Does G-d WANT us to doubt His existence, omnipotence, omniscience, benevolence, and so on?

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meltzerboy

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It occurred to me that doubt, the so-called dark night of the soul, may not be such a bad thing. Perhaps this painful process teaches us to believe more strongly in G-d. And, from another perspective, perhaps it is something G-d actually demands of us so that we come to Him only after exercising our intelligence and free will in the service of faith. For intelligence and free will, as well as faith, are attributes that differentiate us from G-d’s other creations.

Any thoughts?
 
I think God wants certain people to doubt, and others to become truly enlightened. The Pious Jew or Righteous Christian at some point can lose faith itself because they know for certain the greatness of God.
 
meltzerboy said:
It occurred to me that doubt, the so-called dark night of the soul, may not be such a bad thing. Perhaps this painful process teaches us to believe more strongly in G-d. And, from another perspective, perhaps it is something G-d actually demands of us so that we come to Him only after exercising our intelligence and free will in the service of faith. For intelligence and free will, as well as faith, are attributes that differentiate us from G-d’s other creations.

Any thoughts?
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As I understand it, when Mother Theresa would write to the Vatican about her doubts, they would respond telling her that this suffering was actually good for her.
 
meltzerboy said:
It occurred to me that doubt, the so-called dark night of the soul, may not be such a bad thing. Perhaps this painful process teaches us to believe more strongly in G-d. And, from another perspective, perhaps it is something G-d actually demands of us so that we come to Him only after exercising our intelligence and free will in the service of faith. For intelligence and free will, as well as faith, are attributes that differentiate us from G-d’s other creations.

Any thoughts?
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This should be clear from the Jewish Holy books of the Old Testament. In them he revealed himself with all the attributes you mentioned and more. So it is a problem only if you reject the Old Testment. For those who reject Scripture there is no hope of coming to a firm knowledge of the Divine.

Linus2nd
 
meltzerboy said:
It occurred to me that doubt, the so-called dark night of the soul, may not be such a bad thing. Perhaps this painful process teaches us to believe more strongly in G-d. And, from another perspective, perhaps it is something G-d actually demands of us so that we come to Him only after exercising our intelligence and free will in the service of faith. For intelligence and free will, as well as faith, are attributes that differentiate us from G-d’s other creations.

Any thoughts?
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Well, to wilfully doubt a truth of Faith is mortally sinful. Christ rebuked, rather than commended, Peter for doubting Him when He came to them on water in the middle of the night. But God may very well send the temptations of doubt for our humiliation, as well as for our growth.

Benedicat Deus,
Latinitas
 
meltzerboy said:
It occurred to me that doubt, the so-called dark night of the soul, may not be such a bad thing. Perhaps this painful process teaches us to believe more strongly in G-d. And, from another perspective, perhaps it is something G-d actually demands of us so that we come to Him only after exercising our intelligence and free will in the service of faith. For intelligence and free will, as well as faith, are attributes that differentiate us from G-d’s other creations.

Any thoughts?
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Thats an interesting question…when you look around, it DOES seem to be that way, after all, we hear of all the supernatural things Jesus did 2000 yrs ago when he walked the earth, but in todays world, we dont see anything like that happening, I mean, everything that happens in our world, usually can be explained by science, so it does appear God does not like to ‘show his hand’ in any way in modern times, I think he wants people to rely on faith, and NOT actually knowing, but the downside to that is, people start to question if any of it is real, or just stories made up 2000 yrs ago, since they dont see any supernatural things taking place in the world today.
 
Sometimes it’s good to keep it simple…from old Baltimore Catechism…
  1. Q. Who made the world?
    A. God made the world.
  2. Q. Who is God?
    A. God is the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things.
  3. Q. What is man?
    A. Man is a creature composed of body and soul, and made to the image and likeness of God.
  4. Q. Why did God make you?
    A. God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in heaven.
We were not created to doubt but as previously said God can use our weakness to strengthen us. In the example of Mother Theresa I believe she stayed close to the Sacraments as a means of Grace.
 
My answer would be no. He wants to dwell with us as He did in Eden and will do in the New Heaven and New Earth. He allows all this doubt just like He allows all the horrible evils of this world. The separation from God was part of the whole package with the entry of evil. Where evil lives God is in some sense absent and these feelings of angst behind your question is how we sense this absence. In other ways He is still holding the world together and Lord of it all.

Adam’s motivations are not part of Catholic teaching for it is left open what Adam’s motivations for the Original Sin were. Yet, I think that Adam was torn with the sin of Eve between her and God (though this was an error that he had to choose at all); so, it was about what Adam “wanted” and he ended up forcing a choice. Now all of his decedents carry the same “want” to rebel and choose creature over Creator. Therefore, the punishment is the natural result of telling God that we choose against Him and He has to move out.
 
meltzerboy said:
It occurred to me that doubt, the so-called dark night of the soul, may not be such a bad thing. Perhaps this painful process teaches us to believe more strongly in G-d. And, from another perspective, perhaps it is something G-d actually demands of us so that we come to Him only after exercising our intelligence and free will in the service of faith. For intelligence and free will, as well as faith, are attributes that differentiate us from G-d’s other creations.

