The roles of doubt and faith

[AveChriste11]

Dear all,

I wanted to start a topic about the roles of doubt and faith in the life of a Christian. I posted it here in the non-Catholic Religions section, so I welcome (name removed by moderator)ut and contributions from Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Protestant Christians.

I was chrismated into the Greek Orthodox Church. I find that every single time a fasting season comes up, it really tests my faith. I have also noticed that the less I pray, the less I partake of the Eucharist (holy communion), and the less I attend church – the more this doubt plagues my mind. Why does this happen?

It would seem from observing myself that tendencies towards agnosticism, could be caused by not really putting forth the effort towards living a spiritual life. My priest once told me that the best way to conquer doubt, is to pray more.

I’m afraid I didn’t heed his advice, because my intellect keeps wanting to understand “Why?”

So I was wondering what are the teachings of the Catholic Church on this? Also, I was wondering about hearing from the perspectives of other Christians as well…

 

[withnailand]

Hello AveChriste

You can do nothing without our Lord so i wouldn`t threat that you feel unsuccessful in your will to achieve perfection.

Fasting is a difficult task sometimes but under the spirits will and correct reasons it is very much achievable.

 

[loko]

Dear all,

I wanted to start a topic about the roles of doubt and faith in the life of a Christian. I posted it here in the non-Catholic Religions section, so I welcome (name removed by moderator)ut and contributions from Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Protestant Christians.

I was chrismated into the Greek Orthodox Church. I find that every single time a fasting season comes up, it really tests my faith. I have also noticed that the less I pray, the less I partake of the Eucharist (holy communion), and the less I attend church – the more this doubt plagues my mind. Why does this happen?

It would seem from observing myself that tendencies towards agnosticism, could be caused by not really putting forth the effort towards living a spiritual life. My priest once told me that the best way to conquer doubt, is to pray more.

I’m afraid I didn’t heed his advice, because my intellect keeps wanting to understand “Why?”

So I was wondering what are the teachings of the Catholic Church on this? Also, I was wondering about hearing from the perspectives of other Christians as well…

In my own experience I find that prayer takes me to another level spiritually and strengthens my resolve to keep fasting. Your Priest is right, Prayer is the best way to conquer doubt in addition with Confession, Adoration and the Eucharist. I confess weekly and take the Eucharist weekly and try to spend at least half hour a week in Adoration…to me these Sacraments exercise my spiritual health in much the same way running, swimming and eating healthily exercise my physical health.

These are powerful tools of spiritual warfare, if you let the doubt fester, you could be in danger of refusing the Holy Spirits work.

Doubt is a normal feeling, everyone here has their times of doubt. The Sacraments are designed to dissolve that doubt.

Having said that Catholics do not have Fasting Seasons, traditionally we fast Wednesdays and Fridays. I fast Wednesdays only and during Lent I also fast on Fridays.

How long is the Greek Orthodox Fasting Season? Is it similar to the Muslim Ramadan where they fast for months from sunrise to sunset?

 

[AveChriste11]

Loko,

Our Lenten fast usually lasts about 6 weeks from Forgiveness Sunday until Easter as it’s configured under the Revised Julian calendar. The Apostle’s fast can be anywhere from a week to three weeks depending on the year, and the Nativity Fast for the 40 days before Christmas (December 25th) is also about 5 weeks. It’s also encouraged for all of us to observe Wednesday and Friday as fasting days as well, remembering the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus.

I have to say that I’m not very good at the fasting stuff, as I was raised as a Southern Baptist Christian – and we never did any fasting. I wish it were easier, but… I suppose that’s why we have the help of the sacraments… and the guidance of our Church.

