Hey friends,
It’s been a month since I last reached out, so it's great to be back in your inbox again. Working on Thinking In Stories has been a full-time endeavor, but I’m super excited with how things are turning out. I will be sending an update to the course waitlist by the end of the month(-ish), so please be on the lookout if you’ve signed up for the beta.
As for today, I have a new post to share, and it’s a big one.
There are some common questions we face that are hard to answer. For example, the question of “What do you do?” takes a second to ask, but requires a ton of clarification to address. Sure, you could answer it with a sentence about your job, but that’s a low-resolution response to a more nuanced reality.
Today’s post is on another question of this nature:
"Do you believe in God?"
In between a simple "Yes" and a "No," there is a gradient of belief that must be explored to answer this question properly. Truth lives in nuance, and even God is no exception.
When you’re ready, let’s dive in and figure this out together:
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Another Thing I Made
Since I wrote about God, I wanted to create a video reflection on a simpler topic. So... I settled on the meaning of life.
In this video, I discuss the question of meaning, some popular positions on the topic, along with how I answer it for myself. I also touch upon why I record my reflections in one take, and how it ties in with the process of thinking. Enjoy:
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A Thought I've Been Pondering
When it comes to religion, I often wonder what comes first: the community or the belief system?
For example, I grew up in the Anglican faith, so I was going to church well before I understood what any of the doctrines or creeds were. As a kid, all I knew was that on Sunday morning, I would be hanging out with other children and adults until it was time to go back home.
Over time, I developed strong bonds with these people, and church was the venue where those connections were nurtured. But without these bonds, would I have been receptive to the beliefs of the faith?
Rationalists criticize religion because of its irrational tales, but they are largely missing the point. It doesn’t matter how irrational a belief may be - if the community is a warm and compelling one, that belief will always have fertile soil to anchor itself and grow.
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An Illustrated Insight
"The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays." — Kierkegaard
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A Brief Parting Question
How do you answer the big question of “Do you believe in God?”
I know the answer may be complicated, but I encourage you to try typing out a response. Writing often helps to clarify your thoughts on things, and I’m sure it’ll be helpful to do so here. If you need a little help, feel free to use The God Spectrum (illustrated near the end of today’s post) as a reference point.
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As always, hit reply to share any thoughts, to respond to the parting question, or to simply say hello. I love hearing from you.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the rest of your week!
-Lawrence
P.S. Thanks to all the lovely people who support the blog on Patreon! Become a part of the patron community to gain access to exclusive reflections, AMAs, offline posts, and more.
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