Second Naivete

“The wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God” (1 Corinthians 2:7 NLT)

Paul Ricoeur was one of the most notable philosophers of the 20th century. And, like with most great philosophers, his thought process is a bit inaccessible for most of us. I have been trying to read and understand his writings lately. The following few paragraphs are my attempt to explain one of Ricouer’s ideas--the intriguing concept of second naivete.

Ricouer describes basic religion as first naivete. Everything is taken literally. This stage is full of doctrines, dogma, rules, and taboos. Motivation is fueled by fear of punishment and a desire for protection.

Many individuals discover that religion is unsatisfactory--especially when faced with life’s inevitable paradoxes. This compels us to distance ourselves from our early beliefs. We question everything we have been taught--approaching our faith rationally and critically. Some of us never make it out of this desert of unknowing and give up on spirituality completely.

According to Ricoeur, the desert experience is a necessary intermediate step before reaching the next stage--second naivete. This is a fresh way to approach faith after we have shed our primitive religious preconceptions. The term naivete here implies a simple authenticity, an unaffectedly, direct approach--NOT a lack of information or judgment.  It sees the value of symbolism and metaphor. It looks at things critically--picking out what is relevant, while disregarding the trivial. This level of faith requires openness, vulnerability,  and humility. It is a gift. It is a wisdom that leads us into the deep mystery of God.