How do you maintain your religious faith?

Question

I am soon going into a PhD program and have always had Christian beliefs. However, as I get more into college, I find myself questioning my beliefs more and more often. I guess I have felt really down, thinking that there just might not be anything out there but space. I was wondering how scientists and other well educated people maintain their faith under such conflicting teachings.

Answer 1

Firstly in my studied the origin of life. I found out that all life chemicals have chirality. And that randomly generated isomers are always produced in a 50/50 mixture. Proteins are polymers of amino acids and each one of the component amino acids exists as the "L" or left-handed optical isomer. Even though the "R" or right-handed optical isomers can be synthesized in the lab, this isomer does not exist in natural proteins. The DNA molecule is made up of billions of complicated chemical molecules called nucleotides, and these nucleotide molecules exist as the "R" or right-handed optical isomer. The "L" isomer of nucleotides can be prepared in the lab, but they do not exist in natural DNA. There is no way that a random chance process could have formed these proteins and DNA with their unique chirality.
Secondly there is the virus. In the years mankind has know about these lifeforms they have had millions of generation yet, though they mutate and change their structure many time to avoid our body's and our science's efforts to dispose of them not one has ever moved up am evolutionary path toward a higher life-form.
Lastly again on the subject of evolution is it probable that the small rodent like remnant of a planetary catastrophe that rendered all the dinosaurs extinct was able to evolve into the Giant beast of the Ice age in less than a few hundred thousand years?
Think scientifically by all means. But THINK, and trust your Lord in His word and His gift of life that He died to give you. He doesn't ask for blind faith but still He asks for faith. If there was "Proof" then there would be no need for faith. Because we are saved by faith it's end caused by absolute proof would mean no one could be saved... Jim

Answer 2

Well it's not surprising that you'd find this happening. Colleges are very secular and liberal.

You are buying into the idea that the "mind" is the ultimate. Do not let that happen to yourself. I'm not a college graduate, I fall in the "some college' category. But I'm not uneducated either. I read a lot and discuss religion a lot.

The thing to do is not allow yourself to be drawn in to the beliefs that we're all just a bunch a carbon-based units. With no purpose and no promise. That's very bleak to say the least.

Read some of the Theologians...they were/are very educated people. Pope Benedict is another very intelligent educated man...read his books.

My niece is getting her masters degree and she is as devout as ever. She has a boyfriend who broke up with her for a time because she would not compromise her faith. Of course now he's back.

Pray...seek God. He is there. Do not let you mind get clouded by the slanted views of the world.

Answer 3

People who are highly educated and have scientific minds often abandon religion and faith altogether, or find a belief system wherein science and religion are compatible or are the same thing, like a Hermetic or Kemetic based belief systems. Not saying this to dis Christianity, but it is kind of anti-science unless you're willing to take a more gnostic approach.

Answer 4

How can a person acquire faith?

Rom. 10:17: “Faith follows the thing heard.” (Compare Acts 17:11, 12; John 4:39-42; 2 Chronicles 9:5-8. A person must first find out what the Bible says, and he will strengthen his conviction if he examines it carefully so as to be convinced of its reliability.)

Rom. 10:10: “With the heart one exercises faith.” (By meditating on godly things to build up appreciation for them, a person impresses them on his figurative heart.)

Faith is strengthened when a person acts on God’s promises and then sees the evidence of God’s blessing on what he has done.—See Psalm 106:9-12.

Illustration: Perhaps you have a friend of whom you would say: ‘I trust that man. I can count on him to keep his word; and I know that if I have a problem, he will come to my help.’ It is not likely that you would be saying that about anyone you met for the first time yesterday, is it? He would have to be someone with whom you had long association, someone who had proved his dependability time and again. It is similar with religious faith. To have faith, you need to take time to get to know Jehovah and his way of doing things.

Answer 5

You don't. You are just entering a new world of knowledge, not even beginning - foot not even in the door yet, and already doubt is there just remember the parable about the sower and the seeds and think: Which one is my faith most like? It NEVER "NEVER" had deep roots to begin with so don't worry about the eternal damnation thing or living in bless IT DOES NOT EXIST - MOVE ON!!!!!!!!!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Answer 6

I abandon religion in general and keep faith in what I believe. No man, no book, no god created by man will be able to adequately describe my faith, my beliefs, my resolutions, why subscribe yourself to the linear thinking of western religion? Faith and belief are far more potent and far less violent (I reference the MANY wars and massacres done in the name of one god or another).

Answer 7

Prayer for one and going to church. I read my bible all the time. I pray constantly, go to Mass several times a week. Dont let your faith fall away just because of going to college. Stand firm in your faith and in the Lord, He is there for you reach out to Him and he will keep you close.

Answer 8

You are one step away from reality. Notice that many of the answers say to keep praying and attending church. This is just to keep the brainwashing active. Keep away from those things. They are wastes of time. Believing in santa-god is just foolishness.

Answer 9

Find a community of like-minded Christians (be it a church or a campus group). You really can't believe or nourish your faith without a support group.

Answer 10

Getting an education is not condusive to maintaining religious faith.