The orthodox understanding of faith lies in it being a belief
in the statements embraced within the Creeds of the Church.
Yet the opposite of faith is not doubt but certainty,
for certainty denies the need for faith.
Religious Faith may seem superfluous to our daily lives
Yet, we can not exist without Faith in the physical world around us;
our cars and cycles, the walls of our houses or offices.
We need equal stability in our mutual relationships.
Thus earthquakes and divorce have similar effects.
We do need our principles, moral boundaries, guidelines.
Without them life becomes a mess, incomprehensible
for we can not predict the behaviour of others
nor modify our reaction to their need.
Perhaps these guidelines, boundaries, are endorsed by religion,
by the teaching of Jesus and of other ancient savants,
but they also surface in less religious settings;
For we are exposed by lack of Faith
Lack or loss of faith leaves us exposed to life's vicissitudes.
We have no foundation to hang on to, no stability.
We may set off on a journey of discovery,
but lack a home port to which we can return.
Religions, whatever their form, provide firm principles, stability.
Rules and boundaries are defined; ways of acting and behaviour.
Those rules and boundaries are said to have been defined,
though some medium of authoritive communication,
in spoken, written or even human form,
by the God of that religion.
In religion we find a destination and a hope of eternal meaning.
In religion we are called to express faith and certainty,
in a purpose for our lives and a judgement upon them.
In church we can find justification and hope.
Yet maybe true faith lies in the courage to look more deeply,
to seek the reality of divinity that surely lies behind the mask of religious doctrine.
When faith presumes the rectitude of the conclusions others have drawn,
we are merely hiding, fearfully, behind protective boundaries.
Our faith is ratified only by challenging their presumptions.