Thanks for your response though Loko, and Withnailand. Maybe that’s what I’ll do, try to add more of those things to my daily life, and try to frequent Divine Liturgy on Sundays more often. I find that since I came into full communion with one of the Apostolic churches, I’ve finally understood that the Christian life really is a struggle. I now know what St. Paul meant when he said to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”…

 

[edithsteinrocks]

For me, its not a matter of either/or - either you believe OR you doubt - but its a matter of working with both. To me, they are two sides of the same coin. I doubt yet I believe. I believe, yet I doubt. The two are not inherently opposed, though they appear to be to most people. To me, they are a paradox. I think the important thing is to be honest with ourselves - and with God - about why we doubt. I`m a practising Catholic, and when I pray, I always ask God to forgive me for my doubts and to help me grow in faith each day.

I would like to think that God appreciates a sincere effort and an honest heart.

 

[Sample]

I find that every single time a fasting season comes up, it really tests my faith. I have also noticed that the less I pray, the less I partake of the Eucharist (holy communion), and the less I attend church – the more this doubt plagues my mind. Why does this happen?

AveChristie11
Can you be more specific?

 

[AveChriste11]

AveChristie11
Can you be more specific?

Well, when I fast usually I end up asking myself “Why am I doing this?” thinking about that juicy cheeseburger, instead of all of these fruits and vegetables. I also talk to different people on the internet quite often, and they’re all of different religious affiliations or lack there of.

I hear arguments against Christianity, whether it be from an Islamic perspective or a Jewish perspective and they all seem quite convincing. I’ve noticed that I have to keep attending church, and keep partaking of the Eucharist in the form of bread & wine to stay “mentally secure” I guess? Because each time I partake of that bread, and that wine – it’s a reminder to myself to stay committed to what I had fallen in love with. That was: the beautiful icons, the chanting in ancient Greek, the incense, etc… All of those things have always transported my mind into what I have identified as a more “spiritual” state, but could easily have natural explanations.

I hope I was specific enough for you Sample…

 

[Sample]

Well, when I fast usually I end up asking myself “Why am I doing this?” thinking about that juicy cheeseburger, instead of all of these fruits and vegetables. I also talk to different people on the internet quite often, and they’re all of different religious affiliations or lack there of.

I hear arguments against Christianity, whether it be from an Islamic perspective or a Jewish perspective and they all seem quite convincing. I’ve noticed that I have to keep attending church, and keep partaking of the Eucharist in the form of bread & wine to stay “mentally secure” I guess? Because each time I partake of that bread, and that wine – it’s a reminder to myself to stay committed to what I had fallen in love with. That was: the beautiful icons, the chanting in ancient Greek, the incense, etc… All of those things have always transported my mind into what I have identified as a more “spiritual” state, but could easily have natural explanations.

I hope I was specific enough for you Sample…

Thanks for the reply. I can only say that I don’t have to be Muslim to admire Islamic architecture and I certainly don’t have to be Catholic to admire the obelisk in St. Peter’s square. I don’t have to be Russian Orthodox to admire their iconography and for that matter, I don’t have to believe in Zeus to admire the temple ruins in Greece.

I hope you find what works for you.

 

[tonyrey]

Dear all,

I wanted to start a topic about the roles of doubt and faith in the life of a Christian. I posted it here in the non-Catholic Religions section, so I welcome (name removed by moderator)ut and contributions from Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Protestant Christians.

I was chrismated into the Greek Orthodox Church. I find that every single time a fasting season comes up, it really tests my faith. I have also noticed that the less I pray, the less I partake of the Eucharist (holy communion), and the less I attend church – the more this doubt plagues my mind. Why does this happen?

It would seem from observing myself that tendencies towards agnosticism, could be caused by not really putting forth the effort towards living a spiritual life. My priest once told me that the best way to conquer doubt, is to pray more.

I’m afraid I didn’t heed his advice, because my intellect keeps wanting to understand “Why?”

So I was wondering what are the teachings of the Catholic Church on this? Also, I was wondering about hearing from the perspectives of other Christians as well…

Blessed Cardinal Newman noted that

“A thousand difficulties don’t make a doubt.”

That is one of the reasons why this forum exists. Ask and you shall receive!