According to Wilken, faith is unavoidable for a few distinct reasons. He writes that “a desire to know the truth of things has been implanted in our souls and is natural to human beings”, and this is very true. It is innate in us to strive to dive deeper in the pursuit of knowledge of the world around us. But there are simply some things we cannot understand through ourselves alone. This is why faith is unavoidable- we as humans are inclined to believe in something, to believe that there is a deeper truth that is simply waiting to be uncovered. Wilken expresses the idea that “religion, however, is not a deduction from what one knows. If one begins with proofs and resolves to hold only what can be proven, one will never have done with beginning”. This is a continuation of the idea that religion and faith are not ignorance or foolishness, but are a complement and continuation of the pursuit for knowledge that lies innate in us. Even one who claims to not be spiritual in the slightness has faith. The desire for knowledge causes one to wonder about the whole world, and when thinking about the ways of the world, it is unavoidable for one to not ponder the existence of God.
Faith is also beneficial. Believing in something bigger than oneself creates connections between people and creates communities. It strengthens relationships as well as deepens our own self-confidence and faith in ourselves. Faith helps us connect to others in a way that delves deeper than simply surface-level interaction. It gives people a sense of self, purpose, and meaning in your life. Religious communities are there for each other during tough times and support each other in their daily lives. Faith is unavoidable. Simple as that. But it is beneficial in so many ways.
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