David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
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"Let your faith be bigger than your fear."
Sometimes I get a bit pedantic. Faith? Faith in what? Fear in what? Like political slogans about "change" or "freedom," the absence of specificity or of some object (faith in ... Something), the slogan seems to promise meaning, to generate enthusiasm, then it leaves one either with the consequences of one's assumptions (good, bad or both) or with a head-scratching moment.
There are, after all, plenty of bad objects of faith, to play the devil's advocate (or somebody's advocate). One wonders why we all believed the market would keep going up forever, why certain investments would at least keep their value. A spouse wonders why s/he believed the partner would change. A friend lost his job earlier despite being told it would probably be later. His faith in timing was misplaced.
And then there are also good objects of fear, like the effects of gravity at heights or of the consequences of breaking the law or of an equal and opposite negative reaction in a relationship to a negative push one gives.
Of course for the proverbial "Let your faith be bigger than your fear," to suggest objects to faith and fear would make it sectarian at least insofar as the objects imply truth claims. What object(s) of faith is/are good? And what object(s) of fear may be overcome by such faith? And to be pedantic--well, I think true--the proverb is a slogan and a cop-out like various political parallels.
On the other hand, is it? For one thing, one might think it reasonable for readers of the proverb (if I can call it that) to have some idea of the proper objects of faith and the unreasonable objects of fear--at least as they apply to their situation. For another, it is one thing to be an arm chair critic demanding clarification as to such objects, but another to identify them in the trenches of life. None of us knows the future despite past experience. We may have a vague sense that our fears and faith are misplaced, but how do we know which objects are better? Yes, partly from past experience, but real choices are often attended by uncertainty and split choices between faith and fear.
Thus the proverb may express one side of a division in attitude when approaching the future or life choices. The proverb says something philosophical that opposes nihilism and pessimism. And if it is true or expresses a truth, at least as far as it goes--and I think it is true as far as it goes--it says something about reality and the universe we live in. We live in a hopeful world despite negative things. Faith in hopeful things must be maintained in the face of fear. So I am not sure if the proverb is shallow or profound.
Sometimes I get a bit pedantic. Faith? Faith in what? Fear in what? Like political slogans about "change" or "freedom," the absence of specificity or of some object (faith in ... Something), the slogan seems to promise meaning, to generate enthusiasm, then it leaves one either with the consequences of one's assumptions (good, bad or both) or with a head-scratching moment.
There are, after all, plenty of bad objects of faith, to play the devil's advocate (or somebody's advocate). One wonders why we all believed the market would keep going up forever, why certain investments would at least keep their value. A spouse wonders why s/he believed the partner would change. A friend lost his job earlier despite being told it would probably be later. His faith in timing was misplaced.
And then there are also good objects of fear, like the effects of gravity at heights or of the consequences of breaking the law or of an equal and opposite negative reaction in a relationship to a negative push one gives.
Of course for the proverbial "Let your faith be bigger than your fear," to suggest objects to faith and fear would make it sectarian at least insofar as the objects imply truth claims. What object(s) of faith is/are good? And what object(s) of fear may be overcome by such faith? And to be pedantic--well, I think true--the proverb is a slogan and a cop-out like various political parallels.
On the other hand, is it? For one thing, one might think it reasonable for readers of the proverb (if I can call it that) to have some idea of the proper objects of faith and the unreasonable objects of fear--at least as they apply to their situation. For another, it is one thing to be an arm chair critic demanding clarification as to such objects, but another to identify them in the trenches of life. None of us knows the future despite past experience. We may have a vague sense that our fears and faith are misplaced, but how do we know which objects are better? Yes, partly from past experience, but real choices are often attended by uncertainty and split choices between faith and fear.
Thus the proverb may express one side of a division in attitude when approaching the future or life choices. The proverb says something philosophical that opposes nihilism and pessimism. And if it is true or expresses a truth, at least as far as it goes--and I think it is true as far as it goes--it says something about reality and the universe we live in. We live in a hopeful world despite negative things. Faith in hopeful things must be maintained in the face of fear. So I am not sure if the proverb is shallow or profound.
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Faith in yourself. If you have no faith in yourself, faith in someone you trust. If you have no one you trust, faith in the understanding that the universe is unfolding as it should and that your job is to continue traveling through the dark tunnel until you begin to see the sunlight at the other end.
Peter
MVP
To me, faith is knowing that I am okay - regardless; and fear is believing that I am not okay - regardless.
My Knowing that I am okay does not contain any want, for I do not need anything to make my okay, I am already okay. Faith, for me, is holding onto that knowing, that truth of the matter.
As soon as I let go of that truth, I start believing that I am not okay. I start believing that I need people, places, things, and situations to turn out the way I want them to to feel okay. If my fear is big enough, it will scheme and act in ways of manipulating people, places, things, and situations to make sure it will turn out the way I want them to to feel okay. Fear, in this regard can easily escalate to what I call evil.
Fear is tense, harsh, irritable, insecure, doubtful, manipulative, deceptive, and self-centered. Faith is loose, gentle, calm, secure, knowing, honest, and open-minded.
Fear focuses on desired results, and becomes blind to anything else. Faith is open to anything and is aware of the truth.
Personally, I prefer to practice faith and be empowered than practice fear and be depleted.
My Knowing that I am okay does not contain any want, for I do not need anything to make my okay, I am already okay. Faith, for me, is holding onto that knowing, that truth of the matter.
As soon as I let go of that truth, I start believing that I am not okay. I start believing that I need people, places, things, and situations to turn out the way I want them to to feel okay. If my fear is big enough, it will scheme and act in ways of manipulating people, places, things, and situations to make sure it will turn out the way I want them to to feel okay. Fear, in this regard can easily escalate to what I call evil.
Fear is tense, harsh, irritable, insecure, doubtful, manipulative, deceptive, and self-centered. Faith is loose, gentle, calm, secure, knowing, honest, and open-minded.
Fear focuses on desired results, and becomes blind to anything else. Faith is open to anything and is aware of the truth.
Personally, I prefer to practice faith and be empowered than practice fear and be depleted.
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