When Faith is Reduced to a Matter of Debate

Cyril Law, Jr. - MA, Philosophy, Lecturer, School of Christian Studies, IIUM. Coordinator, Tridentine Liturgy Community, Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong.

Etymologically the word religion suggests the re-tying of a relationship. If the two parties involved are God and man, then there obviously are plenty of re-tying to do, given man’s propensity to fall under temptation. The intriguing part of this deal is that the string, once cut off, re-tied, brings the two ends closer to each other. Each knot takes some circuitous effort (which I call conversion and repentance), and the more time it takes the more segments of the string you’ll be using, thus Man’s traverse to the Ultimate takes great strides. Believe it or not.
It’s not only clichéd to say that one religion is as good as the other as they all lead man to good; this is a downright venomous, pseudo-truism that has been bewildering good-natured folks for ages. Religiosity, that is the pious, affective sentiments given to outward expressions, may in large part contribute to disposing man temperamentally onto his good-seeking venture. But should the fundamental principles of a certain religion are wrong-headed to begin with, then the drive for belief turns into the fuel to deceive. Truth, Goodness, Beauty – these three so-called transcendental qualities are set in strict ontological order – what is not true is rotten no good, let alone pretty.
Rational, scientific arguments are meant to be tools in bringing our muddled minds to come to a more lucid understanding of the Light too Bright to gaze untrained. Science therefore clashes not with Faith, but with science itself, especially when one branch of science is pitched against another claiming unerring supremacy. “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.” (Luke 11:17)
So, let’s come back to Pilate’s question: What is Truth? Sound Philosophy tells us that truth, elementally, is the concordance between what’s in my mind and what’s really out there. But in face of religious tenets, how can I know for sure what or Who is out there (or high above) that I am supposed to contemplate in my mind? That’s when Faith comes in. Treasured as both gift and knowledge, all men, religious differences aside, should embrace his or her Faith, not as a bone of contention, but as the unique hallmark of our mind’s unhindered link to things yet unknown but divine. We all have our own pair of ears (some funnier looking than others), yet we hear the same invisible tune. Though appreciating the music with different tastes from different angles could be subject to friendly debates, the experience of hearing itself is indisputable. So my proposal is, do not question your Faith (just as you don’t challenge your sense experience), but reserve rational debates to examining principles laid out by different religions, and stick to Pilate’s primal query: What is Truth?
And what was Jesus’ response? Well, His was a little bit enigmatic (and perhaps playful): Jesus simply died and rose to life to make a point. Whether Pilate or others got the point is another matter for debate.
As a Catholic Christian, what matters to me most would certainly be going to Mass, the Eucharistic Sacrifice, where we witness and receive True God made True Man present in the Form of a piece of Bread, which is not merely some kind of vague representation. That’s my Faith. “Well, if it’s [just] a symbol, to hell with it,” echoed Flannery O’Connor.

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