How do you find faith?

Question

I was raised a Catholic but have always been a doubting Thomas... too wrapped up in scientific and logical thinking to "believe" in things as abstract as God, Jesus, Heaven, etc. It just seems too unlikely to me. How do I get over that doubt? I want to beleive, but I just don't seem to have it in me.

Answer 1

Your desire to believe is a natural part of the search for meaning that almost everyone has to find for themselves. Some find it in religion, but others find it in charitable works, or in music or art.

Don't feel you have to believe something because other people tell you so.

Answer 2

Great, but what do you want to believe? don't try to just accept what others are telling you. Even jesus said that everybody must work out their own salvation (so did Buddha and a lot of others).

There is nothing illogical about spiritual beliefs. Unfortunately, no one can tell you how to believe - that is up to you! Having a spiritual life (a true one) is I would say the most difficult thing you can do because it means absolute honesty with yourself. We don't particularly like being honest with ourselves because it hurts our pride so much.

There is a reason that monks all over the world of every religion sought solitude - only you can find your own path. Sure it is good to discuss ideas with others, but remember that they may have motives for saying certain things and that their path will be different than yours.

The Creator is neither male nor female - try to get beyond the narrow conceptions of the One that organized religions teach.

Answer 3

Faith, and indeed religion, are about the superatural; science describes the natural-- to a great extent, they are describing different things.

But there is a significant difference: the natural world is testable-- the supernatural world is not. You can calculate that a molecule or process will function in a certain way, and test it, and watch it happen. You don't have to "believe" anything.

"Belief" and "faith" come from a worldview rooted in the supernatural -- eg that you go to heaven or hell when you die; this is neither testable nor natural-- but that doesn't mean that its wrong.

So how do you "find faith"? In a world of tangible things, and abundant evidence of natural truths-- how do you find the supernatural?

Empirically, its by being part of a community of people who share that belief; the communal experience of shared supernatural ideas supports them, and makes them seem more real.

So if you wanted to believe, becoming active in a church, going on spiritual retreats with other believers might help-- you'd be surrounding yourself with other people who believe.

Answer 4

Why don't you ask God? He'll tell you what's up, that is if you ask really wanting to know the truth, with a desire to know for your self. Personally I think It's harder to believe in evolution than Faith, I can't believe in things not seen that aren't real, Faith is to have faith in things unseen that ARE real, there is no proof of the evolution of Man, it has all been proved to be false, all those bones being planted or found next to apes, and what about the Big Bang? what bull crap is that? how is that different thann Me believing in an all powerful being creating the universe? show me proof of it, like tha scientist say.

Anyway, you won't have faith if you don't want to, I could tell you to pray, to read the scriptures, to ponder about life and creation and science, but non of that will do you any good if you don't want to.
You gotta understand that in order to do anything in life, you must put an effort on it, but if your in doubt and you don't want to believe, you never will, that's why it's called a leap of faith!

The leap comes before the faith!

Answer 5

The Bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Take a moment to think about that. A simple analogy would be the wind. You cannot see the wind itself, but only the effects of it. (I.E. trees moving, leaves blowing along the ground, etc) Most importantly you can feel it. That is what most preachers and "knowledgeable" people would tell you, but I will tell you differently. Take a look at the most Godly person you know. The person that follows the Bible and God with their whole heart, it is evident in their actions. That person is happy, healthy, has no NEED of anything, always in a good mood, always willing to help, etc. That is what most people want for their lives(substance of things hoped for.) What makes that person able to accomplish this is their closeknit relationship with God. It is not drugs, drinking, friends, job, nice cars, or any of that, it is something they have that no one can see. (God) Their actions, like the leaves blowing, are evidence of their faith in God. There is no "religion" that can equal that claim, buhdist, muslim, devil worship, it doesn't matter. My God is the God of love, not hate. My God loves to take care of me. Another thing to consider is that God is the only logical explanation to life. Evolution? Aliens? No, God. Evolution is based on the theory that life is evolving continually, but to the contrary, it is de-evolving.(if that is a word!) People are not getting smarter, we couldn't build a pyramid like the Egyptians did if we tried. One last thing is that faith has to come in time, it is nothing that you just all of a sudden get. Day by day trusting in something gets you faith in them. My friend, I pray that you are able to find the faith that I have found. The Bible says that by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of works, it is the gift of God, lest any man should boast. If I could be of anymore assistance, please, let me know.

Answer 6

---Is Catholic---

Well first being a doubting Thomas is not a terrible thing. St. Thomas got yelled at by Christ not because he couldn't wrap his mind around it, but rather because he didn't trust the report of the Apostles whom he knew to be trustworthy.

