How much do you question your religion, worldview or faith?

[paradox]

For the purpose of this discussion, if you're atheist let's say you have "worldview" about god rather than faith in god or religion.

There are 2 kinds of faiths\religions\worldviews that may categorize you:
1. positive
- belief that god or deity which you worship is real - existing
- atheists: belief that god does not exist (aka. "new" atheist)
2. negative
- your faith is purely spiritual or ritual, it doesn't deal with god or any kind of a deity
- atheists: stance such that god is absent (but you don't care to spread your worldview) or you are agnostic.

I've assembled this categorization so that it's visible that the question doesn't apply to theists only.

Which ever group you fall into, do you ever question your faith or worldview and how much and for how long?
Did questioning your faith or worldview make you change your mind and how much? ie. did doing so weaken your faith or worldview.
If you questioned your faith or worldview, did doing so make you stop doing it?
Do you see any benefits of questioning?

Reason why I'm asking this is because I would like to see whether I'm the only one questioning my faith, and more specifically whether I exaggerate.

My answer:
I question my faith all the time, since always and still doing it.
Questioning didn't make me atheist however it weakened my faith considerably and brought a lot of confusion.
Benefits of questioning my faith was exploration of philosophy of religion and more thorough study of the bible which helped me better understand what I believe.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I don't really question it much anymore. I did that for years and found no satisfying answers outside of it. So I just stick with it. I find it's better to "let go and let God". I'm content with my faith.

 

[JustGeorge]

I think of it more as a discovery. My faith is consists of awe at the discoveries I find, and the approachability of the divine.

I'm not really asking questions, or looking for answers, most days. I'm just sitting back and taking it all in.

 

[Nakosis]

For the purpose of this discussion, if you're atheist let's say you have "worldview" about god rather than faith in god or religion.

There are 2 kinds of faiths\religions\worldviews that may categorize you:
1. positive
- belief that god or deity which you worship is real - existing
- atheists: belief that god does not exist (aka. "new" atheist)
2. negative
- your faith is purely spiritual or ritual, it doesn't deal with god or any kind of a deity
- atheists: stance such that god is absent (but you don't care to spread your worldview) or you are agnostic.

I've assembled this categorization so that it's visible that the question doesn't apply to theists only.

Which ever group you fall into, do you ever question your faith or worldview and how much and for how long?
Did questioning your faith or worldview make you change your mind and how much? ie. did doing so weaken your faith or worldview.
If you questioned your faith or worldview, did doing so make you stop doing it?
Do you see any benefits of questioning?

Reason why I'm asking this is because I would like to see whether I'm the only one questioning my faith, and more specifically whether I exaggerate.

My answer:
I question my faith all the time, since always and still doing it.
Questioning didn't make me atheist however it weakened my faith considerably and brought a lot of confusion.
Benefits of questioning my faith was exploration of philosophy of religion and more thorough study of the bible which helped me better understand what I believe.

As an atheist, I don't have a worldview about God.

However do I question my view of how the world works?
Yes usually by searching out scientific research on consciousness and the human brain.

 

[Viker]

I have questioned it in the past. I'm always testing my faith through deliberate and unintentional actions. I've become content. I'm even pleased.
I'm still capable of questioning. One should test their faith on occasion, at least. Because you know the outside is going to test it. Might as well sharpen your ax before you go to chop some wood.

 

[paradox]

I think of it more as a discovery. My faith is consists of awe at the discoveries I find, and the approachability of the divine.

I'm not really asking questions, or looking for answers, most days. I'm just sitting back and taking it all in.

I suppose you did not yet come to the point where there is nothing left to discover.
Maybe once you do, you'll start to ask questions?

As an atheist, I don't have a worldview about God.

You have a worldview that there is no God.

However do I question my view of how the world works?

You start questioning, what if I'm wrong, what if there is God or some higher power?

One should test their faith on occasion, at least. Because you know the outside is going to test it. Might as well sharpen your ax before you go to chop some wood.

