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Certainty is central to problems we currently face as politics mixes with religion, science denialism and deliberate ignorance abound.

Thoughts on the weakness of great power: Certitude.

A ton of smarter people have been writing about this quite a bit recently. Grace, tolerance and empathy should not need defending let alone promotion.

In Cinema, “Conclave” explores the problem of empowering authoritarian leadership insensitive to the area between cruel certainty and humble doubt. Those gray areas are where most of us exist.

Catholic believers are winding up for the real thing, with the passing of the Pope.

Pope Francis wrote in his autobiography (published in January) about his discomfort with certainty.

“It is no good a person saying with total certainty that they have met God…”

He elaborated:

“If someone has answers to all the questions, this is proof that God is not with them, It means that they are a false prophet, someone who exploits religion, who uses it for themselves. The great guides of God’s people, like Moses, always left space for doubt.” 

The anchoring theme in the movie “Conclave” is doubt. Cardinal Lawrence: 

“There is one sin which I have come to fear above all others: certainty. Certainty is the great enemy of unity. Certainty is the deadly enemy of tolerance. … Our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand in hand with doubt. If there was only certainty and no doubt, there would be no mystery and, therefore, no need for faith. Let us pray that God grants us a pope who doubts.” 

This Sunday, a week after Easter – as a church-less “Orphangelical” – I have my doubts about nearly everything that blisters and blusters within our culture these days.

Often, the powerful assert their association with good in the furtherance of mendacious intents. To rid society of perceived threats is an excuse. I know best. Trust me.

“The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing”

The earliest known citation showing a strong similarity to the modern quote appeared in October of 1916. The researcher J. L. Bell found this important instance. The maxim appeared in a quotation from a speech by the Reverend Charles F. Aked who was calling for restrictions on the use of alcohol:

It has been said that for evil men to accomplish their purpose it is only necessary that good men should do nothing.

Prohibition didn’t work. Intolerance is wrong.