(16/40) Faith: The Problem with faith

The problem with having faith.
What everyone should know about the murky dark side of faith.

Believe it or not, having faith has a bad side.

I want you to know that.

I preach a lot about having faith, surrendering to life, and accepting reality as it is.

That’s part of what us clergy-folk do — remind people that they can rely on (the) God (of their understanding).

But, I don’t think I’ve ever disclosed the negative or possible adverse complications that come with faith.

(This is way overdue.)

If you have faith, if you surrender to life, if you accept reality as it is, you’ll find that there isn’t as much to do.

That's it.

I thought you should know.

(For me, I’ve found that having compassion, being generous, and acting in a loving manner towards myself and others helps pass the time.)

With love,

Rabbi Brian


And, if you care to, click here to see comments on the streetprophets site where this article also went up this week.

(15/40) Faith: Faith and Fear.

Faith and Fear
Two Quick & Simple Spiritual Exercises.

Let's define faith as "perceived freedom from fear." (It's not an exact or nuanced definition, but it's a pretty good working definition.)

According to this definition, faith doesn’t mean that we believe in anything, only that we believe that we aren't in harm's way.

It’s important to note the importance of perception: it isn't necessarily true that we are out of harm's way, just that we feel that way.

Having a healthy respect for the things in life that could harm you — like an alligator, or hot lava, or something falling from the sky — is one thing. Never leaving the house because you’re afraid of those same things is another.

Most people try to manage their fear by:

• Ignoring it.
• Self-medicating.
• Being overly cautious.
• Trying to control everything.

While religious folks usually advocate managing fear with faith, I'm not going to do that.

Instead, I'm going to suggest that you delve into, and try to get to know what both fear and faith feel like.

(It's wild, but most people don't know really what either one feels like — they know what they think it should feel like, but they haven't really experienced either.)

So, let's do just that for the next minute — take some time to understand your baseline levels of both fear and faith. Get to know what they feel like.

Take twenty seconds to dive into and feel the fear at your core. Close your eyes and just be still in your fright, terror, panic and general alarm. Notice your breathing, swallowing, etc. See where your brain goes . . . notice what happens. Not what you think will happen, but based on what actually happens.

After you've done that, shake it off and take a deep cleansing breath.

Now, experiment with faith . . .

For the next twenty seconds, live in your feelings of faith. Imagine and try to believe that you are out of harm's way. Relax. Allow your chair to support you. Find your sense of safety and dive in. Again, close your eyes and notice your breathing, etc.

Again, I am not advocating that when we experience the "bad" feeling of fear that we shift gears towards trying to feel faith. Instead, I am advocating that we learn what these emotions feel like and that we stop trying to manage them.

It's only when we embrace our feelings as they happen that we will be capable of living real and authentic lives.

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Some Historical and Religious notes on Faith and Fear.

I want to point out two historical, religious connections. First, the word safe — a synonym for faith — is related to the word save — from the Latin salvus meaning "uninjured or healthy" — which is related to the religious word salvation. Second, the phrase "fear of the heavens" in Biblical times meant "to have faith in God."

At some point we have to make a choice to feel safe or, dare I say, saved. To put it in Biblical language: accept that the sun isn't going to strike us in the daytime, nor will the moon hurt us in the night.

I promise it won’t happen.

The world isn't against you.

Calamity, 99.999% of the time, isn't going to strike you.

Let me give you the reassurance of Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno who, before he was burned alive as a heretic, said: "Out of this universe you cannot fall."

More recently, popular self-help guru Dr. Wayne Dyer wrote simply: "You belong."


With love,

Rabbi Brian


And, if you care to, click here to see comments on the streetprophets site where this article also went up this week.

(14/40) Faith: Dionarap

The Joy of the Dionarap Personality!
The world is out to do me good!

A person with Paranoid Personality Disorder thinks the world is out to do them harm. An online diagnosis suggests that someone has this disorder if four (or more) of the following are met:

• suspects, without sufficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or her.
• is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or associates.
• is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear that the information will be used maliciously against him or her.
• reads hidden demeaning or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events.
• persistently bears grudges, i.e., is unforgiving of insults, injuries, or slights.
• perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to counterattack.
• has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner.

It is a serious disorder.

I want to explore something related, yet completely different: the Dionarap Personality.

Dionarap Personality is the opposite of Paranoid Personality. To experience it is to believe that the universe conspires to care about you.

(Dionarap is actually the word paranoid spelled backwards.)

A person suffering from a Dionarap Personality believes the world is plotting to do them good!

It is not a serious disorder.

(Jack Canfield, in his book The Success Principles, refers to this same condition as “reserve paranoia.” The movies What the Bleep! and The Secret also espouse the benefits of such positive thinking.)

Imagine for a moment that you have a Dionarap Personality and try this psychosis on for size:

• Can you believe that everything is for the best?
• Can you believe that the world is out to do you good?
• Can you fathom that everything you do that everyone you meet are part of a grand scheme to better your life?

For some people this notion will seem an anathema . . . nonetheless, I recommend that you try it.

• Suspect, without sufficient basis, that others are helping, aiding, or loving you.
• Be preoccupied with unjustified beliefs about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or associates.
• Be willing to confide in others because of unwarranted faith that the information will be used to help you.
• Read hidden positive or loving meanings into benign remarks or events.
• Persistently forgive, i.e., be understanding of insults, injuries, or slights.
• Perceive compliments to your character or reputation that are not apparent to others and be quick to react lovingly.
• Have recurrent admiration, without justification, regarding a spouse or sexual partner.

Try it for a few hours, for the rest of the day, or if you dare, the rest of the week?

Some might call this is a little lesson in having faith.

And, perhaps it is.

With love,



Rabbi Brian


And, if you care to, click here to see comments on the streetprophets site where this article also went up this week.

(13/40) Faith: Not there, here.

I had the pleasure of having a dinner conversation with Bishop Gene Robinson recently.

Our conversation touched on the topic of "faith." He said something I just wanted to share:

I'm much less concerned with life after death than I am with life before death. . . My faith isn't about what is going to happen to me in the afterlife. The real purpose of my faith is to help me get through this uncertain world.

Wonderfully stated.

So much is uncertain. And we long for certainty.

Here's a favorite quote:

Dubium incommodum est.
Certum ridiculum est.

Uncertainty is uncomfortable.
Certainty is ridiculous.

Faith, real faith, is about getting through this world.

(Note: No one here is advocating a particular faith, just that faith can be a good thing.)

With love,


Rabbi Brian


And, if you care to, click here to see comments on the streetprophets site where this article also went up this week.