Any thoughts?
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When you say “G-d”…what the heck are you talking about?
 
Zoltan_Cobalt said:
When you say “G-d”…what the heck are you talking about?
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I believe he is saying God. I have read that people of the Jewish faith believe that writing out God as we do, could be considered taking His name in vain.
 
A period of feeling doubt allows us to more freely turn to God with our wills. If we always experienced the good feelings Catholics call “consolations,” then it would be easy to believe in Him just for them, no? Without those assurances of God, we must really make a decision for or against Him.
 
DaddyGirl said:
I think that if there is a god/gods, they for sure want us to doubt their existence, , omnipotence, omniscience, benevolence, and so on.

If they did not want this, they would:
  1. make it more clear that they exist,
  2. be kinder to people and not make so many suffer,
  3. intervene more during tragedy, and,
  4. not punish people for exerting “free will” --including the characters of Adam and Eve, for example–since the god/gods knew ahead of time all along what would happen.
.
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God sent His Son to die for us. What could He do to make it more clear that not only does He exist, but He really really loves us?
 
meltzerboy said:
It occurred to me that doubt, the so-called dark night of the soul, may not be such a bad thing. Perhaps this painful process teaches us to believe more strongly in G-d. And, from another perspective, perhaps it is something G-d actually demands of us so that we come to Him only after exercising our intelligence and free will in the service of faith. For intelligence and free will, as well as faith, are attributes that differentiate us from G-d’s other creations.

Any thoughts?
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Yes, reason/intelligence and free will give us the ability to seek and to actually know God. And we’re born without that knowledge, other than perhaps a vague intution due to our being made in His image and having our being in Him. We’re all here to fight a good fight, to struggle, to experience both good and evil, and, with the help of revelation and grace, to ultimately choose good, to come to know and love the greatest good, God, Himself.
 
St_Francis said:
Meltzerboy is Jewish–they don’t write out the Name of God.
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I believe he is saying God. I have read that people of the Jewish faith believe that writing out God as we do, could be considered taking His name in vain. – Graceful_Lamb
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Thank you St Francis and Graceful Lamb.

When I am invited to a bar mitzvah I always wear a kippah (skull cap). I think it is silly but I do it our of courtesy and RESPECT for another religion.

I know our forum is open to ALL faiths and that is fine. However we do not abbreviate God’s name. While not really offensive, it can be confusing. I am certain that the Lord God of Israel would have no problem with a devout Jew who spells out the name “GOD” on a Catholic Forum.
 
Zoltan_Cobalt said:
Thank you St Francis and Graceful Lamb.

When I am invited to a bar mitzvah I always wear a kippah (skull cap). I think it is silly but I do it our of courtesy and RESPECT for another religion.

I know our forum is open to ALL faiths and that is fine. However we do not abbreviate God’s name. While not really offensive, it can be confusing. I am certain that the Lord God of Israel would have no problem with a devout Jew who spells out the name “GOD” on a Catholic Forum.
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The kippah (yarmulke) is meant to cover the head as a sign of respect for G-d, a sign of humility that we are subordinate to G-d’s Will and that G-d is always watching over us. I see nothing silly in that. Besides, the Pope and cardinals wear the zucchetto (pileolus), the Pope a white one. This is also a sign of respect for the omnipresence of G-d. BTW, wearing of the kippah is a custom, albeit a significant one, and not an obligation in Judaism.

The reason why the word G-d is not written in its entirety is mainly to avoid the possibility that the Name of G-d is accidentally or intentionally erased or deleted. Secondarily, the abbreviation is a sign of G-d’s awesome nature, which mankind cannot fully comprehend.
 
meltzerboy said:
The kippah (yarmulke) is meant to cover the head as a sign of respect for G-d, a sign of humility that we are subordinate to G-d’s Will and that G-d is always watching over us. I see nothing silly in that. Besides, the Pope and cardinals wear the zucchetto (pileolus), the Pope a white one. This is also a sign of respect for the omnipresence of G-d. BTW, wearing of the kippah is a custom, albeit a significant one, and not an obligation in Judaism.

The reason why the word G-d is not written in its entirety is mainly to avoid the possibility that the Name of G-d is accidentally or intentionally erased or deleted. Secondarily, the abbreviation is a sign of G-d’s awesome nature, which mankind cannot fully comprehend.
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Thank you for the explanation and enlightenment.

Please understand my misunderstanding. When I first saw “G-d” I took it to be an abbreviation of the term “God-damn”. :(…and took offense. Had I read closer I think I would have figured it out. Please excuse me.😊
 
Zoltan_Cobalt said:
Thank you for the explanation and enlightenment.

Please understand my misunderstanding. When I first saw “G-d” I took it to be an abbreviation of the term “God-damn”. :(…and took offense. Had I read closer I think I would have figured it out. Please excuse me.😊
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LOL All is forgiven. Another way of abbreviating the Name is to write Gd.
 
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