Is just a little bit of doubt necessary to make one's faith more genuine?

Question

Is unquestioning faith the the only form of faith? Or is it more powerful if you give yourself over to your convictions willingly and intentionally? (intentionality implies choice and choice implies an alternative)

Answer 1

There is an old saying in Zen that says that the way takes great faith and great doubt.
Anyway, I don't think there is a single person who hasn't experienced a certain amount of doubt.
So to answer the question I think that doubt is a part of the spiritual path and the conflict of faith vs doubt drives us forwards.

Answer 2

On weekdays, I get up, wake up my 9 year old, get dressed, get her breakfast, take her to school, come home get breakfast, sit down at the computer for "just a few minutes" and then suddenly realize I've been here for 4 hours. Between 2 groups, 2 e-mails, a 360 and R&S, plus a job search, it keeps me busy. I get off the computer, do some housework, do some job searching, pick up my daughter, then I come home and get on the computer until I'm hungry then I fix supper, spend some time with my kids if they don't want to play video games and then settle down for the evening with a movie or R&S. Then I fall asleep and crawl into bed. That is if I don't have an outside activity during the day, if I do, I fit that into my schedule. On the weekends, I include church and more family time. Today I'm sick at home with a cold, so I'm not up to doing much of anything.

Answer 3

Faith is for you. God made the religion for man, not man for religion. Jesus said, God made the Sabbath for man , not man for the Sabbath. Your intent and heart felt devotion is your choice for sure. Surrender does remove doubt. Faith comes from hearing and reading the word of God. There will be doubts because of your intellect and reason. Over time your uncertainty will become more stable and balanced. With knowledge and understanding will bring wisdom. There are few I think that don't get a question or doubt. There are two forces that will interject thoughts into your mind. I have found that if I pray for faith, faith comes because I turn back to my source for reassurance. I made up my mind on God after much searching and that is 99% solid. I leave room for more info. You may call it doubt. I call it freedom to choose of my free will.
Rev. TomCat

Answer 4

I dontnt think that doubt makes ones faith more genuine but it does happen from time to time. We are human and in the bible it says after adam and eve partook of the forbidden fruit we had all the knowledge of the world as God did. I think of God as my father and well sometimes you get angry with your father and doubt his best interests for you. I don't think it makes your faith more genuine its just what makes us human. Doubt is almost like a defense mechinism. It keeps us from being harmed by strangers that want to hurt us. In that same way I think some people doubt God because they are afraid of being wrong.

Answer 5

Actually a famous Latin Priest once said, "faith without doubt is not faith at all".

Everyone has doubts man from the Pope to the people of the Parish, dont worry your not the olny one, ive even had doubts but thats what makes it faith.

Answer 6

People will always have some doubts. Even if they have experienced only the good things from God, they will still be subject to attacks from Satan and subject to their own desires. For example, if I have prayed over something and it doesnt happen the way I wanted it to happen, it will cause me some doubt even about God's existance...for a moment. Then I remember all the times he has said no to me in the past and has instead given me something greater than I would have ever thought was possible for me. Having these experiences has taught me to simply trust him and rely on him to lead me in the right direction. There is a verse in the Bible...I think it is Romans 8:28 that says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." I have found this to be very true. If I have simply said to Him...I trust you and place my future in your hands to do with me as you wish, things have always worked for my benefit...even if it took a while. Just as an example...I wanted a promotion at work...but after two tries at it...I was passed over and had all but given up. The third time, against just about all odds, I was promoted to a different position that has allowed me to work for God....not just for myself. Disappointment was turned into victory and fullfillment.

Answer 7

Yes, according to the fundies, unquestioning faith is the only form of faith. Otherwise, everything bad that happens to you is your own fault because you didn't have enough faith. That gets Jod (Jesus/God aka Sybill) off the hook.

Answer 8

Matthew 17:20 - And Jesus said unto them. "Because of your unbelief, for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

ANY "DOUBT" you have towards the Lord, is not "Genuine" for you lack the fundamentals necessary to "trust" God in heaven. That "doubt" becomes the "question" in yourself which will hinder any conviction OR choice to do the WILL of the Father in heaven and that "doubt" will also hinder any results you may GET in your life from the holy, also in heaven.

Answer 9

The doubt is one part of Christian faith. But God always shows up and then we do not doubt for a little while.

Answer 10

If you didn't question your faith then you would become complacent and follow blindly down a path without truly knowing or experiencing God's love and mercy. It's through our trials and our doubts and our desire to seek the truth that we will find true spiritual fullfillment.