I grew up in a Christian family, but at 13 I became an atheist. When I was 18, I left my
hometown of Rio with a backpack and set off to see the world. I visited the British
Isles, then crossed the Channel and took a bus overland to India, through Turkey,
Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. I learned that Arabic speakers use the same
expression, As-salamu alaykum—the peace of God be with you—for hello and
goodbye.
hometown of Rio with a backpack and set off to see the world. I visited the British
Isles, then crossed the Channel and took a bus overland to India, through Turkey,
Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. I learned that Arabic speakers use the same
expression, As-salamu alaykum—the peace of God be with you—for hello and
goodbye.
Once in a little town in Afghanistan, I heard a boy singing a beautiful song in his
father’s tailor shop. When I asked what he was singing, he said, “The Koran, of
course.” When I arrived in Goa, I stayed with a group of French young people who
would sit in their hut and spend hours silently contemplating a lit candle on the table.
I remember thinking, There must be a God. Everywhere I go, people are seeking
Him. Soon I found my Christian roots again and became a missionary, and that’s
when I began learning what having faith really meant.
father’s tailor shop. When I asked what he was singing, he said, “The Koran, of
course.” When I arrived in Goa, I stayed with a group of French young people who
would sit in their hut and spend hours silently contemplating a lit candle on the table.
I remember thinking, There must be a God. Everywhere I go, people are seeking
Him. Soon I found my Christian roots again and became a missionary, and that’s
when I began learning what having faith really meant.
In my experience, as you pass the tests of life one by one, you will find that faith
beckons you onwards. It keeps you going when setbacks and discouragement
scream that you should give up. It’s a still small voice that tells you in the midst of
turmoil that everything is going to be all right. Faith grows through the challenges we
overcome day by day.
beckons you onwards. It keeps you going when setbacks and discouragement
scream that you should give up. It’s a still small voice that tells you in the midst of
turmoil that everything is going to be all right. Faith grows through the challenges we
overcome day by day.
If God would give us all the gifts and everything that He is able to give, but withhold
only Himself, we would remain hungry and unsatisfied. The inward stirring and
touching of God makes us hungry and yearning; for the Spirit of God hunts our spirit,
and the more it touches it, the greater our hunger and our craving. And this is the life
of love in its highest working, above reason and above understanding; for reason can
here neither give nor take away from love, for our love is touched by the divine
love.—John of Ruysbroeck (1293–1381), adapted
only Himself, we would remain hungry and unsatisfied. The inward stirring and
touching of God makes us hungry and yearning; for the Spirit of God hunts our spirit,
and the more it touches it, the greater our hunger and our craving. And this is the life
of love in its highest working, above reason and above understanding; for reason can
here neither give nor take away from love, for our love is touched by the divine
love.—John of Ruysbroeck (1293–1381), adapted
Religion leaves a million questions unanswered and apparently unanswerable. …
Religion does not relieve us from the duty of thought; it makes it possible for a man to
begin thinking. It does not put an end to research and enquiry, it gives a basis from
which real research is made possible and fruitful of results.—G. A. Studdert Kennedy
in The Wicket Gate(1923)
Religion does not relieve us from the duty of thought; it makes it possible for a man to
begin thinking. It does not put an end to research and enquiry, it gives a basis from
which real research is made possible and fruitful of results.—G. A. Studdert Kennedy
in The Wicket Gate(1923)
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