There are plenty of things that you and I will not understand, but that other people will understand. We are called to know what we can and then trust those whom we know to be trustworthy. That is Faith and how Catholicism teaches the Faith.

Did you know that the Church teaches that Faith is only temporary?? Faith is eventually replaced by knowledge and in heaven there is no Faith but rather knowledge for we well see God face to face and know Him as He truly is.

Catholicism is not a religion where you check your brain at the door. It requires you to think and work at what you believe, both by growing in the Christian life, and developing your mind to reflect Christ.

Did you know that Nicholas Copernicus was a Catholic?
How about Gregory Mendel, the father of genetics?
So was Descartes.
Nicholas Cusa, Catholic cardinal, predicted that space must be curved if God were to be equally present at every point.
Louis Pasteur proved that spontaneous generation was impossible. Many of his proof were improvements on work taken directly from the Catholic priest Lazzaro Spallanzani.

On of the organs of the Vatican is specifically tasked with doing science, The Vatican Observatory.

Perhaps you do not have access to the best book on the Catholic Faith. There are plenty of highly detailed scientific works on Catholicism out there. If you have a specific topic that you are interested in, message me.

On to your wanting to believe...

I would suggest that you read St. Augustine's CONFESSIONS. He had the exact same problem as you do and the entire book deals excellently with the problem.

The short answer is that wanting to believe is enough. Belief is a process of agreeing with what you know and agree with and then trusting that which you are not sure about or find difficult to be true and acting accordingly. Belief is always a conscious choice. Don't fool yourself into thinking that it is automatic like breathing air. It is not. It is all choice and it is as simply as saying "I am willing to believe". We learn how to believe and what to believe by becoming trusting true authority, becoming educated in philosophy, history, and theology, and by having our consciences formed in morality. It is all a process and a life long choice. You will never end the need to choose or to work at believing, for there is always something new that God wants to show you.

A very old and famous Catholic prayer is "Lord I believe, help my unbelief." Remember it and pray it often.

The world is full of skepticism and falsifications. Pope Benedict has often spoken out against relativism. I suggest you track down those writings of his and read them. Start with what he said as Card. Ratzinger before the conclave and then at his inarguable mass. It will lift your spirits greatly!

I do not know what your difficulties are, but would be willing to help you with them and give you what you are looking for to help.

Answer 7

It is human to doubt, the most dvout people have doubts, thats why its called faith. Faith and science work together in a lot ways, being a Christian doesnt mean you gotta check your brain at the door. Christ died for your sins, believe it, thats enough. Dont get all caught up in creationism theology and stuff.

Answer 8

I was raised Catholic, even went through parochial school through 8th grade. It was culture shock to me to go to a public Jr. High and realize there were other religions besides Judaism and Catholicism! Anyway, I went to college and really found my doubts were many. But through the outreach of friends Ifound out that there was more to "religion" than hitting the mark of going to church every Sunday (Mortal Sin if you miss) and all the other touch points. One day, one of them asked me if I was a Christian and I resonded with, "I'm a Catholic.". She replied, non-judgingly, that that was not necessarily the same thing. I quicky responded, "It is for me!". I was about to embark on the great period of revelation! I began to accept the invite of my friends to go to meetings and (long story, very short) I became a Christian my sophomore in college and was amazed at the reality of faith and relationship in/with Jesus Christ.

I remember later a nun and a priest coming to our dorm for a talk in one of the rooms off the lobby. This was after I became a christian. I was flabbergasted to hear the priest say that "God doesn't want to forgive your sins, he wants a priest to do it." WHAT???

I tried attending Mass after becoming a Christian, but I just felt like I was in a straight jacket and wanted to scream to the people of how much Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with them, that we didn't have to go through a priest every time.

The curtain has been torn and because of the cross we have access to the throne of God! We are made righteous and no longer need another priest to offer sacrifice for us to cleanse us/enable us to sit on God's lap as Abba (daddy) Father. We can talk to God anytime and however we feel comfortable. Just be sincere and He'll meet you there.

Ask God to reveal himself to you personally. If you have a friend who seems to have the faith and peace that you seek, ask if you can go to church with him/her. God and Jesus are not abstract when you have a personal relationship with them.

Answer 9

Follow your heart on what you Already believe and then search for reasons on confirmation. It's, I guess, soul searching. You will feel very peaceful when you can come to grips with what you actually believe and you won't be swayed by any others convictions.
Seekers of the Truth are special in God's eyes, so I've read.

Answer 10

It's there, just the doubt is in the way. You are a lot stronger than you probably realize.

Sometimes we need to confide in another, to gain strength from their help. In the end, you'll learn to gain your strength from Jesus.

I'd be more than happy to talk to you, if you'd like. Just go to my profile and click on Contact Me.

You can do it!