Norris Burkes again. You can find a link to his complete columns on my front page link section.
Karin

Our quest for life’s answers never ends

March 17, 2007
BY NORRIS BURKES

Truthfully, I think atheists have a thing or two to teach people of faith. I think they teach us to not be so sure of ourselves and that’s a good thing.

Over the years, I’ve received a lot of e-mail from people who are sure of themselves. I’ve gotten e-mail from religious readers who, bless their hearts, have called me everything but a Child of God. Not too surprising, really.

But what does surprise me is the e-mails from self-described atheists or agnostics. These readers tell me they regularly avoid religious writing, but they often read my column.

Perhaps their endorsements boost the likelihood that I’ll be nominated next year, but I’d like to think these readers aren’t stereotypical atheists. These readers admit they are locked in a struggle with deeper questions. And I believe God will honor the sincerity of their struggle and will embrace those who continue to look for the answers to faith questions.

The problem I find in the hard line positions of some theists and some atheists is that they’ve become certain they now know all there is to know about God.

I’m not sure how they do that. Does one just get up in the morning and say, “I’ve researched the question of the universe and decided that I’m done now”?

How do you stop looking for the answers to spiritual questions such as: How did I get here? Not just in terms of molecules and genes, but in terms of how did I get into this moment? What does this moment mean for those I touch?

How does the hard-liner theist or the atheist exclaim with certitude the definitions of life and death so easily — especially questions that pertain to what happens after this life?

…we were able to struggle in a search for the holy.

Related Posts

• Leap of faith You can't debate faith nor can you debunk it. Faith is a personal choice inside one's heart. It's a choice the famous and much controversial theologian Karl Bart called a "leap of faith." If you're going to be a sojourner of faith, you'll need to prepare for some leaps,......
• Pay attention to the little stings of life Norris Burkes writes thought provoking essays about real life and God. This essay talks about almost losing his daughter to a bee sting, but her new boyfriend thought fast enough to be aware. I like the analogy he gives with it. ...The whole thing got me thinking how we constantly......
• What books are you reading? I'm currently reading two by Henri Nouwen (Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith and The Dance of Life: Weaving Sorrows And Blessings into One Joyful Step) and two by Alexandra Stoddard (Choosing Happiness: Keys to a Joyful Life and You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live......
• Taming the tiger I learned through years of parenting that usually there is one of three things behind a child's tantrum: either they need food, they need sleep or they need love. That's such a truism for life, really. When I have a hard day, it's generally because I need some rest, but......

If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.


Categories:

Guest writer, Quotations, Spirituality and God