Chapter 43
Good Monday Morning to this week 43 of 2023
A God who limits himself to actions that we humans can understand couldn’t possibly be God. Hasidic
A Hasidic rabbi lost his wife and 11 children in the Holocaust. Afterwards, he was asked, “Why did miracles occur only during biblical times? Why don’t they happen in our time?” The rabbi replied, “The fact that there are Holocaust survivors who, after all they endured, can still keep faith, is itself, the greatest miracle of all.”
Over the past two weeks, we’ve explored the stories of the good Samaritan and the bad Samaritan. But what if there exists an uncertain Samaritan? Could that be reflective of us? We grapple with uncertainties in comprehending what we read and face the complexities of our ever-evolving lives. As we witness the unfolding events in the Middle East, we find ourselves questioning the decisions made by the various groups entangled in this conflict.
In Isreal, Palestine and other countries of the Middle East there are countless individuals that demonstrate profound faith, living out their beliefs amidst incredibly challenging circumstances. They selflessly serve those in desperate need, embodying love, compassion, faith, and forgiveness. Regrettably, these inspiring stories often remain overshadowed by the headlines in mainstream media.
The Allais paradox illustrates that human decision-making can be complex and influenced by a range of cognitive biases and psychological factors, challenging the assumptions of classical economic models. The Allais paradox reveals that people don’t always make decisions the way standard theory predicts. Instead of always being perfectly rational, we often make choices based on our feelings and instincts. This paradox breaks a rule in the standard theory, which says our preferences shouldn’t change when the odds or payouts of two options are adjusted equally. The Allais paradox shows that this rule doesn’t always hold in real life.
In the early 1970s, the Israeli psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky examined the Allais paradox, captivated by the mystery of why people didn’t respond to probabilities in a straightforward way. Upon rephrasing questions in terms of gains and losses, they swiftly discerned a fundamental human aversion to losses. This aversion played a significant role in our general discomfort with risk. Because we feel the negative impact of risky decisions (losses) more intensely than the benefits (gains), most risks register as unwise choices. Additionally, options that offer certainty become particularly appealing, as they carry no risk. In the words of Kahneman and Tversky, “In human decision making, losses loom larger than gains.” They termed this phenomenon “loss aversion.”
Is this where faith comes is? Is this where faith isn’t based on the “loss aversion” but has it’s roots found in the risk-taking?
Ecclesiastes 11: 4-6; As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and in the evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.
Connecting the Allais Paradox and Faith involves exploring the intersection of decision-making under uncertainty and matters of belief.
Embracing uncertainty through faith entails placing trust in God’s greater purpose, rather than solely relying on our own judgments. It necessitates relinquishing the need for total control, a surrender that may occur naturally given life’s unpredictable circumstances, which are all too evident in our current reality. In the teachings of Jesus, we find profound encouragement for believers to draw strength from adversity, especially in the face of uncertainty.
This sheds a beautiful light on the beatitudes. When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Faith serves as a guiding compass in decision-making, often embodying principles that may not always align with conventional models or other ideas described in the Allais Paradox. Concepts such as generosity and forgiveness, rooted in faith, will significantly influence our choices. Moreover, faith is a wellspring of resilience. It doesn’t derive from anxiety surrounding uncertain decisions but rather manifests in decisions grounded in the boldness of faith and the trust in God.
May your week be filled with faith and may it be a time when many peacemakers emerge!
Philemon