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FAITH and JUSTIFICATIONS (1 of 6)

Who Cares?

Religion as a belief system is under attack in the early twenty-first century more than it was in its clash with Marxism during the Cold War. Many believers, however, are confident enough and feel no need to answer to those who doubt the soundness of their ideas.

It is common for people to refrain from arguing religion. They know why they like the religious gathering they are attending. They see their faith as more than an academic exercise; they see it as a means, as an anchor. They are likely to be moved by their gathering's service and feel themselves to be part of a distinct community of faith. They recognize that other people have their opinions but they would probably be annoyed by the social scientist or pollster whose business is to stick his nose into their business.

Someone looking at all the believers collectively does so, of course, detached. And such an observer finds failed reasoning or insufficient justification for their beliefs. Because of the contrary ideas among people of faith, all of them cannot be adhering to a realistic path to truth and righteousness -- no matter that some see something true in all faiths.

A brief attempt to examine what persons of faith offer as justification for their religious beliefs is attempted here. It begins with the academic and practitioner of a variety of religions, Huston Smith, a couple of academics who unite neuroscience and belief, followed by John Shelby Spong of the Episcopal Church. Then it touches on justification according to scripture by evangelicals, Jews and Muslims, followed by the oldest Christian institution represented by Pope Benedict XVI, a professor of theology before his election to the papacy in 2005.