The other day Dries van Agt was interviewed on Dutch television about his faith. In his weekly program ‘Adieu God’ Tijs van den Brink talks with people about their faith—or the loss thereof. The interview with van Agt startled me. I thought of this former Dutch prime minister as a staunch Catholic believer rather than as a doubting Thomas.

Dries van Agt was prime minister in the Netherlands from 1977 to 1982. It was not the smoothest period of Dutch political history in which van Agt led several cabinets with rather different coalitions. I have always felt great sympathy for van Agt. This sympathy was further increased when I read his fascinating biography which appeared in 2008.[1]  I always enjoy listening to his unique use of the Dutch language, with many archaic words and long, complex sentences. And I must admit that I have great admiration for his tireless efforts on behalf of the Palestinian people. Van Agt played a major role in the fusion of three Christian parties into one political stream (Christian Democratic Appeal), but he was gradually estranged from his party and confessed that, in the last general elections, he voted for the green party.

The conversation with Tijs van den Brink focused, of course, on matters of faith. Van Agt has a Roman Catholic background. As a young boy he served in the church as altar boy, and his faith and his church remained very important for him during a major part of his life. But in the interview he was very open about his continuously growing doubts. He still believes in God. There must be Someone, he said, who is at the beginning of everything. Even if one believes in the ‘big bang’, there must be something or someone who caused it. He had no doubt that Jesus Christ is a historical figure and has left mankind with an inspiring example of how to live. But everything else is more and more surrounded by question marks. He can no longer believe that Jesus rose from his tomb. Is there nothing beyond this life, van den Brink asked. Van Agt replied that it would be nice if there were indeed some form of life after death, but he is far from sure that this is the case.

In the context of my book FACING DOUBT I have in the last eighteen months received may reactions from, and have had numerous conversations with, members of my church who in many different ways struggle with their doubts. I have been struck by the fact that many people develop doubts about important aspects of the Christian faith when they are at an advanced (or even high) age. In some cases it concerns doubt about the very existence of God. Often the doubts center on the why-question—why is the so much misery in the world or in my own life? But again and again there is also the question whether Jesus did indeed rise from his tomb. It comes perhaps as no surprise that, as we become older, we are more inclined to contemplate our own mortality. But in that stage of life it would be more important than ever before to have the inner certainty that death is not the end of everything.

I have my doubt s about a number of things which my church regards as ‘Fundamental Beliefs’, but I do not want to lose the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. I agree with the apostle Paul that I should be pitied if I lost that conviction. If Jesus did not rise from death, faith and church are no more than a sick joke. I would plead with van Agt—especially with Eastern coming soon—not to give up his faith in the resurrection of Jesus. That is what I emphasize when people talk with me about their doubts. I tell them: I have no problem with the fact that you have doubts about many things, but do not let go of the core of the Christian faith—however difficult that may be, There is no ‘hard’ evidence that the resurrection is indeed a historical fact. There was no cctv in the tomb where Jesus had been laid. But there are enough valid reasons to hold on to the belief that ‘Jesus is truly risen!’ That will be the topic of next week’s blog.