Comments on: Depressing Doubt

By: Mark Lefers

Mark Lefers — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:48:57 +0000

Ashton,
We should use our minds to work through things. Another way one can take Proverbs 3:5 is to be careful about putting all one trust in one’s own understanding. If there is a God that created this whole universe out of nothing, one had better be careful to think that they have “all” the answers. I can’t remember who said it or exactly the way they said it but, “The universe is not only more amazing than we imagine, it is more amazing than we can imagine.”

By: Ashton

Ashton — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:51:04 +0000

Wow, great points here! Mark, thank you for your honesty about how your doubt affects you, and Kavar, thank you for your encouragement about doubting. I’ve been struggling with the very issue you touched on: are we “allowed” (by God) to use reason and seek an intellectual faith? Some friends recently pointed out to me Proverbs 3:5, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding.” That would seem to suggest that we are to have blind, unreasoned faith. But I agree with you when you said, “It seems to me that God wants real believers, not just mindless followers” and “Why give us the ability to reason if not to use it?” Surely God wants us to think through our faith…if not, then I’m getting myself into trouble.

By: Kavar

Kavar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:34:18 +0000

Well as your first commenter, I’ll try to sound intelligent. Doubt is a scary thing, and something that most people try to avoid in their religious beliefs. But without doubt, you can’t have real faith. Just knowledge. It seems to me that God wants real believers, not just mindless followers. This means questioning and learning, and coming to believe in him through your own life experiences and problems. Why give us the ability to reason if not to use it?

By: Mark Lefers

Mark Lefers — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:42:50 +0000

Kavar,
Congratulations on being the first person to comment. I love your take on the “faith of a child”. Great insight! I have a number of kids (7) and they are always asking “Why?”, challenging what I say, not taking my word for something but having to “find out for themselves”. Maybe the key is in the journey of life, the asking the “Why?” questions, the challenging of ones beliefs, the pain of the struggle, etc.

By: Kavar

Kavar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:54:23 +0000

Hey, hope I’m not stepping in where I’m not wanted, but I just sort of stumbled across this blog while hunting for a book for a friend going through a shift in his religious life. I kind of flipped through your articles, and thought I’d comment here. I’m not someone who has strong faith. I sort of just…assume there’s a God, and we don’t talk a lot. But on this one post, I’d like to suggest that many people take the “faith of a child” bit to mean unthinking belief and faith. But every time I hear it, all I can think of is my cousin, who whenever presented with any information asks “Why?”