An unexamined faith is not worth having, for fundamentalism and

Opening Scene – Narrated by Host
The café was calm, the soft murmur of conversations filling the space. Jack sat at a table near the window, staring out into the street, his coffee cooling untouched. The warmth of the late afternoon sunlight contrasted with the intensity of his thoughts. He seemed lost in a reflection about faith, freedom, and the importance of questioning—how the mind and spirit interact with the ideas that guide our lives.

Across from him, Jeeny noticed the depth of his reflection. She could tell he was grappling with something profound, perhaps about the nature of belief and the importance of critical thinking in shaping our understanding. She decided it was the right moment to bring up a quote that could steer their conversation toward a more thoughtful discussion on faith, freedom, and reason.

Host: The soft murmur of the café filled the background, but Jeeny’s voice broke through, calm and steady. The conversation was about to move from personal contemplation to a deeper reflection on the role of critical thinking in faith and decision-making.

Character Descriptions
Jack
In his early 30s, Jack was someone who constantly reflected on the deeper meanings of life, especially when it came to belief systems and the role of reason in shaping them. His grey eyes reflected a deep curiosity, always questioning the things he was told and seeking to understand the principles that guided his thoughts and actions. Jack valued faith, but he often found himself wondering about the balance between belief and the critical examination of those beliefs. His voice was steady, yet filled with a quiet tension as he tried to reconcile his own beliefs with the need to question and reason.

Jeeny
Late 20s, Jeeny had a natural ability to understand the complexities of faith and reason. Her dark eyes were observant, always noticing the contradictions and nuances in life and belief. Jeeny believed that true faith wasn’t blind—it required reflection, evidence, and the freedom to think critically. Her voice was calm yet firm, guiding Jack to explore the balance between accepting belief and the importance of examining it deeply.

Host
The silent observer, attuned to the subtle dynamics of the conversation. The Host understood that sometimes the most profound realizations came when people reflected on how faith and reason interacted, and how they influenced the freedom to make decisions and form beliefs.

Main Debate

Jeeny: She set her coffee cup down gently, her voice thoughtful. “Jack, I came across something by Jon Meacham recently that really made me think about faith and the need for critical thinking. He said, ‘An unexamined faith is not worth having, for fundamentalism and uncritical certitude entail the rejection of one of the great human gifts: that of free will, of the liberty to make up our own minds based on evidence and tradition and reason.’ What do you think of that?”

Jack: He looked up, his expression thoughtful. “I think there’s a lot of truth in that. It’s easy to hold onto beliefs without ever questioning them, to simply accept what we’ve been taught or what’s been handed down to us. But Meacham is saying that an unexamined faith doesn’t really allow us to grow or understand our beliefs in a meaningful way. It’s not about rejecting faith, but about allowing room for reason and evidence to shape our understanding of it.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. Faith shouldn’t be about certainty or just blindly following something because it’s what we’ve been told. It’s about taking the time to examine what we believe, why we believe it, and how it fits into the larger context of the world around us. Without questioning, we’re essentially denying ourselves the freedom to make our own choices based on the evidence we encounter. That freedom to think and reason is one of the greatest gifts we have.”

Jack: “I think that’s the problem with fundamentalism—it requires certainty without room for doubt or critical examination. It doesn’t allow for the growth of personal understanding. Faith that’s never questioned becomes stagnant. Meacham’s point is that we need to approach our beliefs with the same mindset we use in everything else—by questioning and examining them. Otherwise, they risk being more about conformity than personal understanding.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. When we stop questioning, we essentially give up our free will—the ability to form our own ideas and beliefs based on our experiences, knowledge, and reasoning. Uncritical certitude can be dangerous because it shuts down the potential for true understanding. True faith, on the other hand, is a dynamic process—it requires us to engage with the world, to challenge our assumptions, and to grow as individuals.”

Host: The atmosphere in the café seemed to deepen as the conversation shifted toward the importance of questioning and reasoning in matters of belief. Jack’s expression softened, as if the idea of unexamined faith had struck a chord with him, and he was beginning to understand how this principle applied to his own beliefs.

Jack: “I think I’ve always taken my beliefs for granted. I’ve assumed that what I was taught or what I’ve always believed is enough. But Meacham’s quote makes me realize that true faith isn’t about accepting things without question. It’s about being open to growth, to new evidence, and to understanding our beliefs on a deeper level. It’s about the freedom to question and the responsibility to seek the truth.”

Climax and Reconciliation

Jeeny: “Exactly. Faith isn’t about rejecting doubt—it’s about embracing it and using it as a tool for deeper understanding. By questioning our beliefs, we engage with them more fully, and that creates room for authentic growth. It’s not about certainty but about being open to learning, adjusting, and evolving our beliefs based on evidence and reason.”

Jack: “I think that’s the core of it—freedom and reason are inseparable when it comes to faith. Without the ability to make our own decisions and think critically, we aren’t really free in our beliefs. Our beliefs need to be examined and chosen—not just inherited or accepted without thought. The freedom to examine, question, and evolve is what makes faith meaningful.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s about being active in our beliefs, not passive. When we take the time to understand them, question them, and re-evaluate them over time, we give ourselves the freedom to grow and adapt in a way that aligns with our personal experiences and reasoning. That’s what makes our faith truly ours.”

Host: The light in the café seemed warmer now, as Jack had come to realize that the key to faith was not simply belief without examination, but the active, thoughtful process of questioning, reasoning, and growing. The freedom to examine our faith was a fundamental part of its authenticity, allowing it to evolve with our experiences and insights.

Outside, the world continued on its usual pace, but inside the café, Jack had come to understand that true faith wasn’t about certainty or blind adherence—it was about embracing the freedom to think critically, to question, and to evolve in the pursuit of deeper understanding. True belief was not stagnant, but dynamic—shaped by evidence, tradition, and reason.