Trust vs. Belief

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Tomorrow would be a great day for peace; today would be even better!

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I marvel at human creativity. Descartes is famous for “I think, therefore I am.” I propose a variation: “I create, therefore I am human.”

Of course, human creativity pales in comparison to yours. From divinity, however, we expect this characteristic to come naturally. To see it in such variety in mortal creatures gives me pause. Is this our futile effort to achieve immortality? Is it our Babel-like attempt to reach the divine realm? Or do the Quakers have it right when they say a spark of the divine (you) lives in us and seeks expression through us?

I like that.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Beam me up, Scotty.”

[I always wondered about the ascension, but He didn’t say that – probably.]

D. Blog: Trust God

Belief in God seems less important than trust in God. I realize this distinction goes back at least to Jesus and has been made my many others, so I’m not being original, just re-affirming.

Belief is of the head/mind/intellect, and might never connect to action. Of course Abram believed in God, but believing did not cause him to leave his homeland. Trust in God did. He is remembered not because he believed in God, but because he trusted God enough to risk everything in response to God. He did not look for security by believing in God, but entered on an adventure with God.

Trust is an attitude, a sense that life and risk need not be feared. Trust moves toward the future with hope and expectation, whether or not it is accompanied by belief in God. Trust assumes the prospects are bright because life rests in a positive force, whether or not we name that force “God.” It is trust that meets and overcomes life’s challenges. Too often, belief gets in the way of solutions or tries to ignore challenges because of dogmatic affirmations. In that regard, I think a trusting “atheist” has more to offer than many “believers.”