Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from…
““Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude of the contemplative experience awakens a tragic anguish and opens many questions in the depths of the heart like wounds that cannot stop bleeding. For every gain in deep certitude there is a corresponding growth of superficial "doubt." This doubt is by no means opposed to genuine faith, but it mercilessly examines and questions the spurious "faith" of everyday life, the human faith which is nothing but the passive acceptance of conventional opinion. This false "faith" which is what we often live by and which we even come to confuse with our "religion" is subjected to inexorable questioning… Hence, is it clear that genuine contemplation is incompatible with complacency and with smug acceptance of prejudiced opinions. It is not mere passive acquiescence in the status quo, as some would like to believe – for this would reduce it to the level of spiritual anesthesia.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Contemplation reveals deep certainty that simultaneously provokes tragic anguish and questions superficial faith, exposing complacency.
In simple terms: Deep thought brings both certainty and unsettling doubt.
Key Takeaway
Embrace questioning, avoid complacent faith.
Themes
spemplation
faith
doubt
complacency
spirituality
Mood
reflective
introspective
serious
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- Personal meditation
- spiritual retreats
- ethical decision making
- academic study of faith
Key Concepts
Existentialism
theology
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate genuine faith from passive acceptance?
- What practices help integrate doubt without losing conviction?
A Different Perspective
Depth of certainty can intensify inner conflict, making it hard to balance faith and doubt.