Doubting Thomas
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither they hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed.
John 20: 27 – 29Happy Easter!
This is one of the well-known episodes that why one of the disciples, Thomas, is dubbed as “Doubting Thomas”. Among the disciples, perhaps he was a kind of person who is quite careful and always trying to be “rational” or “objective”. Of course, here I am not saying the very definitions of rationalism and/or objectivism derived from the vast history of Western philosophies. But even in such biblical days, or every period of human history, we humans have a tendency to avoid so-called blind faith and are scared by its danger.
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio
In the very start of our human nature, it seems we are essentially liars. It is said that the first critical sin we humans committed was murder as Cain killed his brother, Abel. But if not critical (in a sense it is indeed critical in changing everything at this inception), the first sin is a lie.
And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
Genesis 4: 8 – 9
Cain slaying Abel by Peter Paul Rubens
Cain killed his brother Abel. But then, when God asked Cain where Able is, he answered “I do not know”. At the very beginning of our human “mythology,” we lied against God. Actually what is interesting is that before Cain, it seemed his mother Eve also lied (not yet against God but) against the serpent (a symbol of evil and chaos)
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every three of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis: 2:16 - 17God told Adam this way. But then, when Eve was explaining God’s command to the serpent (though we are not sure if Adam changed it when he told her or Eve changed it by herself), she told the serpent as follows:
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the tree of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Genesis 3:2 – 3
Original sin by Michiel Coxie
God’s command was distorted and exaggerated up to the extent that the fruit was deadly not only by eating it but even just by touching it. In the very start of our human “life”, we were such liars that we pretended we didn't know what we knew (Cain), and that we exaggerated what we know (Adam or Eve).
So, we know by ourselves even instinctively that we are liars; therefore, we cannot trust anyone easily. If one says this is A, then we should not trust what he/she is saying since he/she might not be saying the truth; it should be B. For, unconsciously we think that we would not be saying the truth, either.
A lie is indeed one of the very fundamental attributes of human nature. (This is derived from the development of human consciousness; but I do not go details here). Because of that, fundamentally we have such “cope mechanism” of not trusting but being doubtful. And ironically this fundamental attribute is the important inception of so-called scientific rational attitude. By doubting everything there is one thing we cannot doubt, which is self -- cogito ergo sum.
Thomas was very human in such way that he never trusts anything unless he sees it by himself; by his own perceptions. It seems modern scientists believe what they cannot see in the field of advanced physics. But in reality they are also “Doubtful Thomas” in such way that they never trust anything unless they see the scientific proof, which is the “extension” of their sensory perceptions. They, or say, we know the risk and danger of “blind faith.” If we believe anything without any (rational, objective, or scientific) basis, then we instinctively feel that there would be a danger of being deceived and manipulated just as Cain and Adam/Eve did.
We all are indeed Doubting Thomas. And there is nothing wrong with it as there is nothing “wrong” as we see our sinful nature in the human fundamental attributes from the days of the Garden of Eden symbolically speaking. And only when we know we are all “Doubtful Thomas” this way, we can realize the other side of “blindness”, which is called “spiritual blindness”.
It is true that if you believe anything without any basis, you would be in danger of being deceived and manipulated. We should keep this attitude as our basic “cope-mechanism”. We should maximize our sensory perceptions and their scientific extensions. We need this attitude for our survival to keep our society sustainable. Nevertheless (or because of that), the resurrection of Jesus Christ indeed challenges everyone’s “Doubting Thomas” nature.
This challenge is NOT to make you blind again, but actually elevate and enlighten you to be aware of another level of “blindness”, which is called “spiritual blindness”. Only when you can existentially believe the truth of this challenge (having your faith on the resurrection), then, you can realize the truth that you are blind in this dimension; and at this very moment, your spiritual eye can be opened as if Jesus healed your blindness.
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
John 9:39
Christ healing the blind by Nicolas Colombel, 1682
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