It always makes sense to sharpen your apologetics, especially if you plan to convert people.

 

[sun rise]

Reason why I'm asking this is because I would like to see whether I'm the only one questioning my faith, and more specifically whether I exaggerate.

I have two answers. The first is from a Rabbi.

"You don't learn by having faith. You learn by questioning, by challenging, by re-examining everything you've ever believed.
And yet, all this is a matter of faith
—the faith that there is a truth to be found.
It is another paradox: To truly question, you must truly have faith."
Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

That was true for me at a time when I found myself moving from atheism to belief. I questioned what the right path was for me. I questioned just about every possible aspect of the life and work of Meher Baba and so forth. Even after my decision, I sometimes reviewed all my questions and answers to see if my questions were truly answered.

So if you have not questioned, questioning seems perfectly natural.

 

[paarsurrey]

How much do you question your religion, worldview or faith?

It is very natural to defend one's religion or no-religion with reasonable arguments, at the same time, one should listen to others' reasonable arguments with an open mind, and decide about them fairly and justly. It is essential for the peace of the world. Right?

Regards

 

[JustGeorge]

I suppose you did not yet come to the point where there is nothing left to discover.
Maybe once you do, you'll start to ask questions?

I bet that's several lifetimes away. Maybe not. I guess I'll wait and see.

 

[osgart]

On ultimate questions I just resign myself to wonder, and being awestruck. My religion I question often in some aspects, in others not so much. My worldview is not fixed in stone by any means.

My faith grows, and I question it, but am never in doubt about it.

Existence and life is a great mystery.

 

[Semmelweis Reflex]

For the purpose of this discussion, if you're atheist let's say you have "worldview" about god rather than faith in god or religion.

There are 2 kinds of faiths\religions\worldviews that may categorize you:
1. positive
- belief that god or deity which you worship is real - existing
- atheists: belief that god does not exist (aka. "new" atheist)
2. negative
- your faith is purely spiritual or ritual, it doesn't deal with god or any kind of a deity
- atheists: stance such that god is absent (but you don't care to spread your worldview) or you are agnostic.

I've assembled this categorization so that it's visible that the question doesn't apply to theists only.

Okay. I see. I have gotten to where I categorize into two kinds. Believer or unbeliever. It pretty much only applies to Judeo-Christian religion in general. It's just a sort of personal simplification when I have discussions such as these. No big deal.

Which ever group you fall into, do you ever question your faith or worldview and how much and for how long?

Yes. Absolutely. All the time. Always have, always will.

Did questioning your faith or worldview make you change your mind and how much? ie. did doing so weaken your faith or worldview.

My faith, my spirituality, is only a part of my worldview. A pretty small part, actually. My worldview hasn't changed much from when I was an unbeliever. It's increased in knowledge and understanding the world for what it is, but otherwise the same. There was one point, briefly, when I abandoned my faith in Jehovah God. I wouldn't use the term weakened, more like destroyed. Worldview stayed the same, I suppose I just saw my old beliefs as part of the world.

My mind was changed completely regarding God. I went briefly from public praise to public condemnation.

If you questioned your faith or worldview, did doing so make you stop doing it?

That isn't making any sense to me. Did I stop doing what? Questioning? I think you must be saying did I feel guilty about questioning my faith because I perceived questioning it as faithlessness? If that's what you mean the answer is definitely not. I don't think that is the way it works. I think you should always question your faith. You should always question your God. Do you know what the word Israel means? To wrestle, contend or grapple with God. (Genesis 32:24-28) Compare translations. That is what we should do. Always. But, faith isn't just about God, anyway. A great deal of it has to do with yourself and the world around you.

Do you see any benefits of questioning?

Of course!

Reason why I'm asking this is because I would like to see whether I'm the only one questioning my faith, and more specifically whether I exaggerate.

That made me laugh out loud. No. You're not the only one. I would think that if I overheard anyone saying they never question their faith that either they were doing something wrong, didn't want attention or to be fussed over, or were pretentious.

