“One does not learn anything except by believing something, and -- conversely -- if one doubts everything one learns nothing. On the other hand, believing everything uncritically is the road to disaster. The faculty of doubt is essential. But as I have argued, rational doubt always rests on faith and not vice versa. The relationship between the two cannot be reversed.” IfsBelieveDoeTwoHandsDoubtEssentialsVicesDisasterRationalFacultyVice Versa Author:Lesslie Newbigin
“If the biblical story is true, the kind of certainty proper to a human begin will be one which rests on the fidelity of God, not upon the competence of the human knower. It will be a kind of certainty which is inseparable from gratitude and trust” IfsHumansKindStoriesGratitudeCertaintyBiblicalCompetenceFidelityInseparable Book:Proper Confidence: Faith, Doubt, and Certainty in Christian Discipleship Source: Proper Confidence: Faith, Doubt, and Certainty in Christian Discipleship
“There is an appearance of humility in the protestation that the truth is much greater than any one of us can grasp, but if this is used to invalidate all claims to discern the truth it is in fact an arrogant claim to a kind of knowledge which is superior to [all others]...We have to ask: 'What is the [absolute] vantage ground from which you claim to be able to relativize all the absolute claims these different scriptures make?” IfsKindDifferentFactsAbleUsedAsksGreaterHumilityTruth IsClaimsAbsolutesAppearanceScriptureSuperiorsArrogant Book:The Gospel in a Pluralist Society: SPCK Classic Source: The Gospel in a Pluralist Society: SPCK Classic
