{"id":1289,"date":"2016-12-16T10:46:10","date_gmt":"2016-12-16T09:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/?p=63513\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:06","slug":"god-maybe-no","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2016\/12\/16\/god-maybe-no\/","title":{"rendered":"God. Maybe? No!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

At first glance, they seem to be quite alike. Three students from South Holland all studying at the same university. But that\u2019s where the similarities end. Anouschka is a devout Protestant, atheist Sjors feels that all religion is nonsense, and Martijn can best be described as a Roman Catholic agnostic.<\/p>\n

In order to find out how they experience their philosophies of life and how this affects their lives as students, they play a game. A stack of question cards is on the table. They take turns choosing one person and asking a question on the card. Everyone also has two jokers, which allow them to pass the question on to someone else. Under EM\u2019s guidance, they make inquiries about each other and themselves.<\/p>\n

How did you decide that your beliefs are\nthe correct ones and mine aren\u2019t?<\/strong><\/p>\n

As soon as Martijn poses this question and the committed atheist Sjors is about to respond, Martijn and Anouschka burst out laughing. But Sjors remains serious and promptly answers. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not that difficult. Religious people have to prove that their claim, their faith, is right. I don\u2019t make any claims. For example, Christians say that God exists, so they have to provide proof. I always had my doubts when I heard those stories in school. I was told: if you have doubts, read the Bible. When I was seventeen I read it for the first time and my intuition told me that something didn\u2019t add up. The second time I read it I thought \u2018do I really want to worship this god?\u2019 That\u2019s when I reached the conclusion there\u2019s no reason to believe that a god exists.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018My faith is important to me and that is enough\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Even though this view runs contrary to hers, Anouschka understands his reasoning. \u201cIt\u2019s a very complicated question because it remains a question of faith and it\u2019s hard to provide conclusive proof for the question why your religion is the only true religion. Of course I\u2019ve had my doubts as well. I couldn\u2019t find any conclusive evidence, but in the end I came to the conclusion that my faith is important to me. That was enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Martijn fully understands the doubts. \u201cI have them too. But looking at it from a different perspective, as long as there\u2019s no definitive proof that there is no god, I prefer to believe in religion, or at least remain hopeful. Hope is the reason I haven\u2019t definitively abandoned my faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Name:<\/strong> Sjors van Wijngaarden <\/em>
\nAge:<\/strong> 28 <\/em>
\nStudying:<\/strong> Master of Arts in History of Society <\/em>
\nRaised in:<\/strong> Sliedrecht <\/em>
\nBackground:<\/strong> Dutch Reformed Church<\/em><\/p>\n

Imagine for moment that you change\nyour own convictions. What faith would\nyou then adopt and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anouschka reads the question out loud and sighs deeply. \u2018Now that\u2019s an interesting one.\u2019 After some hesitation this question is put to Sjors.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhew, that\u2019s a tough one. But if I had to choose, I would choose something like the beliefs found in Greek mythology.\u201d As an agnostic, Martijn knows that all eyes are on him. \u201cDifficult\u2026 My position is somewhere in the middle. I don\u2019t know if I could really be an atheist, because I would still have the feeling that something was missing. What? The hope. The idea that there\u2019s nothing after you die, that it\u2019s the end. I find that hard to accept.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anouschka laughs as she listens to Martijn and Sjors. As far as she\u2019s concerned \u2013 at least for now \u2013 it\u2019s a foregone conclusion. \u201cThere\u2019s something beautiful in every faith, such as loving your fellow man. But in the end I decided that this faith is really my true faith. I never questioned it after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is a life with or without religion possible\nfor you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anouschka reads out the question and, in her enthusiasm, immediately launches into an answer.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018Religion provides comfort and tranquillity, knowing there\u2019s someone up there I can talk to\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

\u201cImpossible for me. Religion means too much. It provides comfort and tranquillity, knowing there\u2019s someone up there I can talk to and when things are hard, I can accept that things are out of my hands.\u201d Sjors looks at Anouschka with surprise.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019I think it\u2019s bizarre that you\u2019d say life without religion is impossible. It meant a lot to me once too, but at some point it\u2019s not relevant anymore and you discover that it doesn\u2019t enhance your life in any way. You say that religion gives you hope, but I don\u2019t go through life feeling hopeless and fearful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anouschka shows understanding in her response. \u201cThere are enough difficult matters in faith that I sometimes struggle with. With some of the stories I think: \u2018What does this mean for me?\u2019 But I find hope when I read stories about Jesus. Those stories give me strength.\u201d Sjors still disagrees. \u201cI respect your faith and the idea that people have religious beliefs, but I don\u2019t respect what they believe.\u201d This last remark results in laughter around the table, followed by a brief clarification. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t respect you or that religious people are bad people.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Name:<\/strong> Anouschka Rozendaal <\/em>
\nAge:<\/strong> 22 <\/em>
\nStudying:<\/strong> Master in Health Economics, Policy & Law <\/em>
\nRaised in:<\/strong> Groot-Ammers <\/em>
\nBackground:<\/strong> Reformed Alliance in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands<\/em><\/p>\n

