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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Cajoling City Hall ... Jeffrey Gillespie: The demise of Cecil the lion ... Ashland Calendar, Friday, Aug. 7 ... Our View: Cajoling City Hall ... Jeffrey Gillespie: The demise of Cecil the lion ... Ashland Calendar, Friday, Aug. 7 ... MOCHAS, MIDRASH AND MYSTERIES Mochas, midrash and mysteries: The problem with atheists and believers Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 5, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Aug. 5, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News I’ve always thought that the labels we regularly bring to describe people’s relationship to religion are problematic. The terms “atheist” and “believer” both can sound smug, as if whoever identifies with either term is absolutely sure of themselves. Not that there is there is anything wrong with being sure of something, just that when we speak about G-d, we are speaking by definition about a realm of utter mystery. We cannot know anything definitively. Also, when we are sure of something, we have a tendency to shut down anyone who challenges this assurance. And yet the term “agnostic” doesn’t do it for me either. Even if it better reflects our innate not-knowing, and sounds like a more humble approach, it can too easily become a term that one can invoke to avoid committing to something. A term that can sound wishy-washy (if intellectually honest!). It has been fascinating for Daniel Murphy and myself to continue our reading of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (now Pope Francis) and Rabbi Abraham Skorka’s "On Heaven And Earth," with a chapter titled “On Atheists.” Both men exhibit great humility. They don’t evangelize, nor are they patronizing or condescending in their writing about atheism. In fact, they identify the same shadows in many atheists that they see in many religious people. Cardinal Bergoglio writes that the atheist is made in the image of G-d just as much as he is. Whatever the identifying label we ascribe for ourselves, we all have virtues; we all have vileness. And it is only in humble connection across these lines of demarcation that we can help one another become better people. Rabbi Skorka says the arrogance that the atheist has in asserting that G-d definitively doesn’t exist is the same arrogance that would lead many believers to say that G-d definitively exists. Any believer who does not wrestle with doubt has a casual faith that has not been hard-won. How can we avoid this trap of surety? Daniel phrased it well when we were reading this chapter together: “What is most essential is the openness to mystery.” Too often, when we stake out an ideological position, we approach each encounter or discussion about this issue with a defensiveness. Does this discussion I’m having advance my position or not? Our world and capacity for experience becomes greatly diminished. Rabbi Ira Stone teaches that “Do you believe in G-d” is not really a Jewish question. A more Jewish question would be, “How true are you to your experience of holiness in the world?” When we can remain open to mystery, we can remain open to one another; and when we are truly open to one another, we are living a holy life. Rabbi Joshua Boettiger is the spiritual leader of Temple Emek Shalom in Ashland.     DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 5, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501