Conatus: REVISED EDITION by Tom Wallace - HTML preview

C O N A T U S

scientific truth. The more evangelical of Christian believers might try to use an almost scientific analysis of scripture, whilst also falling back on the notion that the Bible is divine revelation.

Revelation, up to a point, circumvents the impossibility of logical consistency by accepting certain beliefs as absolute. Some people find this easier to cope with than the contingency of incomplete knowledge. Believers may feel that God has given them all the answers they need in the Bible. The only problems might be with interpretation of a particular scripture and applying it to specific circumstances.

There is room for doubt; at least when faith is applied with a degree of compassion for self and others. But doubts, for the Christian, are probably answered more from closer focus on revelation and personal experience of God.

Often, I think, the believer is grappling with questions similar to everyone else: How should I live? How should I respond to a particular problem? But, of course, they will likely frame the question within the parameters of their faith. Perhaps this makes it easier for the believer to have their questions answered. Perhaps they will believe that God will guide them to the correct solution. Perhaps — even if they felt that it is harder for them to follow their faith and answer their problems from within it — they would still wish to try to do so. There is not a ready answer to the religious person who rejects philosophical, humanist or scientific reasoning in favour of whatever they believe their faith is telling them to do. Nonetheless, all of us, I

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