Doubt

From Religions Wiki

Doubt is the act of considering the possibility that a belief may be wrong. Since religion is based on far fetched principles that often have little evidence or are contrary to everyday experiences, it is normal to doubt theistic dogma.

"There are moments, sure, where you think 'Is there a God? Where is God?' [...] Yes. I do [doubt]. In lots of different ways really. [...] I love the Psalms, if you look at Psalm 88 Bible-icon.png, that's full of doubt."

— Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
"I suddenly faced the possibility that the beauty I saw in the Christian religion and my perception of God was just beauty, like carefully crafted art, or carefully crafted words. Maybe beauty was all it was. Like a poem or a story, that was deeply touching, but not true. [1]"

Doubt about the existence of God is experienced by the majority of Christianity outside of evangelical denominations. Doubt also occurs within Islam but is a minority view. [2] Many believers manage to reconcile recurring doubts with their beliefs. [3]

While many Christians and Muslims think that doubt is to be discouraged, doubt is used by many intellectual disciplines to great advantage. Systematic intellectual doubt is referred to as skepticism.

Bible[edit]

"But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin."

Romans 14:23 Bible-icon.png

"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind."

James 1:6 Bible-icon.png

Jesus admonishing the disciples' doubt Matthew 14:31 Bible-icon.png, Mark 4:40 Bible-icon.png, Luke 24:38 Bible-icon.png, John 20:27 Bible-icon.png.

Doubt and sin[edit]

Some evangelical preachers claim that doubt is sin:

"You’re going to have to settle it in yourself, that doubt is sin. It’s sin. Until you realize that doubt is sin, the devil will keep you doubting God’s promises and God’s Word, and your prayers will go unanswered and they will not be fulfilled. [4]"
"...if I got up here and said 'it's been great giving this message here tonight but I'm afraid I'm living in a fantasy', would you trust anything that I'm saying? ... are you going to trust God or are you going to trust man?[5]"

However, more Christians accept that some doubts are normal and perhaps necessary as a step to a deeper understanding of God. [6]

  • If God exists and he is a good father figure, he probably feels sympathy for his creations having honest doubts. It makes little sense that would punish doubt.[7]
  • A God that would punish his creations for having doubts is unworthy of worship.[7]

Doubt in science[edit]

Doubt is a normal part of science since investigations are often made into unfamiliar phenomena.

"... for thinking of the many cases of men pursuing an illusion for years, often & often a cold shudder has run through me & I have asked myself whether I may not have devoted my life to a phantasy. Now I look at it as morally impossible that investigators of truth like you & Hooker can be wholly wrong; & therefore I feel that I may rest in peace."

Charles Darwin[8]

Responses to doubt[edit]

From Christians[edit]

A frequent recommendation for those experiencing doubts is to speak to other supportive Christians. [9] One might add the recommendation to talk to anyone who is supportive, including atheists and those of other faiths.

Association with those of strong faith is also recommended. [9] This takes advantage of conformity bias, in which people modify their beliefs to those surrounding them.

Reading holy scriptures is also thought to strengthen faith. [6]

Some answers are arguably not resolved until people reach heaven. However, how the believer knows this to be true can be a subject of doubt.

"the answers will not come until we get to heaven [9]"

Some apologists insist that since God exists and always speaks the truth, there is no need for doubt. [4] This response assumes the existence and attributes of the very thing that is the subject of doubt. It is therefore a ciruclar argument.

If doubts are on a non-essential Chrisitan doctrine, apologists advise that doubts should be put in perspective and not exaggerated. [6]

Apologists point out that a simplistic understanding of Christianity is open to many objections but a deeper understanding is not subject to these arguments. [6]

From skeptics[edit]

Main Article: Advice on deconverting

"Let us SPEAK [...] though it be bad. To be silent is worse; all suppressed truths become poisonous."

Friedrich Nietzsche
  • Read widely. People have been questioning religion for thousands of years and it can save you a great deal of time. [10]
  • Ask yourself if your values are different or even superior to your current religion.
  • Does your religion oppress you or other people?
  • Question if the doctrines of your religion make sense. Understand both sides of the argument.

References[edit]

  1. Chris Redford/Evid3nc3, Deconversion: Personal Relationship (Part 2), 29 Dec 2009 [1]
  2. [2]
  3. [3]
  4. 4.0 4.1 [4]
  5. [5]
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 [6]
  7. 7.0 7.1 Tracie and Matt Help a Doubting Christian, Atheist Experience 2014-03-02
  8. [7]
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 [8]
  10. [9]

See also[edit]