Many people believe that faith is an unnecessary relic of the past. Modern people must be logical and look for their answers in science and contemporary philosophy. However, a person’s desire for spiritual self-knowledge and connection with something greater than themselves is ineradicable. Plenty of people look for this connection in various pseudo-religious and near-magical practices. This shows how strongly the human soul is drawn to God despite modern views on religion and atheism propaganda.
I strongly believe that faith helps a person on their path, removes the disturbing feeling of senselessness, and gives guidance in life. In his book, Your Grown-Up Faith, Professor of theology and former Benedictine monk Kenneth Parker gives people of all ages a perspective on faith development throughout life. He describes three main stages – the Child’s Way, the Youth’s Way, and the Adult’s way, showing how a person can make life more fulfilling through belief (Parker, 2012). The author shows the importance of the spiritual path in avoiding the traps of pseudo-spirituality and mysticism.
Parker describes the Child’s Way as the path of primary exploring the world by a pure and naive being. Therefore, it is so important to connect children’s feelings with the proper life guidelines (Parker, 2012). They are very susceptible to influences that can corrupt them and ruin their lives. For example, the modern culture encourages the development of deviations and mental illnesses, which leads to further years of struggle to restore normal life. Faith creates a solid foundation that connects a person with his spirituality and makes young people less susceptible to harmful concepts.
The Youth’s Way is a challenging stage of doubts and searches for a place in the world and destiny. Growing up, people often get lost on their way, living miserable lives without purpose, wondering why they are so pathetic. Many people start searching for a proper solution for their spiritual struggle in the material world, which only can worsen their situation. The answers must be searched in the right direction then the person can develop and grow inner independence, not destruct it further. Parker writes that to mature, people “must take a further step, beyond the authorities who guide our lives” (Parker, 2012, p. 55). Thus, faith strengthens the inner core of a person so that he can make the right and good choice for themselves.
Finally, the Adult’s way should lead to accepting life, its understanding, and the ability to navigate it independently. Without this, people remain lost; they cannot give anything to others and only harm their loved ones. Developed faith allows people to understand the logic of being, imbue with the divine plan, and therefore get the opportunity to deliberately converse life (Parker, 2012). Therefore, having faith makes sense in the modern world because it allows people to explore the world without succumbing to temptations and without completely destroying themselves. Furthermore, it helps find the true self, become a creator in own life, and not be a part of a crowd influenced by others.
Reference
Parker, K. L. (2012). Your grown-up faith: Blending the three elements of belief. Liguori Publications.