I have been thinking about the difference between fact, belief, and faith. In the age of the Internet, fake news, etc., knowing the truth seems to be more and more difficult. Take the events of January 6th. There are hours of video showing exactly what happened that day. Those videos give a factual account of the events. Yet what those events mean is a matter of belief. Some people want to believe it was just a peaceful protest, while others believe it was an attack on American democracy. No matter what facts are presented, belief really doesn’t change because it isn’t about the facts, but more about what beliefs that person holds about their political party. I’m not saying who is right or wrong. I’m just saying that sometimes when we believe so strongly in a concept, idea, or movement, we ignore facts because of our beliefs. I think it leads to evil. I think that is what leads to the atrocities of war and genocide. People get so caught up in the belief that they will do almost anything.
I also think that faith is different. Yes, faith is a belief and a blind devotion. However, it isn’t a blind devotion to a concept or a movement. Faith is a blind devotion to a creator. In that devotion, there’s a very real sense what that creator is. For me, God is everything and nothing. He is the alpha and the omega. He is the transcendence. I believe that I would be led astray from my path if I found myself being destroyed or in a path where I would need to destroy others. God is about creation.
Facts are truths that I can choose to believe, but I realize that I can’t control others and make them believe those facts. My beliefs are my own, but they only belong to me, I can’t force them upon anyone else; I can’t control anyone else’s belief no matter how much other people try to control other people. My faith is mine alone as well. The hardest part is knowing that the world isn’t ever going to see it my way, but I can find peace if I accept that wisdom and know that it’s okay. It doesn’t matter. My perspective, my truth, my belief, and my faith are my own and that’s good enough.
My faith saved me. May God’s peace reside in all of our hearts.
