Nov 30 21
Belief and cynicism are two sides of the same coin. They seem like rivals but really are twin creatures of certainty. To believe is to genuinely feel that one knows. Whereas cynicism is to be convinced that nothing has meaning, so one can do whatever without consequence. Both are grotesqueries.
Belief says things like: “Jesus is the one true God.”
Cynicism says things like: “I don’t have to outrun the bear; I just have to outrun you.”
Both are very corporate. Both are very results oriented. Both allow for slashing and burning. Both have a no nonsense countenance but hide a deep discomfort with the ambiguous nature of human life.
Our distaste for certainty got us thinking about what its opposite might be; the dictionary says it’s “doubt.” But we think curiosity is more apt. We are not thinking of curiosity here as a state of indecision but one of engagement — the way a scientist engages data or a poet engages language.
Belief says things like: “Jesus is the one true God.”
Cynicism says things like: “I don’t have to outrun the bear; I just have to outrun you.”
Both are very corporate. Both are very results oriented. Both allow for slashing and burning. Both have a no nonsense countenance but hide a deep discomfort with the ambiguous nature of human life.
Our distaste for certainty got us thinking about what its opposite might be; the dictionary says it’s “doubt.” But we think curiosity is more apt. We are not thinking of curiosity here as a state of indecision but one of engagement — the way a scientist engages data or a poet engages language.