Trusting Doubt: A Former Evangelical Looks at Old Beliefs in a New Light by Tarico Valerie

Author:Tarico, Valerie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Oracle Institute Press, LLC
Published: 2010-10-02T00:00:00+00:00

Don’t tell me what you believe.

Tell me what you do,

and I’ll tell you what you believe.

—Anonymous

Beliefs are only one small part of what governs our intentions and our behavior. They are cognitive overlay, a minute fraction of our mental processing, one that happens to be available to our conscious minds. The field of cognitive science is just beginning to offer glimpses into a fascinating array of mental processes that operate just below the level of our awareness. Here is one of the findings: If you measure beliefs/expectations by measuring relevant behavior or emotional arousal, you find that we don’t always believe what we think we do – including what we think we believe about God.4 Another finding: Our sense of certainty or knowing is a feeling. It can be triggered in the absence of real knowledge (sometimes even by faulty brain chemistry), and at other times no amount of evidence will produce that feeling (also sometimes because of faulty brain chemistry).5

Let me tell you a story. Jake is an expert on global warming. In a conversation with two friends, he tells them about problems that carbon emissions are creating, problems they may or may not be able to see, and what he thinks they should do about it. “Wow,” says one. “I believe you. This is really serious.” She joins a group called Climate Security and tells other people about Jake’s conversation with her. However, the other friend says, “I don’t know what I believe about this stuff. I think the evidence is still out.” All the same, when the time comes for new light bulbs, she puts in compact fluorescents, and when her brother totals her car, she replaces it with a hybrid Prius. If what Jake cares about is real world climate stability, does it matter to him what she believes? Who is his ally? Who is on the side of goodness, defined by Jake as stable climate? Both of his friends meet this definition.

If we humans can distinguish beliefs from realities and can value the more complex realities over beliefs, should we not assume that any being worthy of worship can do the same?

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