Would You Believe It or Not?

Would You Believe It or Not?

Either television writers have finally run out of ideas for bad situation comedies or the baby boomers' like me long for our twentieth century (60's and 70's) youth. Whatever. In our retro-chic craziness, there is now a resurgence of some of the corniest and kitsch-iest of 60's/70's programming. I am loving it! I watch it.  I paused to watch Get Smart with the residents while visiting a nursing home this week. I had forgotten how hilarious it was...is.  I'm not talking about the Get Smart with Steve Carell that boasts 2 and a half stars on rotten tomatoes.  Or the cheesy 1980 remake (even if it was with Don Adams).

I'm talking Maxwell Smart - the original series, the TV show. Don Adams "Maxwell Smart" was a spy at the height of the Cold War working for a CIA clone organization called Control to defeat the powers of evil as embodied in the sinister organization KAOS. He was a bumbling sort of an agent given to an odd grab bag of tricks to foil his enemies, be it the old secret-panel-in-the-bookcase trick, or the more popular old bulletproof-cummerbund-in-the-tuxedo trick.

 He was given to exaggeration, however. Many of his descriptions were unbelievable.

Remember this? "Sorry about that, Chief"; "Missed it by that much ... "; and most famously, "Would you believe ...?"

Secret agent Smart would inevitably come up against some brick wall of a bad guy from whom he had to escape. Smart would try to intimidate his foe by scaring him off with some hopelessly transparent exaggeration: "Right now, there are 50 armed police officers surrounding this place." When the adversary doubted him, Smart would counter with: "Would you believe 20 police and an angry dog?" With the crook still not impressed, Smart would finally suggest: "How about a troop of Girl Scouts on a cookie-sale drive?"

He continually had to revise his reports until his statements were believable.

For example, "You better drop that gun because this yacht happens to be surrounded by the Seventh Fleet .... Would you believe the Sixth Fleet? ... How about a school of angry flounder?"

 Or, "As soon as you're gone, by the use of sheer brute strength I shall be able to rip these chains from the wall in one minute. Two minutes? How about a week from Tuesday?"



I can remember reading my first Ripley’s Believe It or Not comic.  I was forced in every picture to make a faith decision: do I believe this or not? Can I believe in the Fiji mermaid? Is it a tall tale or fish tale? I wondered. And what about the "Chinese Shrunken Head," the size of a lemon? Or "Wadlow the Giant" at 8'11" tall, the human high-rise? 

I believed it all. I was no doubting Thomas. I hadn't learned to play the skeptic yet. If Maxwell Smart had asked me, "Would you believe a shrunken head the size of a lemon?" I would enthusiastically respond, "Yes, yes, I do!"



When the disciples came to Thomas with the fantastic news of a risen Savior, they asked him, "Would you believe ... that Jesus is risen? Would you believe ... that Jesus who was crucified between two thieves is alive? Would you believe ... that he has appeared to Mary and to all of us?"

 Thomas' response was that of doubt.  Thus forever Doubting Thomas. 



Thomas gets a bad rap. I think the time has come to rehabilitate the reputation of Thomas. Poor Thomas has had to walk the corridors of history known as "Doubting Thomas." There is now a Doubter’s Anonymous (dedicated to Thomas) for those who are not satisfied with blind faith. There is a rock band which travels internationally called Doubting Thomas.


It does not matter that Thomas was no better and no worse than the average disciple who would not believe either. It does not matter that tradition has him carrying the gospel to India, where there still exists an order known as Christians of St. Thomas of India. Nor does it seem to matter that this same tradition has Thomas suffering martyrdom for the faith. No-o-o-o-o, he will always be "Doubting Thomas." The disciple who opened his mouth only to change feet. Thomas, the patron saint of all of those who are the last to know. (And that would be me). 

Yes, Thomas has gotten a bad rap. His reputation as a skeptic is not only undeserved, but is also the result of a too casual reading about him.

Thomas speaks up and, addressing himself to his fellow disciples, says, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." 

(Pretty bold, not doubtful). Thomas admits that he, for one, doesn't have a clue about what Jesus is talking about. (Sounds like something I would say). "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" This, in turn, leads Jesus to speak in unambiguous terms that even we can understand, providing one of the most memorable passages in the New Testament: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." Personally I am glad he asked.  Remember your teacher telling you the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask? Gotta hand it to Thomas.

 Jesus appears among them fully aware of how incomprehensible his appearance is to the minds and experiences of these gathered ones. He takes the initiative and shows them in his hands and side the undeniable markings of the Crucifixion. 

Lest you miss the significance of this, let me put it another way. The incredulity of this group demanded proof no less than the disbelief of Thomas and what is more, it demanded the same kind of proof. They doubted just as Thomas doubted and just as I would doubt if I were in their place. 

All of which leads to a more interesting question, which is, "Why have I developed such a negative attitude toward doubt?" I too am a "doubting Thomas" and have a lack of faith too often.  I think our world needs to see my humanity. Yes I am a believer in Jesus - but human.  I come off too many times as so heavenly minded I'm no earthly good.

I have been reared in a religious environment in which doubt is posed as the antithesis of faith. And this story of Thomas is often used to reinforce that lesson. But isn't the "doubt vs. faith" dichotomy a false issue? Is not the real enemy of faith unbelief rather than doubt? I think so. And what is more, I think that doubt has a constructive and positive role to play in the exercise of faith.

 So what am I to do? I don't want to be a "Doubting Thomas," but I am frequently beset with unresolved questions of faith. 



The three least used words in my religious vocabulary are too often, "I don't know." And in this feasting under the tree of knowledge, I rob faith of its humanness.

 Could I not, however, respond more positively to these questionings and doubts by using them as teaching moments?  I can learn from Thomas that even though I don't know where our journey may lead, it is enough that our Lord makes the journey with me.  

I'm all about rehabilitating the reputation of Thomas as one who had the courage to admit his lack of understanding.  I know in saying that I run the risk of removing my mask and other's viewing my very human face. (no comments please).

Nevertheless, I am embracing the truth learned from Thomas that doubts may not always lead to answers, but they almost always lead to growth.  I doubt I missed it but if I missed it, it was only by "that much" believe it or not.