Why are we so scared to question our faith?

Question

Why do most of us act as complete illiterates when it comes to questioning religious practices? Why do most religions ask to follow without doubting?

Answer 1

because some ppl get sensitive when you ask questions....many ppl do not have the answer you are looking for....so they become uncomfortable and choose to not answer it instead....
if you ask me....if a person is really true to their faith....they shouldn't be afraid of questions other ppl might ask them...

Answer 2

I think first of all that you are over generalizing.

I can't tell from your question how you are using the word "faith".
Are you talking about questioning one's religion or questioning what one trusts in?

It is hard to answer without having some insight into whether or not you are simply projecting your own feelings onto others.

Maybe my problem with understanding you is that I do question many religious practices and I do read the Bible from cover-to-cover every year. It does amaze me that so much of what people who call themselves "Christians" do has nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity.

Maybe that comes around to what you are asking. In that case my answer is pray about the other people but don't let that stop you from following the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Light.

Are you a Bible reader? I call your attention to Deuteronomy 18:21-22

You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

Answer 3

Christianity, at least, does not ask us to follow without doubting. We are human, and all humans had doubts. Peter's denials, Thomas's need to validate, Moses's reliance upon his staff to get water for the Israelites, and even Abraham had doubts about God's power.
We should never be afraid of doubt. That is how we learn. We need to question what we have been told by our parents and others, so that we can come to our own faith. We need to ask questions, study, and discuss with others.
Doubt, however, is different from lack of faith. Since there are many ways to use these words, it may be best described using an analogy. If I buy a plane ticket and then get to the airport to find an ancient, propeller-driven WW2-era plane that is supposed to take me to another city, I may have some doubts about it's ability to get me there safely. (But, I've bought the ticket, other people are getting off the plane safely, and my fellow passengers are getting on.) I may have some hesitation and some doubt, but I still get on the plane with the faith that I'm going to make it there. Even in the air, I might have doubts, but I still have the faith to make the trip. Through my experience, I learn that the plane is quite safe and reliable. I had doubts to begin with, but my faith in the plane grew.

Answer 4

yep, it's how you're phrasing the questions. don't call people who have faith illiterate and they won't be offended. the way you're stating this suggests that if people were literate, they would question and thus discredit their faith.

i have questioned religious practices. i think a lot of faiths spend a great deal of time and energy trying to answer questions. i don't think it's like what you're thinking. (well, not anymore, since 1400 and the invention of the printing press) the fact is, some people just don't want to hear the answers to the questions they ask and some questions don't have answers...at least not now. like, why did God create any of this in the first place? i couldn't tell you. that's like you asking someone else why my favorite color is green. it's something only God can answer, and if people don't have the answer for you, He must not have addressed this.

Answer 5

Well I think people get confused between belief and faith. The Bible says we should have faith like a child and some people seem to take that as you should believe like a child. Well most children BELIEVE there is a Santa Claus. I think belief should be based on something otherwise I don't think it is belief it is dogma. I think people actually are scared that if they have to think about what they are putting their faith into that they will find out it is not true. I do find this amazing how some people actually cling to there ignorance like a cross. I think sometimes they put more faith in that. I think you can't have true faith with out having some understanding of what you are putting your faith into. Faith doesn't mean believing something that you don't understand. It means you should have the faith in God to learn about Him and see that he is not going to suddenly disappear. Believing something does not make it true, proof makes it true. You can believe all you want that the train from Paris goes to New York but that doesn't make it true. That doesn't mean you can't get to Paris, it just means you have to find a different way. It doesn't even mean you have to doubt you just should have enough faith to know what you believe and why.

Hope that made sense.

Answer 6

Because to question and delve too deeply, brings with it truths that some simply cannot accept.
Most that have religion, need the "faith" for their emotional crutch. This is evident here, especially.

It's just a shame for those people that they employ self-denial to hide the fact of this.

"Truth hurts", as they say...

Answer 7

This is an easy answer...People who don't understand tend to become ignorant to certain situations...They would rather conform, b/c they accept what is already comfortable...In my honest opinion one must explore and question b/c this will make their faith stronger...Though most people believe word for word, others tend to be more analytical and appreciate the mystery and want to dig deeper...

Answer 8

religions ask to follow without doubting because then it is easy for the leaders to control the followers. i bet if the leaders had their way, they would want everyone who believe in their religion to be ignorant and afraid, that way, they could tell them that the only way they will get to heaven is by following their belief. oh wait. thats what christianity does already. lol oops. silly me.

Answer 9

Its the premise of faith...
Follow without doubting because if you question it you will realize it does not make sense and cannot be.
Its also called blindness.

Answer 10

We are scared to question our faith because we know it's just blind faith and there is no rational reason to believe what we do.

Mostly we believe because our friends and families persuade us that this is the right thing to do.