C.S. Lewis? No… C.S. Yanikoski

At the inspiration of a mother of a friend I looked into the writing of C.S. Yanikoski:

http://www.livewithoutgod.com/index.html#Contents

I gave the site an ever-so-brief précis. A recipe for disastrously poor analysis. However, C.S. is no Lewis. I feel well equipped to comment having read the introduction and his marvelously written table of contents, even if I skimmed the rest. It is exam time.

Aside from the immediate observation that his commentary on the bible’s origin is oversimplified, incomplete and misleading, a few things struck me. First, his audience is, he admits, those that are questioning their faith and unbelievers. In fact, he overtly states at the beginning that those that have a strong faith are wasting their time in reading on. There’s a good reason for this, we soon see; his argument holds no merit for a true Christian.

In effect, he posits that faith is a choice, perhaps an intellectual endeavor. “Belief in God”, “believers tend”, “a reason to believe” quickly becomes “Intelligent Designer” and “the God of the Gaps.” For one who believes, his argument is already on shaky ground. Believers know that he just doesn’t get it. Let me fill in the gaps. Belief is not science, logic, or reason. Faith is compatible with these, it may stem from one of them, it is supported by them all, but it can never be one of them. Faith is, er… faith. Yeah, it does require a leap. What Yanikoski doesn’t get is that the leap is not into a gaping chasm or a dark abyss devoid of certainly. It is a gentle fall into the hands of a Friend, a Lover. Faith is relationship. Father Larry Richards asks, why do you believe in God? Only one answer suffices: “I KNOW God”.

For those that do not know Him, the rest of what Yanikoski states is (mostly) correct. Sure, you can be a good person without a personal relationship with God. You may even get those things that you did not receive as a result of your prayers! He loves us no matter what. As the True Father, nothing we can do will cause Him to stop. (Something a mother will relate to, as well) We may choose to be like the prodigal son. He will not force our love. He will always welcome us back.

Yanikoski is a man who wants proof, explanation. He presents the impossible task to readers of proving God’s existence. Hardly novel. Yanikoski’s no fool, but neither is he an Aquinas, Augustine, or, more contemporaneously – we needn’t stretch the annals of time for an appropriate comparator – a Ratzinger or Wojtyla. One wouldn’t think that More or Beckett were fools, either. Yet why would they die for their faith? Not as intelligent as Yanikoski? Just didn’t get it? Perhaps. Or perhaps they got it All. There’s an utilitarian appeal that accompanies being your own boss and following a less stringent set of moral dictates. The utility of voluntarily, albeit reluctantly, accepting a London Tower beheading is admittedly more esoteric. For those of us that do get it, there has never been a greater utility than the perpetual embrace of the One whom gave us life and then offered His own for US on a piece of wood.

“Then Jesus our good Lord said: If you are satisfied, I am satisfied. It is a joy, a bliss, an endless delight to me that ever I suffered my Passion for you; and if I could suffer more, I should suffer more.” – Bl. Julian of Norwich