The Religious Case Against Belief
Belief, the author suggests, is a response to ignorance. Carse examines three kinds of ignorance: "ordinary" ignorance is simply lack of knowledge of some kind, such as the weather in Africa. "Willful" ignorance purposefully avoids clear and available knowledge, such as Creationists acting as if they know nothing of evolution. The tenacious beliefs that grow out of willful ignorance often result in bloody religious conflicts. Finally, what Carse calls "higher" ignorance accepts the fact that no matter how many truths we accumulate, our knowledge falls infinitely short of the truth. Individuals acting in higher ignorance can recognize the many truths that religious traditions can offer. Seen in Carse's provocative way, religion transcends the narrow boundaries established by beliefs, and transforms our ways of thinking about the world.