Faith

As part of my effort to prevent my brain from turning to mush now that I’m retired, I take classes at the Academy for Lifelong Learning. The Academy offers a variety of classes during the day, geared primarily for retired people trying to prevent their brains from turning to mush!

I chose this spring to take a class on the history of Islam. Starting at a base of zero knowledge, I hope that I can be enlightened about their beliefs and begin to understand what the Quran teaches. I have a lot to learn.

In yesterday’s class, we learned the history of Mohammad. As I indicated, I am starting with zero knowledge, so beyond knowing that Mohammad was a prophet with whom the Muslim religion originated, I was clueless.

One of the things that I learned yesterday was that at age 40, Mohammad purported to be visited by the Angel Gabriel, who began a series of revelations that went on for many years (I think until Mohammad’s death, although I’m not sure about that). I had no idea that it was the Angel Gabriel who Mohammad claimed revealed the word to him (I told you I was starting with zero knowledge). When I first heard this, I thought to myself, “Well, yeah, right. Like THAT would happen.”

Suddenly it occurred to me that Christians believe that the Angel Gabriel (who must be God’s chosen messenger and a busy fellow) came down to Mary and broke the news to her that she was the lucky one to be selected to give birth to our Savior, and oh, by the way, it will be a virgin birth. That should sell well to your parents.

What I came away with yesterday was the importance of faith.

Neither story can easily be believed on its surface. Angels? Virgin births? And yet, apparently Christians, Muslims, and Jews (parting of the Red Sea?) all are willing to accept that which seems impossible because they have faith in God.

I think our children today (beware of an oncoming generalization) are unwilling to suspend reality and accept things on faith. That’s too bad, because I think faith is an absolutely beautiful thing. In Catholic school, we learned that three critical elements of our beliefs are faith, hope, and love. To me, they can’t be separated. They are entirely intertwined.

No one can really prove to me that God exists. Yet, my faith tells me that this is absolutely true. I believe that He has my life in His hands and loves me. I’m not sure how one survives without faith.