Notes

Arnav Mantro - FCS Q1 Exam: Written Response

In To The Seeker, O'Malley says FAITH is NOT a blind leap in the dark; rather FAITH is a Calculated Risk. Explain the meaning of this statement.
Faith is simply not a random wish or a Blind Leap in the dark; it is a calculated risk. Some things, such as
a marriage, where both parties are hoping for the success of it, or a casino game, where you are betting on
an Ace of Spades, are examples Blind Leaps in the dark. You are wishing for a certain outcome in order to
benefit mainly yourself. A calculated risk, however, like our relationship with god, is completely different.
Some people choose not to take the risk and become an Atheist. Others, walk through the movements of
church or prayer without finding meaning. O'Malley emphasizes the indifference that this makes to a
person and that instead, they should focus on their inner personal relationship with god, something not
many people may have seen. A calculated risk is something that you don't know for certain is true, but you
are holding onto a glimpse of hope in order to humble yourself or to get rid of a personal sense of apathy.
A calculated risk is far more important than a casino game, marriage, drugs and alcohol and even
Fortnite. It is an inner feeling within yourself that you can connect with to a chance or a glimpse of hope
that someone like God is present and available to you. You weigh the risks and realize that even if there is
no God, your faith will benefit from even the idea of one.

Explain the meaning of the following statement: "...the result of the faith choice is far more important than the evidence that motivated the leap."
When you choose your religion/faith, no matter what it is, you get something out of it - if you pray
properly and look inside yourself for answers about your life and tough decisions. The outcome or answers
that you receive from your faith are far more important than the reason you chose to become a Christian,
Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, etc. It is the personal value that you receive from the calculated risk of your faith
that matters compared to the "why". Anyone can be born into a religion, convert to a religion, create a
religion, or just have personal moments with an ambient god. None of that matters. It truly is the outcome
and the knowledge you gain from doing so. Your past, financial status, birthplace, ethnicity, sexuality and
orientation does not matter in the face of God. The person who made us and connects us. What he allows
us to personally discover about ourselves through meditation or reflection is a lot more meaningful than our
reason for speaking with god.

From the reading "Suspending Disbelief" (included with the exam), pick out some quote from the reading that you see makes a connection to ONE of the following topics: 1) O'Malley's starting point in one's search for God: an acknowledgement of your own inner longing for "more", for meaning (which he suggests is an inner need for God), OR 2) O'Malley's primary obstacle in one's search for God: unreflecting egotism (indifference).
A) "My unwillingness to suspend disbelief deprived me of the beauty of classical music. I was a smug nihilist
proudly asserting; 'There's nothing there.' If you begin with the assumption that there is no meaning,
you will find none" (96).
B) O'Malley states that the primary obstacle in one's search for god is indifference, or unreflecting egotism.
The above quote epitomizes O'Malley's claim. If you are an unreflecting egotist, you are not open to
growth and have a sense of smugness over everyone else without realizing it. People who are unreflecting
egotists do not look inside themselves and are unable to believe and gain from faith to their full
potential. The author's unwillingness to become open to growth to classical music caused his demise. He
was, at the time, an unreflective egotist. Since he had set his mind to an assertion, he could not have
changed his thoughts about it - even if it was not his true feeling about the subject. Being an
unreflecting egotist will change your life and opinions in a negative way. You must be open to growth
and willing to accept new things. In order to do this, you have to take time to look inside yourself and
give classical music a chance before disregarding it.