Here I begin discussion of the book The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian and the Risk of Commitment by my former colleague and always friendDaniel Taylor. If you have read Chapter 1: The Nature of Reflection feel free to comment. If not, feel free to ask a question. In any case, follow the rules set forth at the end of this blog post.
Dan Taylor was professor of English at Bethel College (now Bethel University) in St. Paul, MN when I was teaching theology there 1984-1999. He was considered by all a wise man, a colleague we could turn to for sound advice. He was always also a calming presence in meetings. His students loved him. He wrote several books and tells me this was his first. I was published by InterVarsity Press in 1986 and again in 1991.
I read the book soon after it was published (1986) and found that it spoke to me and for me. I felt no longer alone when I read it. Before reading it I wasn’t sure how to understand myself. I knew I had a mentality and personality that did not fit among “true believers”—people who were absolutely certain about everything and were smug about being totally right, especially about religion.
On the other hand, as I now re-read the book, I wonder if I quite fit the profile of a “reflective Christian” as Dan describes it. Maybe mostly yes and partly no.
Chapter 1 lays out what Dan means by “reflection.” The word has many meanings, so it’s good that he explains his meaning of it in some detail.
”The reflective person is, first and foremost, a question asker—one who finds in every experience and assertion something that attracts further investigation.” (16) “To be reflective is to be sensitive to and fascinated by the complexity of things.”
As the book unfolds it becomes clear that Dan once taught at a fundamentalist Christian college. He told me what it is but I won’t name it here. He taught there before coming to Bethel and he found Bethel to be a breath of fresh air, as did I. I attended and graduated from a fundamentalist Bible college and gained a very negative reputation there because I couldn’t help asking questions. Most of my fellow students did not ask questions, at least not like my questions. Theirs were for points of information. Mine were “Why?” Types of questions. “Why do we believe that?” “Is that really true?” “Where does the Bible say that?” “Why should we believe that?” My Bible college instructors didn’t like my questions.
Was I a reflective Christian? Am I one now? I think I was then. I wonder if I am now.
Dan goes on in Chapter 1 to talk about two subcultures in which he finds himself uncomfortable because both seem to be closed-minded and he cannot help pushing back against dogmatisms. The first subculture is the Christian one and he means, I suspect, especially the conservative evangelical one. The second subculture is the secular, intellectual one. I earned an MA and a PhD at a major secular research university and frequently ran into people, both students and professors, who were very dogmatic about their beliefs. Both my Bible college and my university had people who pushed back hard against my questions.
I resonated with Dan’s statement that “Every belief system repels competitors in a variety of ways.” (24) However, I am not sure about this: “When people defend their world view, they are not defending reason, or God, or an abstract system; they are defending their own fragile sense of security and self-respect.” (25) I think one can defend his or her worldview for selfless reasons, intending only to defend it against misunderstandings and misrepresentations.
I certainly agree that “Often reflective people are out of step because they sense that something is not right. They may be confused themselves, but they should be listened to. God has often used those with troubled hearts to speak to their society and to call His people closer to Himself.” (26)
*Note: If you choose to comment, makes sure your comment is no more than 100 words, on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of pictures or links.*
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