- I think my favorite section in this chapter pertains to the nihilists, mainly because they remind me of The Big Lebowski. I think it is important to know about the nihilists, skeptics, fanatics, and the radicals because you encounter or will encounter these people in experience, news, or media sometime or another. Nihilists are those people who believe in nothing. Skeptics are those who believe that knowledge pertaining to anything is uncertain. Radicals are split into two different types of people: the fundamentalists and the fanatics. Fundamentalists are people who interpret their holy book literally in terms of everything: science, history, religion (but of course!). Fanatics are those people who believe in something so strongly that their reasons become clouded as to why they believe in what they do. The section explains that the best way is Faith: belief but with reason.
- The second thing I find to be important in this section is the distinction between the two different kinds of faith: faith and Faith. The chapter's core revolves around secular vs Catholic definitions of faith. When we refer to faith, as in man of faith, it does not necessarily connote a trust in God, but just a trust in something worthwhile: a trust in a people, a trust in the law. These examples of faith are not the same as that of Faith: a trust and belief in God, whether it be through the Church or not.
From gospelgifs.com
The cross in my mind represents religious Faith. Everything around it represents small "f" faith.
Yes, Faith is a middle-ground, but it is not delicate. I think that there is enough room within Faith to move around. You can doubt God or question Him, yet still be Faithful. Just because you question God doesn't mean that you are a nihilist. And lack of questioning doesn't imply that you are a radical either. Faith is the perfect middle between two extremes, but it should not restrict you in your growth or life.
