questioning

Sometimes I think that our culture makes too big a deal about questioning. “Question authority.” “Teach your children to read. And teach them to question what they read.” “Question everything.” Those blanket statements make great bumper stickers, but they make crappy philosophy.

Yes, I think we need people to be more careful about what they believe – any random perusal of a Facebook stream will reveal approximately 8 stupid causes per day that people unthinkingly get behind, exclaim about, etc. But, there’s something to be said for a little magical thinking, faith, and taking things at face value. 

What I question most of all is the rampant need we seem to have to make things either/or. One can be both a person of faith and a rational being. Both a thinker and a feeler. Both a Christian and a social liberal.What’s sad is when people are so busy questioning they don’t stop to experience the answers, and the lush reassurance of knowing.