Doubt...

[JimR-OCDS]

Hello everyone,

Recently I have begun to doubt. I have since been to confession several times, but I don’t know anymore. I want to stay catholic, and I want to believe what the catholic church teaches - but I have so many difficulties including that I have trouble with the fact that doubting is a sin. I feel almost as if it is a way to keep us unquestioning. Please someone help me.

Catholig

Instead of following religion, you first need to look to the source of faith, Jesus Christ. Without faith, religion is makes no sense and can be a burden rather than an enriching experience. With faith, religion is a gem. Religion becomes the means to deepening your faith, through fellowship, the sacraments and spiritual direction.

However, many faith filled people have doubt. In fact, I heard a Trappist monk once say, that in 35 years of being a monk, he wakes up everyday, doubting the existence of God. By the end of the day, he has no doubt God is real. Talk about a cross to bear!

Bottom line is, without a prayer life, growing in faith will be next to impossible. I say next to impossible because with God, nothing is impossible.

God Bless
Jim

 

[TOP]

That was, in fact, pride – the serpent told her ‘you can be like God’.

Btw , thanks for the correction my nonexistent friend. Ever see “A beautiful Mind” with Russel Crow? “You never get old”!!

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I want to stay catholic, and I want to believe what the catholic church teaches - but I have so many difficulties including that I have trouble with the fact that doubting is a sin.

I think that what you wrote here — that you want to believe, but are having difficulties — indicates that you are probably not having the kind of doubt that is a sin. I think you are having difficulties, the kind that in the long run can end up strengthening our faith — “like gold tested in fire.” The following excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (bold emphasis added) should give you reassurance:

157 Faith is certain. It is more certain than all human knowledge because it is founded on the very word of God who cannot lie. To be sure, revealed truths can seem obscure to human reason and experience, but “the certainty that the divine light gives is greater than that which the light of natural reason gives.” "Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt."

That last quote is from John Henry Cardinal Newman, and was offered to me by my confessor when I thought I was having doubts. He told me I was having “difficulties,” not doubts. Working through these, while clinging tight to the Church founded by Christ, can ultimately strengthen your faith.

Make the Act of Faith part of your daily prayer routine:

“O my God, I firmly believe that You are on God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that Your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because You have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen.”