Faith and Doubt

[BrennanHickson]

Would you say that faith and doubt connect in any sort of way? Would you consider it sacrilegious for a self-proclaimed believer (of any faith) to have doubts in regard to their god(s)? I am arguing that there is a relation between faith and doubt for a paper, but I'm interested in hearing others' opinions on the matter.

[x togepi x]

i think they covered this in the religion thread but you can't really have faith without doubt. it's the difference between making a factual claim like "the sky is blue" and a faith based one.

[Jake Gyllenhaal]

I'm an agnostic. I grew up attending Sunday school at a Methodist Church. Everything I learned there didn't resonate with me and didn't feel a need to devote myself to a religion or a belief in a god. I'm perfectly happy in my life without relying on any type of faith. Is there a god? I don't know... that's my response. I'm not going to denounce His or Her existence. But I'm not going to devote my time and energy to an entity I don't absolutely know exists.

Edit: After re-reading your original post, I think when one has a faith, it's perfectly natural to have doubts. I remember back in either 2007/2008, writings surfaced that Mother Theresa had doubts in the existence of God. Soon after, a scholar appeared on the Daily Show, and he emphasized that her questioning of her faith was for the good, that it allowed her to bring herself closer to God (this from the best of my knowledge of a 2 or 3 year old interview). Hopefully you can find that somewhere.

[BrennanHickson]

i think they covered this in the religion thread but you can't really have faith without doubt. it's the difference between making a factual claim like "the sky is blue" and a faith based one.
So why (and I don't know if this is as common in your area as it is in Alabama) do you think religious zealots feel the need to overtly express their certainty in God (or Buddha or Mohammad or whoever)? Why do they appear to devote a vast majority of their time and thoughts into an entity who may or may not exist? Why do they act as if it's not inevitable for a person to doubt an entity lacking tangibility?

I'm an agnostic. I grew up attending Sunday school at a Methodist Church. Everything I learned there didn't resonate with me and didn't feel a need to devote myself to a religion or a belief in a god. I'm perfectly happy in my life without relying on any type of faith. Is there a god? I don't know... that's my response. I'm not going to denounce His or Her existence. But I'm not going to devote my time and energy to an entity I don't absolutely know exists.

Edit: After re-reading your original post, I think when one has a faith, it's perfectly natural to have doubts. I remember back in either 2007/2008, writings surfaced that Mother Theresa had doubts in the existence of God. Soon after, a scholar appeared on the Daily Show, and he emphasized that her questioning of her faith was for the good, that it allowed her to bring herself closer to God (this from the best of my knowledge of a 2 or 3 year old interview). Hopefully you can find that somewhere.
I come from a pretty similar background. I've been raised as a Lutheran and do agree with a lot of what is said and believed by the various members of the congregation. Interpreting the Bible literally and evangelism are things that I don't associate with, as I think it's ultimately up to the individual to make their own decisions.

I think I lean more toward there being a god of some sort (whether that be the god identifiable to Christians, Muslims, or no prevailing religion at all) simply because I need to believe there is purpose, and that, to me, parallels with the existence of a god--rather than the expanding of the universe due solely to science. I'd argue that most people, regardless of whether or not they admit it, would agree: they have a desire for there to be purpose for living; that's not to say they don't question it, but I do think they have hope in the notion. Otherwise, why aren't killings viewed as acceptable? If there were no purpose, we wouldn't care.

...I digress.

The Mother Theresa quote sounds familiar, and I think it would be a great source. I'll try looking it up. Thanks!

[caveBEAR]

:yawn:

Don't we already have 18 of these threads?

[BrennanHickson]

:yawn:

Don't we already have 18 of these threads?
If there have already been 18 repeat threads, I'm sure another one won't hurt.

[Sean Rizzo]

Would you say that faith and doubt connect in any sort of way? Would you consider it sacrilegious for a self-proclaimed believer (of any faith) to have doubts in regard to their god(s)? I am arguing that there is a relation between faith and doubt for a paper, but I'm interested in hearing others' opinions on the matter.
No, why would it be? We could never find the truth if we didn't question.

[TheProsAndCons]

No, why would it be? We could never find the truth if we didn't question.

*' the truth'

[Sean Rizzo]

*' the truth'
-_-;;

[TheProsAndCons]

-_-;;

8===>

[Sean Rizzo]

8===>
What I said holds water no matter what anyone thinks the truth is or what it actually is. Quit being antagonistic.

[caveBEAR]

Well, this thread certainly delivered. :rolleyes:

[TheProsAndCons]

What I said holds water no matter what anyone thinks the truth is or what it actually is. Quit being antagonistic.

Lie to yourself, but don't lie to me.

[TheProsAndCons]

Well, this thread certainly delivered. :rolleyes:

At least it' not in one of your smart people threads.

[Sean Rizzo]

Lie to yourself, but don't lie to me.
You can do the same. I never stated what the truth was. Pull your head out of your behind.

[TheProsAndCons]

You can do the same. I never stated what the truth was. Pull your head out of your behind.

It's called an ass, and the fact that you can't even say a naughty naughty word like ass speaks a lot about you and your 'truth'

[Sean Rizzo]

It's called an ******, and the fact that you can't even say a naughty naughty word like ****** speaks a lot about you and your 'truth'
And you can continue to blow it out of yours, because I couldn't care less what you think of my views on truth. You've presented yourself to be quite the immature imbecile. This, after I made a statement that applies objectively to every belief system.

http://www.myconfinedspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/unsuccessful-troll.thumbnail.jpg

[TheProsAndCons]

And you can continue to blow it out of yours, because I couldn't care less what you think of my views on truth. You've presented yourself to be quite the immature imbecile. This, after I made a statement that applies objectively to every belief system.

http://www.myconfinedspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/unsuccessful-troll.thumbnail.jpg

I like how you have absolutely no clue about what a troll is. You called spam a troll before.

Nevertheless I am quite the immature imbecile, but at least I don't get upset when someone blurts out obscenities.

[loveisdead]

Thread is redundant. Use the religion thread.