He will wipe the tears from all faces.' It takes nothing from the loveliness of the verse to say that is exactly what will be required
Marilynne RobinsonRead
I think the attempt to defend belief can unsettle it, in fact, because there is always an inadequacy in argument about ultimate things.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The effort to justify one's beliefs can create doubt due to the limitations of human reasoning when addressing profound topics.
This quote by Marilynne Robinson reflects on the paradox of belief and argumentation; she suggests that engaging in debates to defend our beliefs may, paradoxically, lead us to question them more deeply. It highlights the inherent limitations of rational discourse in grappling with complex and ultimate issues, implying that some beliefs are better accepted than argued over.
Themes
BeliefArgumentKnowledgeDoubtFaith
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophical discussion about belief systems, I might reference this quote to illustrate the complexities of defending one’s faith.
More from Marilynne Robinson
All quotes →It seems to me there is less meanness in atheism, by a good measure. It seems that the spirit of religious self-righteousness this article deplores is precisely the spirit in which it is written. Of course he's right about many things, one of them being the destructive potency of religious self-righteousness. (p. 146)
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There are worries that seem to me sustained by the love of worry. For example, that people are reading from screens, or listening to recorded books. Why scold the impulse to enjoy language and narrative in whatever form it takes?
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Teaching is a distraction and a burden, but it's also an incredible stimulus. And a reprieve, in a way. When you're trying to work on something and it's not going anywhere, you can go to school and there's a two-and-a-half-hour block of time in which you can accomplish something.
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