(Article first published as Study Suggests Analytical Thinking Hazardous to Your Faith in God on Technorati)
The results of a study published a few days ago in the journal Science suggest that people who think analytically tend to have less religious faith than those who don’t think that way. Based on the study, faith in God is more of an intellectual process than we first thought. So are we to regard analytical thinking as a liability to our efforts to have strong faith in God?
As part of the study, students were subjected to several exercises during which one group engaged its analytical skills more than the other group did. Those who went with more of a gut feeling tended to score higher on the religious belief scale, according to the study results.
I am not sure how to reconcile the study with the reality of how we get faith in God. First of all, faith in God is not as simple as these tests suggest. The Bible says that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). To get a better understanding of what this verse means, one must know that this verse belongs to a discourse that addresses the preaching of the gospel. In that tenth chapter of his letter to the Romans, Paul the apostle explains that an objective of preaching is to proclaim the Word of God so others can hear about Jesus, and in turn believe on Him. Accordingly, active faith in God and in Christ comes about by hearing the witness of Scriptures proclaimed through preaching and by studying the Bible.
Moreover, faith in God is not a unilateral action, but it involves the work of the Holy Spirit in our heart: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him,” Jesus says (John 6:44).
I hereby admit that I know churchgoers whose minds are like mental strongholds. They can give you a thousand and one reasons why they feel justified being skeptics. But the Bible has one term for all who fail to exercise genuine faith in God. It is called unbelief, and it is with no regard to whether or not the person is an analytical thinker.
Speaking from my own experience, being an engineer, from day one I have critically read the Bible. Being analytical is a way of life for me. My being an analytical reader, however, did not make it a struggle for me to become a person with strong religious convictions concerning God. This speaks to the mystery of the process of acquiring true faith.
So is analytical thinking hazardous to your faith in God? I say absolutely not. And I strongly reject the idea that to have strong faith in God, one must be mindless or not use his or her brain.
Copyright © 2012 by Frank King. All rights reserved.
4 comments:
Awesome post! I found your blog through Link Referral and I am glad I clicked it! I really get upset when someone "analyzes" God, faith, Jesus Christ etc. I bet if they read the Bible it would totally change their way of thinking, but of course they won't because they are afraid "that will happen." Thank you for writing the truth and I will be back. I am putting your blog on my blog roll. Have a blessed day and keep spreading the truth of God's word! I pray someone will be set free!
Thanks for visiting my blog and for your comment. I agree with you wholeheartedly. The Word of God is so awesome. It has the power to transform lives. I know; it did it for me.
Blessings
I wasn't sure where you was going with this post at first, and was hoping it would end as it did.
Despite the little that I know, and according to the bible, God has the power to raise the dead, heal the sick, cast out evil spirits (if that's what you believe) and this study thinks that this same God is not able to deal with analytical thinkers? Have we not been given free choice to choose who we want to serve? I'm sure God appreciates those who thoroughly examines his ways/words and don't just follow blindly.
I really don't understand this study but then again, I don't need to.
Thanks for the post. (hope the above makes sense) I'll be back.
Thanks for your comment. You are absolutely right. The Word of God and how it affects those who open their heart to it is such a spiritually powerful process. The Word of God can certainly withstand scrutiny and the critique of analytical minds. Like you said, I believe God wants us to examine the Scriptures.
Post a Comment