My answer:
I question my faith all the time, since always and still doing it.
Questioning didn't make me atheist however it weakened my faith considerably and brought a lot of confusion.

Well, then, see? You're doing it right. You can be confident in addressing the confusion and strengthening your faith. Sometimes it takes years but don't give up.

Benefits of questioning my faith was exploration of philosophy of religion and more thorough study of the bible which helped me better understand what I believe.

Careful with that, but, okay. I think you've answered your own questions.

 

[Aupmanyav]

OP .. Practically every moment of my life.

 

[Psalm23]

I have questioned my faith and looked into apologetics. I feel it has strengthened my faith . Dealing with fear, I have questioned God's character and if I can trust him. Emotionally my faith has been strengthened through reading the Bible and music( both Christian music and secular music) and encouragement from people.

In some ways, I have shifted in my religious worldview. In some ways, it has stayed the same. In my political worldview, I have changed my viewpoint in one area.

 

[Twilight Hue]

For the purpose of this discussion, if you're atheist let's say you have "worldview" about god rather than faith in god or religion.

There are 2 kinds of faiths\religions\worldviews that may categorize you:
1. positive
- belief that god or deity which you worship is real - existing
- atheists: belief that god does not exist (aka. "new" atheist)
2. negative
- your faith is purely spiritual or ritual, it doesn't deal with god or any kind of a deity
- atheists: stance such that god is absent (but you don't care to spread your worldview) or you are agnostic.

I've assembled this categorization so that it's visible that the question doesn't apply to theists only.

Which ever group you fall into, do you ever question your faith or worldview and how much and for how long?
Did questioning your faith or worldview make you change your mind and how much? ie. did doing so weaken your faith or worldview.
If you questioned your faith or worldview, did doing so make you stop doing it?
Do you see any benefits of questioning?

Reason why I'm asking this is because I would like to see whether I'm the only one questioning my faith, and more specifically whether I exaggerate.

My answer:
I question my faith all the time, since always and still doing it.
Questioning didn't make me atheist however it weakened my faith considerably and brought a lot of confusion.
Benefits of questioning my faith was exploration of philosophy of religion and more thorough study of the bible which helped me better understand what I believe.

I question it all the time. Things are in a constant state of change. and if a religion remains excessively stagnated, it won't be much of a use for very long.

 

[Heyo]

2. negative
- atheists: stance such that god is absent (but you don't care to spread your worldview) or you are agnostic.

That is the nearest your categorisation comes to my position.
I'm an Agnostic, i.e. philosophical agnostic in the tradition of Thomas Huxley. I not only don't know if god(s) exist but also don't know what a god is - and neither do you.
I'm not (yet?) sure if it is impossible to know what a god is so that is the part of my worldview I'm questioning the most.

Which ever group you fall into, do you ever question your faith or worldview and how much and for how long?

Every theory is preliminary and can be exchanged or expanded upon by new data or new insight. That's a principle of the scientific method but I see no reason to not also apply it to my philosophy.

Did questioning your faith or worldview make you change your mind and how much? ie. did doing so weaken your faith or worldview.

It didn't change that much but it refined over time. I also relabelled myself recently, not because my position changed but because I learned what Agnosticism really is and that it fits my position better than "agnostic atheist".

If you questioned your faith or worldview, did doing so make you stop doing it?
Do you see any benefits of questioning?

Would I be here if I didn't?
One of the best methods (again borrowed from the scientific method) is to defend one's position in dialogue. Even if it doesn't sharpen your position it at least sharpens your ability to present it. To present a position to different people requires not only a deep understanding of the position itself but also an understanding of the interlocutor's position.

Reason why I'm asking this is because I would like to see whether I'm the only one questioning my faith, and more specifically whether I exaggerate.

Would others be here if they weren't questioning their position?
RF has a policy against proselytising so those who won't question their position and only want to spread it don't fare well here.

