FAITH ON TRIAL – Part 1: Is faith reasonable? Our spiritual search

In a spiritual search, what is it that we really want to discover? When people turn to books like the Bible, the Koran, the Hindu Scriptures (i.e., the Vedas or the Upanishads), the Book of Mormon – or even the latest book on spirituality like Ekhardt Tolle’s bestseller book on spirituality, A New Earth, what are they hoping to find? Truth? A better way to live? Some help to face the challenges that we all struggle with? More meaning … more purpose … more enlightenment? All of the above?

I think deep down what many are searching for (if they’re on a spiritual search at all) is a reasonable grand story that helps us make sense out of everything that we are experiencing in life – a grand, overarching story that also helps us make the most sense out of history and the universe that we live in. And not only that, but we don’t want to be just spectators of the story – just watching the story – we really do want to participate in it. We want to have a part in the story too and find our own place in it.

Is there such a story like that? Is there a story that best fits the world that I see, smell, taste and experience? If so, then maybe – just maybe – faith could be something reasonable and not just some blind leap in the dark.

As we begin to understand the biblical story and become part of it by entering into a thriving, vibrant, daily relationship with God who is the Author of the story, the new life that we experience connects deeply with our inner longings – so much so – that there is the potential for us to be completely filled and fulfilled.

But, … is the biblical story real … does it make more sense than any other explanation for the universe, our world or human history? Is it reasonable to have faith that the story really did happen and that it impacts me today?