Religious doubt

[sojourner]

Makes no sense to me.

People claim that God is real, he answers prayers, they've seen, spoken to or experienced him, so on and so forth and yet most people experience a phase of doubt at some time or another.

I don't doubt the existence of things that I know to be true, it just makes no sense. What are your thoughts?

Doubt of what?

 

[TheGunShoj]

It seems to me that faith without doubt isn't real. It's more of a delusion. A blind acceptance predicated on fear. To doubt but persevere in hope is true faith, I would think. If someone tells me they I have to take it on faith. I suppose I could put them to the test but all that reveals is how little I love them.

I don't think that putting someone to the test is harmful in any way as long as you address it with some tact. In fact, I think it might show more love. It's kind of like when Christians say they will pray for me or that they don't want me to burn in hell. It's actually mildly offensive but at least I understand that they have good intentions.

There's nothing wrong with asking someone to critically examine their beliefs or put them to the test.

 

[TheGunShoj]

Doubt of what?

God's existence.

 

[Pawan Lamsal]

Someone claimed with me, If something unexpected, either good or bad, occour to him which is out of his sub conscious or conscious or unconscious mind i.e he does not know about it a minute before it happens (for ex. I find money while walking on the road or suddenly I encounter a stone and my body jerks to fall but I get balanced some how) then it is the work of almighty god. I don't understand this. A great mistery to me. Unseen things, may be they believe god is only a vibration, a soul that can't be seen. Please talk upon this people. Counting on you all.

 

[Amechania]

I don't think that putting someone to the test is harmful in any way as long as you address it with some tact. In fact, I think it might show more love. It's kind of like when Christians say they will pray for me or that they don't want me to burn in hell. It's actually mildly offensive but at least I understand that they have good intentions.

There's nothing wrong with asking someone to critically examine their beliefs or put them to the test.

I don't believe it's fair. I set the rules of the test and determine the outcome based on a subjective and biased agenda. The person doesn't know they are under scrutiny and may act in any number of ways. If they fail then who is vindicated? If they pass what does it prove? Only that I satisfied my own ego.

In the case of God does he test our faith or do we test our own? Die for me and then I will believe. Even then I doubt.

 

[Pawan Lamsal]

I have a situation. Someone (a christian guy) claimed with me, If something happens to him or occours as event in his life unexpectedly which is beyond the control of his subconscious, conscious or unconscious mind (for example: coming out of any dangerous situation like any accident/fear and saying 'thank god') is where he believes in his god. To him god is not seen, just experienced as a soul force which is always guiding him. I find it very unreasonable to say- oh everything happens for a reason or something. But as he claimed some blind man being cured after prayers, a man whom he himself took to the stage for prayes who had problems in one of his legs started walking after the prayers ... These seems mystery to me. Let's talk upon these guys.

 

[sojourner]

God's existence.

I think that's mistaken. According to Fowler, all people, in the course of spiritual formation, go through a period of doubt on the way to enlightenment. Usually the doubt is with regard to how one conceptualizes or relates to the Divine -- not with regard to God's existence.

 

[sojourner]

I have a situation

Depends can help.

 

[HeatherAnn]

I don't see how that follows.

When we're younger, we tend to have naive confidence.
As we mature, we realize (as Socrates did) that we don't know jack!

Ie: One believes with all their energy, that God is their version of a perfect parent, who meets their every demand and protects them from pain.
Then, they experience overwhelming pain - and a crisis of their previous concept of God.
Let's say God is TRUTH that sees a much bigger reality than we do... And sees how mistakes and pain are the best learning tools- that more good ultimately is realized. Because who wants a god who goes around zapping anybody who makes a mistake?

One's concept of truth that passes our subjectively limited understanding (aka God)... is continuously evolving via both doubt and faith.

 

[TheGunShoj]

I think that's mistaken. According to Fowler, all people, in the course of spiritual formation, go through a period of doubt on the way to enlightenment. Usually the doubt is with regard to how one conceptualizes or relates to the Divine -- not with regard to God's existence.

Surely that isn't always the case. If no one doubted the existence of God then no one would ever de convert. So we know that this happens at least in some instances.