(Originally published on March 25, 2022, under the “Faith Matters” series in the Flamborough Review community newspaper.
Exploring atheism and faith
This is part two of an article I wrote in January exploring the relationship between atheism and faith, discussing how I sometimes find that I have more in common with the worldviews of some atheists than some believers. In part one, I promised that part two would describe the God I do believe in. However, since that time, we, in Canada, have witnessed the Ottawa Occupation. Many of the participants were motivated by their faith. So, now I have to add a few more “I don’t believe”s before my “I do believe”s.
I don’t believe in a God of blind faith
I don’t believe in a God who is a shield that magically protects us from a virus. I do believe in a God who works through science.
I don’t believe in a God of blind faith that calls people on a cross-country quest of putting their own rights above others. I don’t believe in a God that values personal freedom above care for others. I do believe in a God who calls us to speak truth to power and stand up against genuine oppression on behalf of those whose voices are marginalized, diminished or ignored and those whose dignity is robbed.
I do believe in a God of love
I do believe, first and foremost, in a God of love – a God who calls us to love our neighbours as ourselves, not more than ourselves, and not less than ourselves. We have equal value to our neighbours in the eyes of the God I believe in.
I do believe in a God who calls us to drop everything to go after the lost sheep, who have been cut off from social support. Even though we all have equal value, some of us need more help. Equal value does not mean equal attention. Some lost sheep need more help and deserve more attention.
I do believe in a God who not only calls us to love our neighbours, but also calls us to love our enemies. Hearts are not changed by anger, resentment, demonization, or preaching like we’re right and anyone who disagrees with us is wrong. Hearts are changed by listening and loving, while at the same time holding people to account for their words and actions.
I do believe in a God of forgiveness. We all screw up at some point. Some of us badly. We all deserve another chance. But that does not include putting up with unacceptable behaviour. Unconditional love includes good boundaries.
Ryk Brown
