The myth of Pandora’s box, where all human suffering is unleashed upon the world, leaving only hope behind, resonates deeply with the contemporary anxieties surrounding climate change, war, and global instability. Yet, ancient philosophers viewed hope with suspicion, portraying it as a deceitful illusion diverting attention from the present moment. This narrative often served as a misogynistic trope, blaming women for the world’s ills. Thinkers like Plato and Seneca argued that hope, based on false expectations of the future, hinders engagement with the tangible realities of life.
This classical perspective contrasts sharply with the Christian understanding of hope, exemplified by Apostle Paul’s triad of faith, hope, and love. In this context, faith and hope become intertwined, raising the question of whether hope can exist independent of religious belief. To address this, we must examine the necessary conditions for hope to be grounded in reality rather than illusion. The dystopian world of ”The Hunger Games” offers a compelling case study. In this post-apocalyptic society devoid of apparent religion, cynicism reigns supreme. Even the rebels manipulate hope as a propaganda tool, exemplified by the heroine Katniss Everdeen, whose symbolic actions are exploited to incite rebellion against the totalitarian regime. Hope, in this context, becomes another instrument of control.
However, Katniss’s defiance highlights a crucial aspect of hope: its dependence on an unpredictable future, beyond the control of both authorities and rebels. Her rebellion takes an unforeseen turn, reinforcing the notion that hope thrives in the absence of absolute control. French philosopher Gabriel Marcel argues that hope renders reality fluid, emphasizing the necessity of viewing unpredictability as something positive. This perspective reintroduces the element of faith, suggesting that hope implies a belief in a force driving the world towards good, a force often identified as God.
This presents a pivotal choice: either view hope as a potentially useful illusion or embrace it as an expression of a universal moral arc bending toward justice, a belief rooted in the benevolent will of a higher power. While this belief can be expressed in various ways, even without explicit religious language, the practices of religious individuals offer valuable insights into cultivating hope. Christian practices, for instance, can be interpreted as methods for nurturing hope. Acts of kindness disrupt predictable behavior, introducing an element of the unexpected. Prayer and worship cultivate attentiveness to the sources of hope.
Patience emerges as a key virtue for those seeking to embrace the unexpected. Without it, the temptation arises to force change through violence or succumb to despair. Cultivating patience creates a space where hope can flourish, transforming it from a mere feeling into a way of life. Gabriel Marcel, echoing the concept of resonance later explored by Hartmut Rosa, posits that hope arises in the interplay between the individual and their environment, presented as a possibility that must be actively embraced. The primary obstacle to hope, therefore, is the desire for control. Attempts to predict and manipulate the world shut out the potential for hope to emerge. This presents a critical challenge in our increasingly data-driven society, where algorithms strive to anticipate our every move.
Counterintuitively, hope is often most needed when control is lost, when faced with feelings of powerlessness in the face of global events or personal challenges. Marcel argues that hope is not required during times of peace and security, but rather in moments of despair. The crucial question, then, is how to find hope amidst anxiety. Marcel draws a parallel with love, another experience that resists control and thrives on vulnerability. The connection between love and hope runs deeper, with hopelessness often linked to isolation and loneliness. Faith, hope, and love share interconnected roots, making hope fundamentally a communal experience.
A frequently overlooked aspect of Christian tradition sheds light on this communal dimension: the emphasis Jesus places on feasting. These gatherings become his primary metaphor for the Kingdom of God, a different reality he seeks to establish. Jesus criticizes those who use feasts for social climbing, emphasizing the true feast begins when the unexpected guests arrive, the marginalized and excluded. The feast holds threefold significance for nurturing hope. Firstly, it liberates by offering acceptance and inclusion, creating a space free from social hierarchies. Secondly, it clarifies values, highlighting the importance of relationships, beauty, and joy over security and status. This clarity reveals the kind of faith required for hope: a belief that love, goodness, beauty, and joy are real and significant forces in the world, rejecting the cynicism of a ”Hunger Games” reality. Finally, the feast energizes, instilling a sense of possibility that fuels hope and empowers us to face the future. It’s this energy that we recognize as hope, a vital force sustaining us through life’s challenges.
