by Rachel Frazer

Created on: April 20, 2009   Last Updated: April 23, 2009

Human nature is such that each individual experiences a desire for a predictable, rational system by which to abide. Such a system comes with an inherent sense of security, one of the basic nonphysical human needs. Daniel Taylor, author of The Myth of Certainty: the Reflective Christian and the Risk of Commitment, indicates in his work that the majority are socialized into a subsystem, not questioning its basis, nor considering the various aspects about the system which may be "right" or "wrong." Human nature is such that each individual experiences a desire for his or her world to make sense. According to Taylor, this is the dilemma of the reflective individual and, in particular, the reflective Christian.

What is it to be reflective? Taylor suggests, quite simply, that to be reflective is to ask questions and to be "sensitive to and fascinated by the complexity of things."[1]This initial definition would be highly oversimplified, but Taylor does go on to explore a wide variety of ways in which the reflective inclination might affect an individual in specific circumstances; he explores, primarily, the reflective Christian within the church setting. Possibly his most thought-provoking example is the following question: "Have you sometimes felt like walking out of a church service because it seemed contrived and empty?"[2] If more Christians, upon reflection, would stand up and literally leave the dead service, perhaps some kind of change within the realm of "church" would ensue or perhaps, as Taylor suggests, said reflective Christians would be ostracized, judged and labelled "backslidden" by the fundamental Christian subculture.[3]

Where there are questions, there should ideally be answers. It is more often the case, however, that where there are questions, additional questions ensue. In the case of the reflective Christian, who is prone to investigate the system and ask real questions, this is a dilemma which often leads to doubt. Of course, within the Christian subculture, when a Christian doubts he or she is presumed as "wavering in faith," or perhaps even on the verge of backsliding or, dare say, apostasy. Where the reflective Christian's questions abound, so too does judgement.

Taylor did a fine job of incorporating the notion of reflection into a vast array of circumstances, illustrating points rather effectively with pieces of a fictional story. He further did well to depict reflection as a characteristic within the fundamental Christian subculture as

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