Reflect on the difference between these two sentences:

I believe this to be true.

This is true because I believe it.

Simple, subtle, significant. The first is a straightforward statement of faith. The second is a false declarative. Yet the second form is quickly picking up cachet as the new orthodoxy. The most dangerous thing about doxastic faith is that it doesn’t have to have any basis in fact, evidence, or reality. Doxastics feel no compunction to defend what they say, because they believe something (anything) it is true (for them, and apparently for everyone else as well).

καθαρός πίστις (katharos pistis) translates pure faith, pure meaning untainted, clean, or authentic. δοξασία (doxasia) translates belief from feelings or impressions. In philosophy, katharos pistis is rational; doxasia is non-rational (as opposed to irrational or transrational). Emperors made doxastic proclamations – they had the power to declare truth even in the face of contradicting and irrefutable evidence. The church was also good at this. If you doubt, just ask Copernicus and Galileo. While you might think “that was then, but this is now,” take a few minutes to listen to Karoline Leavitt or Joel Osteen. Politicians and preachers throughout the ages understood/understand the value of offering false declaratives as gospel truth.

One of the great concepts of Wesleyan theology is what Albert Outler called the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. He explained John Wesley’s theology as based on four essential facets – scripture, tradition, experience, and reason. I always felt there was a different perspective on this. Wesley believed that scripture was the bedrock foundation of everything in our faith, so built on this foundation I would define the quadrilateral as: tradition, experience, reason, and service (works of piety/works of mercy). To this end, for Wesley katharos pistis/pure faith required some significant commitments: commitment to learning, knowledge, and wisdom, seeking meaning over truth and understanding over ignorance, valuing curiosity over certainty, and the intentional integration of works with beliefs as an active part of a Christian faith community.

Sadly, in our individualized age of personal and private spirituality, doxastic faith is generally divorced from all of this. A disdain of knowledge and science, willful and intentional ignorance of other’s thoughts, practices, and traditions, narrow-minded binary thinking, and the selfish demand of rights and entitlements result in just one thing: τοξικός δοξασία (toxikos doxasia – toxic non-rational belief).

How can we address this growing problem? Already discussed. Give a primacy as Christians to not just reading scripture but actually studying scripture using the very best and most reliable tools of biblical scholarship. Explore, study, and practice the core traditions of discipleship, stewardship, and worship. Engage in communal faith formation and spiritual exploration to share and expand personal and shared experiences. Apply the most vigorous and stringent disciplines of knowledge-building, study, interpretation, and application we have developed intellectually. And to put our faith into practice as the incarnate body of Christ, existing to serve, to teach, to preach, to heal, to comfort, to bring hope, joy, and love to all God’s creatures and to care for God’s creation. Simple, huh? Oh, and stop listening to anyone who tries to tell you to believe things just because they say so (including me).