Faith is often used by agnostics as a term of abuse. It is taken to mean blind credulity which accepts dogmas and creeds without question, repeating parrot-like slogans and closing our ears to doubt and reason. Such faith is composed of laziness, obstinacy, ignorance, and fear. Because it is rigid and unyielding it can quite easily be shaken and altogether destroyed. True faith is provisional, flexible, undogmatic, and open to doubt and reason. It can begin with nothing more than a feeling of interest in the possibilities of a spiritual life. Whatever sparks your interest (a passage of scripture, someone we meet, a longing for God), you may feel it could be what you are looking for. You can’t be sure – and you shouldn’t be – but you decide to give it a try. Faith requires “comfort with uncertainty”.
