The Fear and Benefits of Doubt

Dennis Prager, author, columnist, and radio show host, said on a recent show that a national atheist
group asked him to come for a debate about the existence of God.  Prager, a religious Jew, asked the audience of atheists if they ever doubt their atheism.  Not a single person raised their hand.  Prager remarked that when he asks religious audiences if they ever doubt their faith, nearly ever hand goes up.

His point to the audience was this: if you are talking to someone who believes something and they claim to never have doubted it, you would question whether they are just brainwashed.  This, indeed, is an argument sometimes used by atheists towards believers.  Prager was pointing out the oddity that many atheists, at least in that setting, don't question themselves.  However, I want to point out that, as Prager implied, doubting what you believe is a good sign.

For those who are believers, we often fear doubting our faith for several reasons.

1. We think it would offend God.

This is completely off-base.  The name "Israel" actually means "one who struggles (fights) with God."  The name was first given to a guy who wrestled, literally, with God (or an angel.  It's hard to tell).  Abraham argues with God about the destruction of Sodom.  Thomas, the disciple who doubted Jesus' resurrection was welcomed by Jesus and was still one of the disciples to receive the Great Commission.  Isn't it a little pompous on our part to think God would be offended by our little questions?

2. We're afraid we might not have an answer to our doubt.

When I first began to ask some tough questions of my faith in my late teens, I started looking for answers.  Guess what?  I discovered that people had been answering the same questions for thousands of years.  I found tons and tons of writing on these subjects.  The fancy word for it is: Apologetics.  Trust me, you're not the first person to ever ask whatever question you're asking.

The key is to actually look for the answers.  I know someone who is very close to me who has so many questions about God and Christianity, but...he never looks for the answers.  I've given him material to read, attempted to answer his questions, and more, but for the many years I've known him, he's never read the material and never pursues answers.  What good is that?  It makes me think he's hiding behind the questions for more reasons than actual questions.

The Good News

Here's the good news: if you're doubting your faith, that means you're growing.  We take a lot of
things for granted when we are young (either physically or young in faith, depending on when it started for you), but as you become more intelligent and mature, you place your assumptions under scrutiny.  That's mature.

It's a lot like marrying someone.  You'll be swept up in the emotions of it all for sure, but you also, if you're mature, have to ask some tough questions: do we have what it takes to make this relationship last a lifetime?  How does he/she treat his parents?  Will he treat me this way eventually?  Can I deal with the way he spends money?  Does he/she want children?  One should face these questions in addition to the "do I feel in love?" questions.

So, don't be afraid of the questions.  Ask them.  Know that your Father is with you in them, that He will comfort and guide you, even when it feels despairing.  Trust that He's big enough to handle your questions.

Finally, you may be surprised by what happens when you trust Him with your doubts.  When I began facing some tough questions in college about my faith, surprisingly, it wasn't the answers that made me stronger (although they certainly helped).  Instead, I found myself clinging to my Father so much more in a way that built more tenderness between us that I hadn't known before.


P.S. if you're looking for some sites that specialize in dealing with tough issues and faith, check out: Cross-Examined.  There are certainly more, but this site may get you started.