 

[Mock Turtle]

If we have a world view perhaps it is down to the questions we might ask as to whether this could change, given that this will also depend upon what information we seek so as to form any opinions. It seems to me that many just don't look for any appropriate information, possibly preferring the explanations from some particular religious text as being entirely adequate. So, in essence, being cocooned in their own little protective bubble - and often being in a make-believe world.

If I have a world view, this has been formed over a lifetime, and although perhaps I have tended to look in areas not so relevant to religions, these to me have been more rewarding as to enabling any such world view. That is, they tend to provide sufficient answers as to the whats, whys, and hows, so as not to make me accept the explanations often given in religious texts as to such. One path - that of concentrating on and understanding the beliefs and religious texts of one particular religion, or of all the major ones - seems to me a futile task, and hence why I determined to do otherwise. Probably my main reason for doing so is that I simply cannot accept the veracity of such religious texts as being 'as presented' or however interpreted, given I do believe they were all produced by and originated in human minds alone. And given the state of humans at the time they were produced, they usually reflect such.

As an agnostic, I don't know whether there is a God somehow affecting all of reality, including humans, and thence affecting any world view, but I don't see any religious beliefs as having the definitive propositions as to such. Not sure what I can do to ask the necessary questions, given that delving into any particular religious belief does seem to require some suspension of credulity as to accepting whatever is written as being factual in any sense. Just not going to happen.

 

[paradox]

Not sure what I can do to ask the necessary questions, given that delving into any particular religious belief does seem to require some suspension of credulity as to accepting whatever is written as being factual in any sense. Just not going to happen.

If you can't accept God trough scriptures or religion because you find it completely unacceptable and question your self according to that, then you question things like:
why is there something rather than nothing
are we alone
is universe real etc.
This may lead to accepting that God exists in the end.

Quest for truth requires questioning IMO.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

... at least weekly.

 

[Mock Turtle]

If you can't accept God trough scriptures or religion because you find it completely unacceptable and question your self according to that, then you question things like:
why is there something rather than nothing
are we alone
is universe real etc.
This may lead to accepting that God exists in the end.

Quest for truth requires questioning IMO.

You think knowing the answers to these questions would somehow impact my life? Not so. But your accepting a God does seem to do so, just as it does for all the others with a different religion, and which has caused conflict and deaths since they originated. My lack of beliefs has not done so, and I can accept that I will likely never know the answers. You could be just too eager for answers - and gullible perhaps as to accepting the ones you prefer. Am I any different in essence from all the others with different religious beliefs than yourself?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

For the purpose of this discussion, if you're atheist let's say you have "worldview" about god rather than faith in god or religion.

There are 2 kinds of faiths\religions\worldviews that may categorize you:
1. positive
- belief that god or deity which you worship is real - existing
- atheists: belief that god does not exist (aka. "new" atheist)
2. negative
- your faith is purely spiritual or ritual, it doesn't deal with god or any kind of a deity
- atheists: stance such that god is absent (but you don't care to spread your worldview) or you are agnostic.

I've assembled this categorization so that it's visible that the question doesn't apply to theists only.

Which ever group you fall into, do you ever question your faith or worldview and how much and for how long?
Did questioning your faith or worldview make you change your mind and how much? ie. did doing so weaken your faith or worldview.
If you questioned your faith or worldview, did doing so make you stop doing it?
Do you see any benefits of questioning?

Reason why I'm asking this is because I would like to see whether I'm the only one questioning my faith, and more specifically whether I exaggerate.

My answer:
I question my faith all the time, since always and still doing it.
Questioning didn't make me atheist however it weakened my faith considerably and brought a lot of confusion.
Benefits of questioning my faith was exploration of philosophy of religion and more thorough study of the bible which helped me better understand what I believe.

I question my beliefs all the time.

This questioning leads me to ask myself "what if gods are real?" about as often as it leads me to ask "what if time travellers are living among us?"... i.e. rarely.

Edit: out of all the subjects of potential doubt and uncertainty in the world, I've seen no reason to give the existence or non-existence of gods special attention.