Doubt...

[xixxvmcm85]

… How do you deal with it?

Please don’t tell me you never doubt the Faith. Either you’re lying, fooling yourself, or somehow privileged to be exempt from the human condition, in which case your telling me so would only be rubbing your piety in my face.

I’ve always had doubt, and my doubt is profound doubt. It’s doubt that strikes at the very questions about the existence of God and the soul (not doubt in the Church specifically). This doubt existed even before I converted to Catholicism, but I assured myself that Catholicism being the most rational form of Christianity (along with its historical continuity and scriptural patrimony) would satisfy my soul since I as a scientist was looking for a faith that didn’t violate physical observation. Sometimes, though, when I think long and hard about really troubling theological issues, I wonder what makes our Faith any different than the faith a person has in a psychic, or in a chiropractor, or in an astrologer?

When you find yourself in bouts of doubt, how do you cope? What do you do to satisfy your reason without compromising your soul?

 

[streetpreacher]

Think of it with the parable on the vine and the pruner. We fall into despair, just as a plant does having new growth seemingly chopped away, and that’s doubt to us, in our minds, it makes no logical sense for something to fruit, only to have it taken away, but take note, after wards, new branches and fruits are grown from that. The thing is, each plant grows at a different pace, a different capacity to recover and regrow new branches, and it’s time during these to question yourself, “are you being yielding to the pruning, or not”.

I can give you everything knowledge wise under the sun, but when the heart fails, it never seems to suffice does it, for matters of the heart have a deeper hold and grasp of ones being, however illogical it may become. Does your mind doubt because the heart has already, or the other way around? Or both for that matter? Remember in scripture, how it’s more important to keep ones heart in the right place? It’s because the mind does by default once the heart is correct., Not the other way around, yet the heart can be deceived through the mind, which makes holding onto the truth so paramount, especially during times of doubt…

 

[Church_Militant]

When you find yourself in bouts of doubt, how do you cope? What do you do to satisfy your reason without compromising your soul?

I think everyone encounters doubts from time to time. Hey, even the apostles had doubts. (see Matthew 14:31 and 28:16-20) And they were there with the Lord for so many signs, miracles, and wonders.

One good way to deal with doubts and such is to drag them out and examine them and expose them to catechesis, which I often find dispels them for good. Being honest about your doubts is not a bad thing. I often tell the Lord about them and in so doing I have often found the answers very soon. I am never afraid to tell Him, “Master, I don’t understand” and like the man said about asking Our Lord to cast a demon out of his son, “I do believe, Lord: help my unbelief.” (Mark 9: 13-28) I have never had the Lord disdain my prayerful honesty.

Like you, I believe that I don’t have to check my brain at the door to have faith, and faith and reason coexist in my life with little conflict. (Notice I did not say there was none. ) If I have doubts…I seek answers, and it has always helped. Sometimes I find that I seem to face these things just in time to help someone else later on.

I’m not saying that you’ll never have any doubts, just that maybe it’s for a good reason.

Might I suggest that you make a list of these doubts and then perhaps open a new thread on each one (one at a time 'til we get answers to each one.) and let us all walk with you through them. It can only make us all stronger I think.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

 

[bnbkaine]

I like Church Militant’s answer a lot. Doubt can be insidious and, like most insidious things, once exposed to light, often is expelled. God wants so much for us to be honest with Him- praising Him when we understand and leaning on Him when we don’t. Thomas doubted that Jesus had risen, but He never kicked Thomas to the curb. Instead, He welcomed him always with open arms. Sure, it would be great if we never doubted, but then it would be great if we never sinned. Since you seem to understand the validity of the Church, understand too the validity of the learning and growth that can come from your doubt. You are not alone.

 

[jbecknell]

… How do you deal with it?

When you find yourself in bouts of doubt, how do you cope? What do you do to satisfy your reason without compromising your soul?

What a great question. First thing I do is pray. The second thing I do is read. Let me suggest a few books that you might appreciate. The first one is called, “Modern physics and ancient faith,” by Stephen M. Barr. He’s world renown physicist and devout Catholic. Another one, “New Proofs for the Existence of God,” by Robert J. Spitzer is also a book that examines the proofs for God from very philosophical and scientific perspectives. There are also great books that have nothing to do with science and every thing to do with faith like books of modern saints like Saint Padre Pio, where contemporary times meets with ancient faith. Great books on Saint Padre Pio include, “Padre Pio, the True Story,” by Bernard Ruffin, “Padre Pio, Man of Hope,” by Renzo Allegri, and “Padre Pio, the Stigmatist,” by Father Charles M. Carty. A book on Fatima titled, “Our Lady of Fatima,” by William Thomas Walsh is one of the most impressive narratives I’ve found on the subject. And I own these books and read them. They’re great resources. You can find all of these books at half.com for cheap as they’ve all been in print for awhile (with the exception of Father Robert Spitzer’s book). Pick up some free audio resources at sonitus sanctus (google search will bring you right to the blog). There, you will find great debates on the existence of God from Dinesh D’Souza and William Lane Craig.

