Just Do It!

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As a youngster, Hans Kung recalled coming home “radiant” when he realized ‘I can swim. …The water’s supporting me.’

“For him,” according to an article in the National Catholic Reporter about the famous theologian, quoting from his memoir, “This experience illustrated ‘the venture of faith, which cannot first be proved theoretically by a course on dry land but simply has to be attempted: a quite rational venture, though the rationality only emerges in the act.”

This blog is written primarily for people “who have given up on God and/or religion.” I’m doubtful that many people in this category actually read the blog. They aren’t likely to be drawn to a blog like this. But I hope that others who read it pass it along to them.

When Things Don't Go Well

According to what I’ve read about the “nones,” literally those who answer “none” when asked about their religious affiliation, and from personal experience, I believe most people who have given up on God and/or religion think about those subjects only occasionally – perhaps when things aren’t going well.

Otherwise, they have probably adopted the view that they really need neither God – though many may have residual feeling of the need for him or her – nor religion, that they’re doing just fine without either. In short, they find God and religion irrelevant.

Some, undoubtedly, would like to believe or even participate in religion - perhaps the religion of their youth - but their doubt and inertia get in the way. Some may have internal conflicts, wanting to believe but not finding enough evidence or simply not willing to make the effort to resolve or lessen their doubt.

Hans Kung
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Kung, the Swiss scholar who had a great influence on my generation of believers, died on April 6 at age 93. His career was aimed principally at these groups.

Kung was recommended often and by many faculty members during my seminary training. And he indirectly influenced all those who were inspired and guided by the Second Vatican Council, the world gathering of Catholic bishops in the 1960s that attempted to reform the Catholic Church.

“No theologian would ever again exert as much influence on the agenda of the council as Kung had,” exclaims “Vatican watcher” Peter Hebblewaite in the NCR article.

Because Kung, who taught at German universities, chose to explore many ideas not studied in previous generations, he was often in hot water with church authorities. Instead of writing for them, he resolved he would do theology “for my fellow human beings … for those people who may need my theology.”

The analogy between swimming and breaking the inertia imposed by doubt came naturally to Kung, according to the article.

To Air His Brain

“A lifelong lover of nature, Kung spent much time in its environs – and swimming almost every day of his life and skiing up to age 80 during brief holidays in Switzerland. Skiing helped him if only for a few hours to ‘air my brain and forget all scholarship, often defying the cold, wind, snow and storm,’” he wrote.

Although I have no idea what Nike means by its slogan, “Just Do It,” I think it applies to Kung’s life and his approach to faith. He wanted people to be thinkers, giving the time and effort to resolve the obstacles to faith, but like learning to swim, he believed there comes a time when you just have to “do it.”

God invites, and we can respond or not. But we can put off decisions about faith only so long. When we delay a response to God’s invitation we deny ourselves the peace and joy that comes with faith in the loving care of our true Parent.