it was an answer to another question that asked are we supposed to suspend our thinking where religion is involved. why would God want you to stop questioning?
You are going to use the example of doubting Thomas. I interpret that story in a different way. The meaning to me is- you create your experiences with your thoughts- we see what we want to see, and we get what we believe in the most.
but to stop questioning? our minds are tools to help us discern the truth. there will always be new mysteries to ponder, and to stop asking questions means the end of your development, your evolution.
There is a difference between quieting the mind in prayer or meditation, and not using your mind at all.
2006-12-01 02:05:41 · 20 answers · asked by zentrinity 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
So true. I'm glad you brought this up. I think there is nothing wrong with asking questions. It makes you a wiser person. Just because you are asking questions does not mean your faith is dwindling.
But it is looked down upon in the christian comunity. I was taught not to even read about other faiths because they are wrong and have been led astray. If I read about them, it will only cause myself to falter in my own beliefs. (it started as a rule of the church to make sure nobody converted to other beliefs)
But I think in this day and age, most know that there is nothing wrong with gaining knowledge. Understanding others creates tolerance for other ways of life, not doubt...unless you are a doubtful person to start with.
There is a difference between asking questions just to prove someone wrong, and asking questions to better understand them.
If you have faith, it shoud not waiver either way.
2006-12-01 02:17:50 · answer #1 · answered by LadyMagick 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It is a better believer who believes in God after examining the reasons not to than the one who believes in God because he shut off all other avenues.
Really, I know that many Christians use the sheep analogy, but unquestioned faith is like a mindless sheep being led to the slaughter.
I've met many Christians. I've learned that the stronger Christians are the ones that ask questions. They are more secure in their faith because they asked questions. And when someone questions the Christian's faith, that Christian can turn around and give a fairly solid reason for that faith. This is because the Christian has already asked those questions.
On the other hand, the weakest Christians are those that don't question their faith. When questioned by someone else, the Christian can only resort to platitudes and insults. He does not have a satisfying answer, because he never had a reason to come up with one.
Edit: Emale, I just looked at your link. Very clever. I had a good laugh.
2006-12-01 02:07:56 · answer #2 · answered by Rev Kev 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Religon, like many institutions (military, fraternity, governments), can not exist without a base willing to fore go reason for a sense of belonging. To commit yourself to an idea not of your own stifles the idea of free thought and belittles the need for education. Errgo your poorest and most uneducated (Middle East, Inner Cities, Medieval Europe) are also your most pious.
Striving for knowledge, and more importantly answers, gives way to civilizations like Ancient Greece, Rome, The United States, and Japan. However until the modern era most peoples have been illiterate and thus uneducated and the most educated amongst them tend to be the leaders of Religion. Today our most educated are our engineers, doctors, lawyers, scientists, and educators who are all quickly arriving at secular conclusions for the answers to the cosmos.
So the answer to your question is this. Faith and fact can only co-exist for a finite period of time. Eventually one has to decide to follow one or the other.
2006-12-01 02:20:31 · answer #3 · answered by gatewlkr 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe without any doubt in God and trust Jesus as my Lord and Savior but I search and ask all kinds of questions.
I think it would be foolish to never ask questions, how can you learn more. I don't have any questions about the trinity or baptism or the other parts of the foundational beliefs but I have many, many questions about scripture, what things mean, what life was like and how the future will unfold.
Kind of funny though, my name is Thomas...
2006-12-01 02:27:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having faith has nothing to do with asking questions. Having faith is believing in him and his son. It is human nature to ask questions. That is how we learn what is expected from us. If you thought about it real hard, you could come up with a religious question that even the Pope could not answer without having to resort to some sort of resource to find the answer. No one knows everything, so we must question things.
2006-12-01 02:25:23 · answer #5 · answered by golden rider 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Faith is the external display of the internal belief in God. You believe he will be there for you and you know he will help you in times of need. Faith is simply an extension of that belief. Everyone has questions. Questions are what prompt you to look harder and closer and hopefully gain a better understanding of what you have faith in. It should strengthen your faith when you find the answers, it should not be seen as a refusal to believe.
2006-12-01 02:10:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A religion that is like that perhaps cannot answer the member's questions.
the bible says:
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.
“Faith follows the thing heard,” (Romans 10:17)
Jesus himself answer questions from people who wanted to learn about him, so it is but ok to ask about 'your' faith.
2006-12-01 02:12:54 · answer #7 · answered by Tomoyo K 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I completely disagree with that statement. I always ask questions, how else am I to judge that my faith is correct for me. I have heard that some churches don't like it when a follower asks questions but that just shows me that either the elders in the church don't want to be bothered or just don't have the answers for their followers.
Blessed Be )O(
2006-12-01 02:10:09 · answer #8 · answered by Stephen 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I agree with your statement. We must seek and attain knowledge. Thought and chatter of the mind is yet another part of duality and the stillness is the perfect balance, but in order to survive and learn the truth questioning will lead to wisdom.
2006-12-01 02:22:01 · answer #9 · answered by guidedlight 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God doesnt want us to stop asking questions, the government of the church does
2006-12-01 02:10:05 · answer #10 · answered by daisy322_98 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