Defiant faith

Consciously or subconsciously, we all live out some 'answers' to these questions in everything we do.

Most people live by some faith, though not necessarily 'religious' faith, as that term is generally understood. They concentrate on the second question and are content to leave the first and the third in the 'too hard basket'. Nearly everybody, whether overtly religious or not, believes that it is important to live a good life, to be kind to (at least some) others, to work towards the common good (at least some of the time) etc. It is enough to try to do Good, without worrying too much about God.

But even those committed to living a good life sometimes wonder: what if our faith in and commitment to such 'Goodness' is ultimately just as meaningless to the universe as belief in the traditional God?

The author and teacher CS Lewis recalls an encounter late in his life with an American doctoral student who asked him about his faith: 'What if it was proved to be wrong? What if there wasn't anything to which it corresponded?' And Lewis replied: 'Why then, you would have paid the universe a compliment it doesn't deserve! Your error, even so, would be more interesting and important than the reality. And yet, how could that be? How could an idiotic universe have produced creatures whose mere dreams are so much stronger, better, subtler than itself?'

The person who best sums up this quest for me is Richard Holloway-an intelligent, generous spirited, religious person who has thought a lot about these big questions. His attitude is one of respectful engagement. He eschews dogmatism and certainty. He pleads for 'a bit more modesty in the way we debate these issues, a bit more magnanimity towards the people with whom we disagree.'

I am reminded of the moving plea by scientist Jacob Bronowski, quoted in my earlier article In Search of Wisdom:

There is no absolute knowledge and those who claim it, whether they are scientists or dogmatists, open the door to tragedy. All information is imperfect. We have to treat it with humility. That is the human condition…

It is possible to disagree strongly with people's religious beliefs without being disrespectful-something we would all do well to reflect upon before commenting.

At the 2009 Sydney Writers' Festival, Richard Holloway traced his own personal history of engagement with these big questions, which had haunted him, as they had Gauguin, since childhood.

Holloway, a former Anglican Bishop of Edinburgh, started from a position of strong religious faith, went through a dark night of the soul and came out an agnostic/atheist. He finally arrived at this last ditch of faith: faith as passionate defiance.

If it is only abyss-if we come from the abyss, if we go to the abyss, if the abyss is all we have- then let us so live that we will put meaning into that abyss … I like the idea of living as though the universe did mean something. And if it doesn't, we'll show it that we are better than it!

He finds inspiration in this, his favourite, quote from existentialist philosopher Castilian Miguel de Unamuno:

Man is perishing- that may be. But if it is nothingness that awaits us, then let us so live that it will be an unjust fate!

There is something great and indomitable about the human spirit, whether it is expressed through noble defiance or quiet humility and reverence.

But does living by such faith have any ultimate meaning or value beyond this finite existence?

Goodness knows!