THE P
RTAL
Father Peter ’ s Page “ But that I can ’ t believe .....”
by Peter Geldard
April 2011 Page 12
One of the oldest tricks in disputation is to create what is known as “ a straw man ”. One ’ s opponent goes out of his way to portray a grotesque depiction of something which he claims you hold dear and then , with a clever comment , destroys what he has just described claiming that he has won the argument .
Richard Dawkins
It is a technique often used by the ‘ new ’ atheists , like Richard Dawkins . Describe ‘ God as a Father Christmas figure with a big white beard , travelling around on a magic carpet ’! Then , with a clever cynical remark , point out that such a ridiculous image is puerile and no serious person ought to believe it .
A straw man
The fallacy is , of course , that no-one – not even a 12 year old school boy or girl – actually believes in such an image ; and even they , without difficulty , can see through the ploy . All that has been destroyed is a pretence created by the opponent : not the real thing . The ‘ real thing ’ he / she is careful to avoid since they know it has some substance to it .
Whenever someone comes to me to ‘ explore the faith ’ ( I much prefer the concept of ‘ exploration ’ over ‘ instruction ’ since it implies a mutual ‘ sharing of gifts ’) I always ask , once I feel we are at ease with each other , if there is anything about the Catholic faith they find difficult or problematical ?
Frequently they come out with statements like : I can ’ t accept that the Pope is always right in everything ; Is it correct that Catholics have to worship the Virgin Mary ?
If I become a Roman Catholic is one constantly compelled to say The Rosary ?; In order to prove that you are a good Catholic is it true that you must have been to Lourdes or Fatima ? All these statements are ‘ straw men ’!
True or false ?
Often they are based on what someone ( usually not a Catholic ), somewhere ( and they find it hard to
identify the source ) assured them was true . There is palpable relief when they are categorically told that these , and similar statements , are false .
A similar , but slightly different , problem arises when they express concern that they cannot fully understand certain statements of the faith . They ’ ve read , perhaps , Teach yourself Philosophy and think they could improve on the Church ’ s teaching on certain things ! They seem quite taken aback when I congratulate them that – as they haven ’ t mentioned it as a difficulty – they obviously fully understand the doctrine of the Trinity and / or the Hypostatic Union of Christ !
Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt
Have they not comprehended the difference between Understanding and Belief ? Or heard the cry of St Anselm : ‘ Faith seeks understanding ’. Do they not recall the telling words of John Henry Newman – the Patron of the Ordinariate – in his book Apologia pro vita sua : “ ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt ”( quoted specifically in The Catechism of the Catholic Church )?
I ask them ( for their homework !) as I do you if this is an area which confuses you , to read slowly and prayerfully the section within The Catechism entitled : ‘ The Characteristics of Faith ’ § 153 – 165 . There , clearly set out , is the important relationship – and difference - between faith , reason and understanding . Above all , it emphasises how faith is a ‘ gift ’ we receive from God and which we cannot create ourselves .
In trust , pray for that gift ; and then , in courage , act on it .