Living With Uncertainty

We all have to do it. It doesn't mean you have to like it. For those whom know me you will be aware that I am a former Bible believing Christian. I was sincere, genuine, and passionate. I've written elsewhere and at length as to my reasons why I no longer hold these views so I will not repeat myself here. From time to time I keep tabs on the Christian Post website, and today saw an article about a man much like myself. A more high profile Christian whom has also walked away. I ventured a comment in support of him, acknowledging the difficulty of his path and warning him of the things he could likely expect. The response to my thoughts were fascinating. I find that there is a certain type of Christian who really struggles when a former brother or sister in Christ falls away. It triggers a defence mechanism and this can take several forms. The ugliest is the one that asserts that "They must never have been a true Christian". This is a vile observation and it typically comes from a place of ignorance. I had always thought of myself as genuine, and I hope my dear Christian friends would acknowledge this. To simply dismiss a person as being a fraud from the get go strikes me as an incredibly unkind thing to say. In contrast, there are kinder and wiser people of faith who have compassion and empathy and are willing to get alongside you. They choose a path of love and warmth. They understand that leaving a faith is an utterly traumatic and scary thing to do. They will grieve with you even though they might disagree with your choice. This is beautiful to me. This is living out your faith. Along with these examples there are the fire breathers whom threaten Hell and eternal punishment. As if the person losing faith has not considered this? This is a fear response and usually comes from those bereft of intellectual capacity. The hell fire warnings have an algorithmic quality to them and are likely views that were shoe horned into them as they were growing up. Perhaps I should be a bit more compassion with these types? But to the point of today's post. All of us, irrespective of what we do or do not believe has to accept life is an uncertain thing. A precarious thing. Possibly a finite thing. Uncertainty, to my mind, should be a reason why we reach out and be compassionate with each other. We're all in the same boat. None of us really know the future despite wishing it were otherwise. Has the last year taught us nothing? And this principle extends far beyond just issues of faith. Relationships, employment, health, wealth all fall within the grasp of uncertainty. This is just the way the world is. There is so much you and I cannot control. We'd do well to recognise this. Now whilst I do not have a faith I accept I could be wrong. And if that is so then I'm in for a very rough ride post mortem. But that's no reason to profess belief in something when none exists. And if there really is a God do you think he would not see straight through me? So as hard as it is, we just have to accept that the world comes with a lot of uncomfortable realities, and we should try to make peace with that. You are not in control. You never were. But it's ok to try to exert a little when you can. As I write this I'm still getting flack from many on the Christian Post website. It's fine. I don't blame them. People like me are a threat to the notion of certainty. I have to be real about that. But what has any of this got to do with you? Possibly nothing. Perhaps you might want to reflect upon your own need to control your environment? Perhaps you too can come to appreciate the fragility and precarious nature of being a human on a planet like this. There's a lot to go wrong. A lot of it you have no control over. That's the truth of the human condition. We think ourselves robust when we are not. One way or another life is going to have its way with us, and all we can do is choose how to live in light of this disquieting fact.