By Donald
B. Ardell – July 18, 2010
“Doubt” is the title of one of my
favorite movies. Released in 2008, Doubt is a drama set in 1964
that stars Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Sister
Aloysius Beauvier and Father Brendan Flynn, respectively. Streep's
character is a rigid and suspicious principal or Mother Superior at a Catholic
school in the Bronx; Hoffman is a kindly, wise priest assigned to the school.
Both have their doubts about each other. Father Flynn doubts the wisdom and
benefit of the school's traditional strict customs; Sister Aloysius Beauvier is
devoted to these practices and has her doubts about the behavior of Father
Flynn around young boys.
Many
viewers of the movie might have their doubts about the accuracy of the
portrayal of Catholic education. Was it really so rigid, physical and
regimented during that period? As a student at dear old St. Barnabus in
the 40's and early 50's, trust me - if anything, the mayhem and whackiness was
understated in the movie. However, no Father Flynn character of the time
ever devoted any out of the ordinary attention to me, except in good
ways.
The movie aside, what is doubt?
The definition of doubt is “to be undecided, skeptical and to disbelieve,
distrust and/or regard a claim as unlikely.” Sounds good to me but the
very idea of doubt has a negative connotation for some, especially believers.
Christians are taught a Biblical account of Thomas the Apostle, a
disciple of Jesus who had the gall to doubt Jesus' resurrection and the
chutzpah to ask to feel Jesus' wounds before he could be convinced that anyone
could rise from the dead. (The painting is The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio, c. 1601-1602.) Can you imagine being criticized for
questioning such a claim? Only a crazy person or someone brain-dead would
fail to scoff at, let alone doubt, such a thing. Wouldn't you, if told
someone rose from the dead? Why should it have been otherwise back then?
Let's
revisit the whole idea of doubt - and make it a virtue, not a sin, to refuse to
cede higher ground to faith - credulity without reason or evidence. Are
there times when it's wise and healthy to doubt? Of course. I'd
vote for nearly every time, about nearly everything.
But
then, what else would you expect of an infidel?
It
seems to me that very few guidance counselors, doctors or coaches, for
instance, would say something like this to their clients, patients or athletes:
“You should consider doubting a bit more!” It's just not done.
Well, maybe doubt should be given more respect.
Twenty
years ago, a fellow in California who had flunked the bar exam 48 times (before
finally passing) gave this advice to a candidate who failed the exam seventeen
times - never doubt yourself.
Why
not? On occasions, when we embark upon hair-brained notions that just
might be truly ill advised, a bit of doubt might be just the thing. A
second opinion leading to a course correction can be a reason-send (the
rational equivalent of a godsend).
Fortunately,
many rational people have had kind words for doubt. Tennyson wrote, “There lives more faith in honest doubt, believe me, than in half the
creeds.” (In Memoriam.); Shakespeare gave us this, “Modest doubt
is called the beacon of the wise, the tent that searches to the bottom of the
worst.” (Troilus and Cressida).
Maybe
we should give reality more respect. Who has not harbored, even devoted futile
energy, to a really bad idea? Many ideas seemed pretty good at the time,
and no one suggested otherwise. The fact is some courses of action richly
deserve more doubt than we give them. There are obstacles that can't be
overcome, regardless of motivation levels, training, dedication and good faith.
Not everybody, for example, is cut out or otherwise blessed with the inherent
capabilities to win the Tour de France or become a rocket scientist, a brain
surgeon or, in the case of the guy who flunked the bar 48 times, a lawyer.
In the case of the movie Doubt, the scrutiny of all concerned was sensible
and responsible - but of course one has to know when to decide for or against,
to upgrade doubt to resolution, act accordingly and move ahead.
There
are some things about which I have no doubts, such as the value of REAL
wellness for the pursuit of a quality lifestyle.
So,
stay open to possibilities and try to look on the bright side of life. I'll end
this with a little joke: I know someone who has studied so much
philosophy he doubts if he exists.
Be well -
and free. Look on the exuberant,
skeptical and bright side of life.
The
end.
Don Ardell
is the Well Infidel. He favors
evidence over faith, reason over revelation and meaning and purpose over
spirituality. His enthusiasm for
reason, exuberance and liberty are reflected in his books (14), newsletter (542
editions of a weekly report) and lectures across North America and a dozen
other countries.