The Anchoress: Miracles & Conversations On The Nature Of Belief — Wish I Was This Deep
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009Out of the loop due to actually trying to do some paying work — that is important once in a while ya know . . . Still, can’t not bring these next two to your attention, both by The Anchoress.
First post: Miracles, Indeed
For all those out there that just can’t bring themselves to entertain the concept of miracles, she gives us the very real, very current news of a pregnant mother with seemingly incurable cancer of the mouth and throat that can’t have full-blown treatment until after the baby is delivered — after much in the way of prayers and light radiation — her cancer is . . . gone!
In the same post is news of baby Faith, born without a cerebrum, without an upper brain. Told that it would be a miracle for the baby to live 39 minutes, she has survived 39 days and shows signs of consciousness and normal activity for an infant. The docs had to do an MRI to make sure that no cerebellum was actually there — it isn’t. There are no explanations, except . . .
Second post: “Not believing is even worse.”
Our Anchoress considers the nature of “belief” after a conversation with a New York cabbie and concludes:
[F]or believers there is the reality that our lives and our ways continually give scandal to “the faith,” no matter what faith. The Islamofacists give scandal to the Muslims, the shyster-televangelists give scandal to the Evangelicals, the sins of our priests give scandal to the Catholics, the Hadassah lady sneaking a pork egg roll gives scandal to the Jews. My sharp answer to a stranger, while I wear the cross of Christ crucified, gives scandal. The cranky driver who yelled at me two weeks ago gave scandal to whatever his faith is.
Believers aren’t any better than anyone else, and belief – for all the good it does, and it does much – still serves as the impetus for so much that is bad in the world!
And yet…not believing is even worse.
Tell me you don’t want to know the whole skinny about that conversation.
Technorati Tags: miracles, baby Faith
Sphere It