There is an aphorism saying that there are no atheists in foxholes. In fact, many people do at least reconsider their spiritual attitudes when they are confronted with existential situations. Nadine and me were talking about belief the other day and I realized that she is somehow struggling to find her position. So let me go into some detail about the whole thing. Not because I’m the wise guy who feels the need to explain how the world is working, but to provide Nadine with a thread she may use for becoming more clear – no matter if I’m wrong or right.

Since the beginning of the modern age, belief became more and more questionable. Modern western societies produce rationalist characters who desire rational justifications for their attitudes – which is a bit difficult with spiritual issues. I’m all with German philosopher Immanuel Kant who pointed out that there is no rational way for us to decide these kind of questions in a satisfying manner.

There might be no rational justification for belief, but there is a pragmatist one. It stems from Harvardian philosopher William James who explained his point of view in “a defence of our right to adopt a believing attitude in religious matters, in spite of the fact that our merely logical intellect may not have been coerced.”

Let me try to summarize James’ essay “The Will to Believe” in a rather free interpretation: Every person has his or her certain issues he or she desperately needs to find answers to in order to live a balanced life. For many people, spiritual matters are amongst them. They cause some kind of existential pressure that needs to be resolved. Turning to deism and belief or to atheism and disbelief are both ways to manage this. Agnosticism isn’t because it’s not suitable to pacify irresolute minds.

To me, these issues aren’t pressing, so I’m fine to end my journey down that road with Kant: I’m able to lean back in agnosticism quiet comfortably and wait and see what’s going to come some day. But I fully accept that other people need to make their choices so I grant them every right to do so – even in times dominated by rationality. And, in accordance with James, I don’t think that belief is stupid.

I was quite surprised how many readers of this blog told me that they include Nadine and me in their prayers or do something similar, depending on what they believe in. Among them were a lot of people whom I didn’t expect to sail that boat at all. The photo above shows the ‘interreligious altar’ of a friend of ours – she even put a picture of Nadine on it. Although I got my difficulties in believing that such actions will take any clinical effect, I’m very thankful for you taking them: it shows that you are truly affected and try to contribute in your very own way. I want to assure you that this solicitousness means a lot to Nadine.