Can I Think/Pray My Way Back to Faith?

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I hope this is a good forum to post this in. I am admittedly an over thinker. I studied religions and philosophers for many years before becoming Orthodox (and later, Catholic) over a decade ago. I also thought my way out, and am probably a naturalist and nihilist most of the time. I have valued skepticism so much that I can hardly believe anything anymore! I’ve read many atheistic and secular authors. I miss having faith and I especially miss prayer and the Eucharist. Nihilism is depressing.

I pray the rosary sometimes and it makes me feel calm but I don’t really feel connected to it, or Mary, through it. I want to return to the Church quite often but when I try, I very quickly fall away because of recurring doubt and skepticism.

I watched Trent Horn debate Dan Barker recently and ended up buying Horn’s book on being Catholic. Some of his arguments were compelling. I have found Bishop Robert Barron’s work inspiring, too. Can I think (and pray) my way back into faith? Or have I ruined it for myself, do you think, through my overly cerebral approach? Can one be skeptical of most things while maintaining a religious life and practice? I have been away from the Church for about two years now. I want to be Catholic but lack faith.

Suggestions or insights will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance. 🙂
 
stavros388 said:
I hope this is a good forum to post this in. I am admittedly an over thinker. I studied religions and philosophers for many years before becoming Orthodox (and later, Catholic) over a decade ago. I also thought my way out, and am probably a naturalist and nihilist most of the time. I have valued skepticism so much that I can hardly believe anything anymore! I’ve read many atheistic and secular authors. I miss having faith and I especially miss prayer and the Eucharist. Nihilism is depressing.

I pray the rosary sometimes and it makes me feel calm but I don’t really feel connected to it, or Mary, through it. I want to return to the Church quite often but when I try, I very quickly fall away because of recurring doubt and skepticism.

I watched Trent Horn debate Dan Barker recently and ended up buying Horn’s book on being Catholic. Some of his arguments were compelling. I have found Bishop Robert Barron’s work inspiring, too. Can I think (and pray) my way back into faith? Or have I ruined it for myself, do you think, through my overly cerebral approach? Can one be skeptical of most things while maintaining a religious life and practice? I have been away from the Church for about two years now. I want to be Catholic but lack faith.

Suggestions or insights will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance. 🙂
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I think you can, as a road back, and have it deepen your faith in a personal way.

It doesn’t work for everyone.
 
Faith is a gift from God. The fact that you are feeling called to return is itself an indication of returning faith.

But yes, you can pray and think your way back to faith. You’ve read lots of atheist books. Now it’s time to start reading books by good theists. You’ve already taken some steps in that direction by reading Trent Horn and Bishop Barron.

Why don’t you tell us some of the major objections you have and we might be able to recommend resources that address them.
 
Sure! Pray, think, and read. A good combination.
If your reason tells you that the Catholic faith is the truth, and you still “feel nothing,” do it anyway. Pray daily, say the Rosary, attend Mass. Feelings are great but not that important since they come and go and depend on many things.
 
My overall habit of mind has taken a skeptical and materialistic direction. Sometimes I doubt my materialist assumptions, though, and I am desirous of returning to faith. I often have difficulty believing in God’s Providence, mostlly due to suffering. I have tried suspending disbelief before and am willing to try so again, but I certainly could benefit from any resources that you think might be helpful. Thank you.
 
That’s a very in depth topic which I’d be happy to go into with you, but as a cursory start, I’ll say this. We weren’t created to suffer, we weren’t created to experience the negative. It’s not God’s active will that we suffer, but it is where we find ourselves as a result of human action.

You mentioned Trent Horn. If you haven’t read it yet, his book Answering Atheism would be a great place to start. I have to head out for the day now, but if you’d like to discuss the problem of suffering, drop me a pm.
 
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Thanks for that! I refer not only to my own personal suffering but to suffering in general.
 
Well reason alone is not enough. Descartes went down that road and discovered everything can be doubted except your own existence.
Faith is a gift but you have to be open to it. Praying definitely helps, St Teresa of Avila said it is the greatest of the blessings of this life, the channel through which God grants us favors.
 
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