1st Query (fwd)

Gordon Simons (simons@stat.unc.edu)
Wed, 3 Jan 1996 19:22:25 -0500 (EST)

Hi reflectorites,

The following question was just posed to our church forum. It seems a good
question, and relevant enough to what the reflector is about, to pass
along. I have abbreviated names so as to maintain anonymity. Does anyone
want to take it on?

Gordie
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My brother, JS, recently asked that I be included in this forum, and I
have enjoyed "eve's dropping" for the short while I have been getting
correspondence. I appreciate what I have seen of the blend of serious
commitment leavened with humor.

I have a question I would like to ask of the group. I have no ulterior
motives in asking it. It is a question that genuinely perplexes me and
for which I have not found a satisfactory answer. I would be grateful for
the group's input and opinions.

As a doctoral student in clinical psych I am being refreshed to "the
scientific method". The basis of all scientific method is, of course,
scholarly skepticism which Webster defines as a philosophy that assumes
the way to knowledge is by questioning what is. So here is my question:
Is there any way that scholarly skepticism can exist in the presence of
faith ala Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen?" How can one adopt a scholarly attitude
based on doubting in the midst of a life that is maintained by believing?

Thanks in advance for your input.

His best to you in this new year.

SS