I was reading a BYU forum address by Terryl Givens, a professor of religion and literature from Virginia University. There was one part at the end that really struck me, because it helped to answer my question. Here's what he said:
I am convinced that there must be grounds for doubt as well as belief in order to render the choice more truly a choice--and, therefore, the more deliberate and laden with personal vulnerability and investment.... One is, it would seem, always provided with sufficient materials out of which to fashion a life of credible conviction or dismissive denial.... What we choose to embrace, to be responsive to, is the purest reflection of who we are and what we love. That is why faith, the choice to believe, is, in the final analysis, an action that is positively laden with moral significance.So basically, there's not enough evidence to prove things in either direction, and as a result, we have to choose. That's right, it's another chance to exercise the fabulous gift of agency. And there's enough room for doubt, just as there's enough room for belief. Each person has to choose whether or not they want to believe, and that choice--as Givens states so well--is a reflection of who we are and what we love.
The entire address was amazing, and I highly recommend it to everyone (it's about Joseph Smith and some of his contributions to the world--great stuff). Here's the linky: Terryl Givens--"Lightning Out of Heaven": Joseph Smith and the Forging of Community, BYU forum address, 29 Nov. 2005
4 comments:
Wow, that was neat. I'm with you on wishing we could convince the world of the Plan of Happiness. I overheard a girl at the gym saying she thinks her current decision (whatever it was) was right because her horoscope said it was. I wanted to tell her so badly that all she really had to do was pray to the true and living God and He Himself would answer her. But, where I was eavesdropping and all...
Thanks for the insight!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Brad! I like the points you brought up about agency.
Isn't it amazing that Heavenly Father has given each of us our agency to choose for ourselves even though He knows some might not choose Him?
I was reading a talk by Elder Neal A. Maxwell this morning where he said:
"Significantly, too, the Lord refuses to intimidate by sending legions of angels in order to ensure that individuals do His will (see Matt. 26:47-53). His will is to be done "because of the word," not because we are compelled (Alma 36:26). The rule has been, is, and will remain "Nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself" (Moses 3:17). The Lord wants conversion without intimidation."
He's not going to force anyone to believe in Him ... as you said, "the fabulous gift of agency" has been given to each of us.
Isn't it exciting that one can find out for himself/herself if He is really there? It all begins with a DESIRE to know.
Let us not use this phrase (or any permutation thereof)
"Each person has to choose whether or not they want to believe, and that choice--as Givens states so well--is a reflection of who we are and what we love."
as a nifty excuse for labeling people or assuming to understand who they are and what they love. It may well be a reflection, but it is ethically terrifying to assume that we understand the causes for another's decisions.
Why I choose to believe in God and why another does not is much too inward and painfully subjective to be dealt with in any crude, insensitive or, well, wrong, method. I accuse no one specifically of committing such an act (while accusing all of us generally) but feel that caution is called for.
Eric, I agree. While there may be a correlation of certain beliefs and attitudes, we definitely can't imply causation.
There are plenty of really good people who don't believe in God, and there are some crappy ones who do. I think that the important thing is to just avoid judging, labeling and assuming about people in the first place.
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