The problem with ‘belief’ (there’s a better way to frame our spiritual journey)
For many of us, our thinking and speaking about spirituality (or faith) has been framed by the language of “belief”. For example,
“What do you believe?”
“I believe in God.”
“I believe in karma.”
Using “belief” as the key to discussing our spirituality appears to serve many people well, but it has some serious limitations. Perhaps it’s time to consider an alternative.
In this post, I’m going to:
- Briefly outline how the language of “belief” became so prominent
- Show why it is unhelpful
- Suggest a better option and what makes it superior
Belief and its Baggage
How did intellectual acceptance of concepts or statements get connected so strongly with spirituality?
The origins lie in the Enlightenment and events in Europe in the Middle Ages. Disagreements about religious belief and practice were weaponised for political conflict within Europe, leading to events like the Reformation and the Thirty Years War. These conflicts and the unresolved tensions that came with them were then globalised through colonialism and the internationalisation of the European education model.
These events produced enduring anxiety around religious affiliation.
In this context, what people “believed” became important identifiers of loyalty and allegiance. Kingdoms and empires attached themselves to specific religious identities for political reasons and sought to enforce “correct” belief. Political anxiety bred religious anxiety and ensured that ‘belief’ was a central concept in framing the language of spiritual life, especially in the Western Christian tradition.
(Every major religion has experienced similar divisions along political and sectarian lines, which led to war. However, at the risk of oversimplifying, the European developments were unique in that they combined with 1) the Enlightenment to create the attachment to propositional statements and 2) colonialism to create a global spread).
Some Negative Consequences
It’s easy to see why political leaders find “belief” convenient. It’s an effective way to identify those who are unwilling to cooperate. However, it doesn’t work so well in cultivating spiritual development at a personal level.
One of the big problems with “belief” language is that spirituality and spiritual growth become tied primarily to mental agreement.
This can lead to a superficial spirituality measured by intellectual knowledge that does not meaningfully deepen or transform our inner lives or external relationships. Mental agreement is enough to tick the boxes — no follow-through or action is necessary. This might satisfy political leaders, but it won’t lead to spiritual growth.
When our concept of spirituality is tied to belief, it can also steer us toward passivity and dependence. The only pathway to spiritual growth or maturity is more knowledge through study. If we can’t do that, we must depend on “belief experts” for our spiritual growth. Their preferences, limitations, strengths, and weaknesses will limit our spirituality.
All this results in a sense of stuckness and dissatisfaction with our spiritual growth. Maybe we give up, concluding there is something deficient in us or that we just aren’t wired for this. Alternatively, we continue to reach the best we can but feel like an invisible ceiling is blocking us from the growth that we long for. There’s a sense that there is more.
If our spiritual journey is merely a matter of “belief”, accumulating more knowledge is our only way to process these things.
A Matter of Trust?
“Trust” is a better way to frame our spirituality.
“What do you trust?”
“I trust God.”
“I trust karma.”
Can you feel the difference?
Trust is holistic and involves the whole person. It is based on knowledge that is not only intellectual but also experiential and relational. This goes much deeper than mental agreement.
Trusting requires personal investment and risk in the here and now. It is dangerous to trust the wrong person or voice. Trust requires us to be invested in the process of spiritual growth.
Trust is dynamic. It doesn’t stand still — day by day, it grows and deepens, or it erodes and breaks down. This points to the reality that our spiritual lives are works in progress. We are feeding our spiritual life, or we are starving it.
“Trust” language raises awareness. It shines a spotlight on an important question — who or what, exactly, are we trusting? What relationship(s) are we investing in with our spiritual or religious practices?
For example, I often observe Christians whose primary spiritual relationship(s) are clearly their connection with a particular leader or institution. This is in conflict with the Bible’s clear emphasis on a direct relationship with God.
Whatever our religious or spiritual tradition, framing our spirituality in terms of “trust” helps us be more aware of which voices we are listening to and depending on.
“Trust” language empowers us. Awareness brings freedom to make choices. We get to decide which voices we focus our time and energy on.
To intellectually agree with a voice only requires us to ask what the voice is saying. If we are to trust, we have to look more deeply. How reliable is the voice? What is the emotional context and the relational health surrounding the authoritative voice? Do these reflect the spirituality we aspire to?
Don’t Just Believe. Trust.
As a primary framing of our spiritual journey, “belief as intellectual agreement” captures some important elements but lacks others.
Trust is a better framework. It raises fresh questions, stretches us, and requires greater personal investment. It also opens up a path to deeper and more satisfying spiritual growth.
To return to the metaphor of an earlier post, “trust” language leads us out from a more confined and restrictive space and onto the open road.