How does life as a student affect the\nway you adhere to your beliefs?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Without hesitation, Sjors passes the question on to Anouschka. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a member of NSR, a Christian student association. This connection makes my faith a logical part of my life as a student. It was a conscious choice to join NSR after finishing secondary school. My thinking was that I went to university, where perhaps there are many people who aren\u2019t religious. I wanted to find a way to remain engaged with my faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

Martijn states he didn\u2019t consciously make any choice in this matter. \u201cI get that it\u2019s nice to meet up with people once in a while to talk about your faith, but that\u2019s something I already do outside of university. This makes me actively think about the subject and you also talk to people who feel differently about it.\u201d Anouschka isn\u2019t worried that she\u2019s living in a bubble because of the Christian nature of NSR. \u201cIn my study I\u2019m in contact with plenty of\u00a0people who have a different background.\u201d<\/p>\n

Are there times in your life as a student\nwhen it\u2019s awkward to express your\nfaith?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Martijn puts this question to Sjors who, after thinking about it for a moment, can\u2019t come up with any situations where this has happened. While he hasn\u2019t experienced it at university, it has happened when he returns to his hometown.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings are sometimes different when I go home to Sliedrecht. My opinions aren\u2019t always appreciated, but personally, I get enjoyment from that.\u201d He then changes his mind and plays his joker card. \u201cI\u2019m curious how you would answer this, Anouschka. I imagine it\u2019s a bit more difficult for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Anouschka, any awkwardness is purely in her mind. \u201cWhen I started university, I was worried people might think: \u2018Hey \u2013 she\u2019s Christian, what\u2019s she doing here in a science-based study? Did she give this any thought?\u2019 But I quickly found out that people are very receptive to this discussion and find it interesting. I haven\u2019t gotten into many heated discussions.\u201d Sjors immediately offers to start one, but the discussion is deferred for now. This is followed by a confession from Martijn.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t deny that the way I present myself depends on who I\u2019m with. I won\u2019t lie if someone asks me, I\u2019ll simply tell them what I believe, but I don\u2019t initiate conversations about my Catholic background. I don\u2019t know why that is. I guess I find it difficult to have a conflicting opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n

What was the most difficult faith-related\nmoment of your academic life?<\/strong><\/p>\n

This question is directed at the \u2018Doubting Thomas\u2019 Martijn, and he\u2019s ready with his answer.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t
\n\t\t\u2018But the more you learn and experience, the more you start doubting and putting things into perspective\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

\u201cSince starting my bachelor programme in History, I have had more understanding for atheism. I increasingly think Christianity could just be an illusion. As a child you don\u2019t know any better than to accept religion as the truth. But the more you learn and experience, the more you start doubting and putting things into perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anouschka says that her experience has been different. \u201cI haven\u2019t often been challenged to ponder the combination of my studies and my faith since starting university. The only time where I\u2019ve thought about it is during a course covering health policy and law. Then you\u2019re confronted with issues like euthanasia and abortion. Then I discover that I sometimes have a different point of view on some issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Name:<\/strong> Martijn Schoolenberg <\/em>
\nAge:<\/strong> 21 <\/em>
\nStudying:<\/strong> Master of Arts in History of Society<\/em>
\n Raised in:<\/strong> Rotterdam <\/em>
\nBackground:<\/strong> Roman Catholic<\/em><\/p>\n

How does your life as a student differ\nfrom the life of a student with a different\nfaith?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just like the previous question about student life, Sjors immediately puts this question to Anouschka. \u2018I knew it,\u2019 she says with a laugh. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI think the main difference is in values and ethics. I think marriage is a wonderful institution. In my opinion sex is meant for that one special person and being faithful to that person is important. Many students probably feel differently about this. NSR is also different from other associations. Sure, we all like beer, but the goal of our society evenings isn\u2019t to get drunk and go home with someone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s something I\u2019m familiar with,\u201d says Sjors. At first his words create confusion at the table, but he quickly explains himself. \u201cI mean, not me personally, but I\u2019ve seen this with friends in Sliedrecht. Sex before marriage is still an issue for some of my friends.\u201d Otherwise, he doesn\u2019t see religion playing much of a role in student life. \u201cBeforehand I thought it would have a bigger impact, but the subject simply doesn\u2019t come up that much.\u201d Martijn agrees. \u201cIt\u2019s never been an issue. I drink alcohol when I want, and sex before marriage isn\u2019t an issue either.\u201d<\/p>\n

What do you like most about your faith?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anouschka is ready to answer this final question right away. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018What I like most is the idea that there\u2019s no longer anyone who knows what you\u2019re thinking, dreaming or feeling\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

\u201cThe way Jesus conducted himself during his life and how he sacrificed himself. His sacrifice allows us to live in freedom. It\u2019s not like I feel my life is less free because I live the way I do now. Parting from my faith would feel like losing a piece of me.\u201d For Martijn, what resonates most \u2013 besides the search for hope \u2013 is the concept of love. \u201cFor me, religion is a way to get into contact with someone and forge a strong bond. I find this expression of love a beautiful thing.\u201d Sjors concludes the discussion with some more down-to-earth wisdom. \u201cThe fact that you\u2019re free. The idea that there\u2019s no longer anyone who knows what you\u2019re thinking, dreaming or feeling, expecting everything you do to be done in his name. That\u2019s what I like most about my beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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