know who will crack first?
St
I don't really know how to let go of reasoning completely. Cogito ergo sum and all that. I think there are meaningful beliefs that are not based on my experience but I don't know how to access them apart from reasoning.
BB
Wow.
St
Why?
BB
That was really good thinking that. Top drawer pants.
St
But still pants?
BB
Glass darkly and all that.
St
I'm going to pray now.
BB
Wow.
St
Why?
BB
No way is that logical. Keep this up and for a nominal service charge you'll achieve Nirvana tonight.
St
Wrong faith; but good Zappa quote.
BB
By the way did you hear about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit talking about their holiday plans?
St
No.
BB
They all decide to holiday in England. God the Father says he's going to the Eden Project as it reminds him of a lovely garden he made once when the beauty was unspoiled. Jesus the Son says he's going to the Northumberland Moors where there is a vast wilderness for prayer and solitude. They ask the Holy Spirit where he's going and he says to New Wine at Shepton Mallet.
'Why there?' ask Father and Son.
'Oh' he says, 'I like to go to places I've never been before.'
St
Thank you, good night.
Big Blogger is St's friend.
2 comments:
Why is faith 'logical'? It's not at all logical to me! I'm more and more convinced that it's far more logical to believe that God is a method of control used by man when all other methods have failed, a method of comfort when all else seems hopeless and a neat and tidy way to explain away the inexplicable.
Occam's Razor - the simplest explanation is usually the best one - means that a mythical entity who could control everything (but chooses not to, on seeming whims) simply seems a much more complicated explanation for life than necessary...
Is the alternative - that everything's random and we are all just making the best of it - too terrifying to contemplate? Have we simply created a way to create order from chaos?
Genuine questions, not trying to start an argument...
Good questions Marcella. What I was trying to say is that faith isn't logical (if it were, it wouldn't be faith) but it feels like it ought to be.
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