16th - 23rd Dec 2007

This week's thought is about the freedom to express one's ideas – an essential ingredient in a university:

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Evelyn Beatrice Hall (1868-1919, writer; from 'The Friends of Voltaire' (1906) written under the pseudonym Stephen G. Tallentyre). The quotation is a paraphrase of Voltaire in his 'Essay on Tolerance' and so is often misattributed to Voltaire (1694 – 1778, philosopher).

Additional Thoughts

Physicist David Bohm became very interested in solving the crises of humanity and believes that freedom to express one's ideas clearly without force is a key ingredient:

"Suppose we were able to share meanings freely without a compulsive urge to impose our view or to conform to those of others and without distortion and self-deception. Would this not constitute a real revolution in culture?"

David Bohm (1917-1992; physicist and philosopher; from 'Changing Consciousness', 1992).

In her analysis of the origins of the Bible, Karen Armstrong shows that freedom to interpret the Bible needs a charitable outlook in a divided world:

"The 'principle of charity' accords with the religious ideal of compassion… Today we see too much strident certainly in both the religious and the secular spheres. Instead of quoting the Bible in order to denigrate homosexuals, liberals or women priests, we could recall Augustine's rule of faith: an exegete [interpreter of Biblical text] must always seek the most charitable interpretation of a text.
"The Bible is in danger of becoming a dead or an irrelevant letter; it is being distorted by claims for its literal infallibility; it is derided – often unfairly – by secular fundamentalists; it is also becoming a toxic arsenal that fuels hatred and sterile polemic. The development of a more compassionate hermeneutics [interpretation] could provide an important counter-narrative in our discordant world."

Karen Armstrong (1944-, "freelance monotheist"; from 'The Bible: The Biography', 2007).

9th - 16th Dec 2007

In his book 'The God Delusion', atheist Richard Dawkins gives the impression that all religious people think that an unquestioning faith is a virtue. This may be a "pernicious delusion" (a phrase Dawkins uses for those who believe in God) which Dawkins himself is trying to spread. My own faith tradition regards questioning as an essential element for a growing faith to be relevant in every generation (see Additional Thoughts below). Perhaps Dawkins is confusing an unquestioning faith with trust - it is an unwavering trust which is a virtue. As a 'religious scientist', I agree fully with Albert Einstein that:

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvellous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity."

Albert Einstein (1879-1955, Physicist and Nobel Laureate; from the magazine 'Life', May 2, 1955).

Additional Thoughts

Some thoughts about questioning from theologians:

"To ask questions is ultimately to be enriched."

Frances Young (Cadbury Professor of Theology, Birmingham University; from "Can these Dry Bones Live?" SCM Press, 1982, p19).

"Exploring and questions are essentials to the dynamic of living faith."

David Jenkins (former Bishop of Durham; from "The Calling of a Cuckoo: Not Quite an Autobiography" Continuum, New York / London, 2003, p66).