Q and A

Some fundamentalist believers discourage questioning the ways of God. They reason that God's ways are above our ways, and that it is not our place to question, but rather accept and obey.

I take a different stance. I encourage questioning. Generate questions. Foster doubt. Destabilize assumptions. There are a few benefits to questioning.

One, it cuts back on dangerous religious practices. By building in a little skepticism there is a let off valve for the pressure that can otherwise become explosive. Questions have a way of softening the hard edge of faith, and when that hard edge is about to be used in violence a little softening is in order.

Secondly, questioning can deepen faith. A person who has delved into the difficult aspects of their beliefs is more likely to have a sense of ownership about their ideology than someone who has not. Questioning is also something of a self-inoculation to attacks on the faith.

Overall, I more than support questioning God. I endorse it.

But here's the thing...

Questioning God is only half the equation. We are also called to answer God.

You know the types. In fact, you may be one. People who have a truck load of inquiries, ranging from earnest to cynical to snide. They ask, ask, ask, playing the Devil's advocate concerning all faith claims, committed to ever looking, ever challenging.

Consider this: will someone committed to ever looking ever find? Will someone ever challenging ever accept? No. If you are determined to ever seek, even when you find that for which you yearn, you will leave it to continue seeking. If you are determined to challenge, even if you meet your match, you will refuse to accept and continue beyond.

Rather, if you look, look for the sake of finding what is right. If you challenge, challenge for the sake of accepting what is true. Otherwise your quest is doomed to frivolity and empty failure.

Once again, I have no issue with questioning. But when I cast my eyes upward and ask, "My father, why did you bring them suffering?" I had better be ready for when God answers, "My son, so that you could bring them satisfaction."

It is human nature to question the universe. But it is also human nature to serve the universe. If you have the urge to grill your creator, by all means. That is however, only step one. Actually listening for the answer is step two. Step three, transform your life in response to what was revealed to you.

It takes pride to question God. It takes humility to accept the answer. This is one of the fundamental pillars of relating to the divine, and we are called to strive in both endeavors. If you find yourself doing one or the other, it may be time for some for some real Q and A.