Belief, by Francis S. Collins

March 10 – Desmond Tutu & Elie Wiesel

Question 1.  Tutu’s basic premise is that God believes in us.  “Indeed, God is transforming the world now – through us – because God loves us.”  Tutu states that his confidence is not in the present circumstances but in the laws of God’s universe…a moral universe that finally triumphs over evil.  As such, where do you see this transformation occurring around you and around the world?  How might we better recognize and lift up such transformation?

Question 2.  Tutu emphasizes the personal and individual love for each human being…no one is exempt or irredeemable.  He raises the question, “So why does God, then, permit us to do evil to one another?”  He responds by noting the biblical caricature of us as a mixture of good and bad…that they are inseparable to our nature.  Yet, God continues to believe in us…even relying on us to help shape this world that God is ever redeeming.  How does God’s view of us help shape our attitudes and opinions of those we simply write off or dismiss as incurable human beings?  How might we further broaden our self-imposed boundaries on forgiveness to better exemplify the limitless grace of God?

Question 3.  Tutu says that suffering is not optional…it can either embitter or ennoble.  Seeing the larger purpose of our suffering leads to transformation and thus becomes redemptive….providing opportunities for emotional, spiritual, and moral growth.  Citing the incredible journey of Nelson Mandela, we’re encouraged to stretch our imaginations and our faith in considering new avenues of growth through suffering.  Where have you see such transformation in your life…either voluntary or involuntary?  Where are you most drawn to recognize and participate in addressing the overwhelming suffering around us?

Question 4.  Elie Wiesel responds to a barrage of pointed and difficult questions.  His replies are short and candid.  Rather than attempt to summarize each of them, I’ll simply refer to a few that I appreciated.  Please list your own in your small groups.  On the subject of evil, Wiesel acknowledges the tragic absurdity of the human condition (p. 158-159)…citing “there was no barrier in Christianity preventing the killers from doing their evil.  What we are seeing today…is a failure of humanity, including politics, commitment, philosophy, and art.”  When asked whether this meaninglessness can be reconciled with the meaning of religious faith, Wiesel asserts “that faith must be tested.”  In fact, “there is nothing so whole as broken faith…but it must not remain severed or sundered.”  We must ultimately recover and rediscover the faith of our Masters.  Give example of people you know who have taken this courageous path.  If possible, please offer your own stories of this journey from anguish to recovery to rediscovery.

Question 5.  On page 160, Wiesel says, “Chaos is worse than chance, worse than anything, because if there is chaos, then Good is not good and Evil is boundless.”  He then encourages us to face our daily decision to choose Covenant over chance.  Assuming that this is not a routine inner dialogue for us on a daily basis, how might we more purposefully engage our thoughts and attitudes to better reflect our faith position in our daily activities & encounters?

Question 6.  In the section on “Responsibility and Meaning,” Wiesel notes the utter centrality of the ancient wisdom that permeates Scripture.  Such an ethic provides the “laws that govern the relations between human beings.  So long as these ethics are not explored, shared, and adopted, we are in danger.”  He then notes the great progress made in medicine, the sciences, nuclear physics, and computer technology.  “But in philosophy, literature, poetry, religion, and morality (see Charlie Sheen), there has been very little progress at all.”  What, in your opinion, has ultimately led to this predicament?  What can be done to address it?

Question 7.  In his final thoughts, Wiesel states, “Hatred is Evil and Evil dwells in hatred.  The two go hand in hand.”  “Let good be good and evil be evil; then we know that we must serve one and combat the other.  So it is very serious when evil takes on the appearance of good.”  Being morally bankrupt as a society, how can we tell the difference?  What are the greatest individual as well as systemic forms of evil today?  How, in faith, do we combat them?