Most of all, don’t go through this alone. Go to some of these resources and you’ll find out that some of the most gifted thinkers that you or I will ever come across find it entirely reasonable to believe in God. They actually find it unreasonable not to.

 

[Kropotkin]

… How do you deal with it?

Please don’t tell me you never doubt the Faith. Either you’re lying, fooling yourself, or somehow privileged to be exempt from the human condition, in which case your telling me so would only be rubbing your piety in my face.

I’ve always had doubt, and my doubt is profound doubt. It’s doubt that strikes at the very questions about the existence of God and the soul (not doubt in the Church specifically). This doubt existed even before I converted to Catholicism, but I assured myself that Catholicism being the most rational form of Christianity (along with its historical continuity and scriptural patrimony) would satisfy my soul since I as a scientist was looking for a faith that didn’t violate physical observation. Sometimes, though, when I think long and hard about really troubling theological issues, I wonder what makes our Faith any different than the faith a person has in a psychic, or in a chiropractor, or in an astrologer?

When you find yourself in bouts of doubt, how do you cope? What do you do to satisfy your reason without compromising your soul?

Mate, your story sounds so remarkably similar to my own!

I was also a convert (from agnosticism), I come from a social sciences background, and as a result need to find order and reason behind everything. I had countless doubts (even right up until my baptism and confirmation at age 20) I hoped that once I was baptised they would go away but it wasn’t the case. But here I am 5 years later and still a dedicated believer.

If I had to offer some suggestions I’d say…

1. Confront every doubt individually; don’t let your inquiries into one issue be smothered by every other doubt you may have (even if they are all ultimately connected). I have not yet had a single doubt that I didnt overcme using reason.
2. Accept that at some point you will have to just take a leap of faith. Nothing in life will ever be 100% certain. All we can do is make sense of it the best we can using the rational minds God gave us. BTW embrace reason, don’t just leave it purely up to faith (it will ultimately leave you feeling unsatisfied)
3. Pray. It took me a long time to learn that constant prayer during times of doubt is essential. It probably wont give you any answers but it will maintain your relationship with God, without which doubt flourishes.

But just take it one doubt at a time. Please feel free to PM me. I’m fairly sure I’ve encountered every doubt possible by now.

 

[Totterman]

Jesus,our Lords peace be with You.
Dear friend. I maybe crazy,but I have never doubt. I have all my life known that God do exsist and that He guide our lifes. Even when things has been realy bad,and only darkness has surrounded me,I have known that God is with me. Not always giving me what I want,but what He knows I need. I end every prayer with theese words,in Finnish,I live in Finland,“If it is Your will,amen”. Sometimes I have needed to wait a long time,but I have got the ansver. I guess I am a bit out of my mind,but I fear God so much that I must beleive in Him and I love Him so much that I must believe in Him. I can give You only one advise,when ever You feel that God is not true,pick up Your rosary,hold it in Your hands,and all doubts will go away. Hang in there,God is with You also when You don’t think He is,He is our heavenly Father,He has made us,and everything in this world,and He is a realt,true living God. And He believes in us aswell,why do You think He would have give His only Son to die for our sinns if not for love and faith. Go in heavenly peace my friend,in heavenly peace,and You can be sure,God is with You,and what ever happens,You can’t fall deeper then in His hands. Amen.

 

[tskrobacz]

The depths of doubt (and all human emotions) is always holy. You have to be willing to hold the doubt and be with it long enough to move through it and gain the new eyes or ears that it is leading you to. If you suppress it or deny it you risk loosing the lesson doubt has to teach you.

 

[Crash001]

… How do you deal with it?

When you find yourself in bouts of doubt, how do you cope? What do you do to satisfy your reason without compromising your soul?

Easy answer for me. I pray and reflect (in Church of course), read to understand, spend time being involved with the parish and her ministries, and go to confession. To be honest though, doubt isn’t a frequent occurrence. I find that my pride gets in the way of being a faithful Catholic.