Belief is a strange and powerful thing. It can often be so powerful as to be stronger than truth.

Science has repeatedly demonstrated that incongruity. Once, “spontaneous generation” held that living organisms needn’t descend from similarly live entities. Even in modern times, every doctor knew there were 48 chromosomes. No one had actually seen them, because there are only 46, but that was the correct answer based on flawed science in their discovery. So, 48 it was until one intrepid medical student demanded to be shown the ever missing pair. More recently still, stomach ulcers were thought to be caused by stress or diet, until a bacteria was found to be the culprit.

Religion has its own way of negating the very purpose of its being.

Why is it that when purportedly Christian believers use the Bible for proof positive on any given issue, they invariably start quoting something from the Old Testament? Why can’t so many avowed Christians move on to the New Testament? More pointedly, if God is eternal and ever instructive, why are his Biblical revelations fixated on as if only ancient words have any currency?

Acceptance of a belief without actual experience of its reality is faith. Most knowledge is faith, trusting in what one has been taught to be, but rarely confirmed by one’s own verification.

When Christ was arrested one of his disciples drew a sword to resist the government’s injustice. Though commanding infinite power, Christ advised a pacifist stand to break an endless chain of violence as a mortal solution. The Prince of Peace walked the walk, and asked all to follow. Yet, Christians all over the world still choose to ignore that profound narrative of the Gospels.

The New Testament’s faith of peace, love and forgiveness never seems to gain sufficient traction over Old Testament rationalizations for violence, fear and punishment.

Similarly, America’s self-branding of an exceptionalism rooted in the democratic notion that all are created equal and all should have a fair share in our national enterprise has had a difficult time finding realization. We enjoy a flawed capitalism where material value based on scarcity always seems to trump the economic fairness of excess for some after all have enough. Christianity and secular humanism can’t hold a candle to America’s worship of material accomplishment.

We are a nation that longs to individually shop until we drop, a longing so strong that we can’t abide the notion of purchasing something together, preferring to risk having nothing at all rather than just the same little taste as everybody else. Going for broke, we end up with an economic gamble where winning demands someone’s loss, maybe everyone’s.

What part of all this seems particularly Christian?

A Christian nation doesn’t let its children and elderly go hungry. A decent nation doesn’t let anyone go hungry.

A great nation doesn’t let its citizens go without affordable medical care and decent housing. Even most “godless” nations aim higher than that for their citizens.

I believe America has unlimited potential, that capitalism can be a much better provider for more than just the fortunate, that tolerance and common purpose can overcome the fear that separates us. I believe that patriotism can be a positive force for national renewal rather than the last refuge for those that just plain don’t support America’s founding principles of opportunity and justice for all.

I believe so many things are possible, and if shared and acted upon would become more powerful than the truth that this far too proud nation needs to talk less and walk the walk of a truly great democratic ideal that still has a long ways to go.

“And the truth shall set you free” isn’t all that distant from “ The truth is out there.”

Religious belief and scientific belief needn’t be adversarial. Einstein had no problem with holding the two as allies in pursuing the deepest truths.

We all have our own beliefs and understanding of truth. Hardly a day goes by that fact-checking doesn’t demonstrate that what I have held as reality for decades is often hearsay, or factually challenged conventional wisdom.

Most instructive was finally deciding, a few years ago, to read the Bible word for word, cover to cover. It was truly a revelation, more for all that I discovered isn’t actually between its covers than what is. Church sermons can take great license with the notion of interpretation. Those that have cherry-picked their religious foundation stand advised that the truth of full Biblical exposure sets a pretty high bar for one’s leap of faith: No condemnation of abortion, or premarital sex. No 2nd Amendment or anti-immigration justification.

I once worked for a doctor who never kept abreast of any professional journals. Knowing what he already knew served him well enough to maintain a practice in his specialty, but not so well his patients. I never had chance to ask him as to the number of chromosomes.

I believe 46 is correct, but I can hardly say for sure.

Questioning one’s faith is to believe more strongly still that truth will be revealed.

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Gary Anderson lives in Bath.