in light of mother teresa's crisis of faith...?

Question

a new book has just been released which catalogs the life of mother teresa. in it, it discusses several moments in her life when she went through crises of her faith where she admittedly just did not believe in god. so my question is why do so many people here act like it's never even been a question for them, and that they are absolutely positive that a god exists? is it really possible to not have any doubts?

Answer 1

Maybe they just haven't gone through it yet. Catholics call it the "dark night of the soul," and recognize that they have to just get through it, the way you have to get through a trip to the dentist. I think it's not only inevitable with most religious people, but a healthy thing. Some may indeed decide to follow a different path, but the ones who return to their previous beliefs will be the stronger for having examined them in this "dark light."

Answer 2

I think that doubting and then searching for answers can solidfy your beliefs either way. Even when Teresa doubted that God was not with her, and hadn't been for years, she still found a way to believe in him.

I've always thought that there is definitely some higher power "up there," that I call God, but then in looking at some things that go on in the world also wonder how he could let those things happen...and often there is no explanation and it is frustrating.

I think some people need to believe in a higher power, and some do not have that need as an explanation of why we are here.

Answer 3

Yes Christians have doubts but it isn't wise to discuss those doubts with Atheists in most cases.
I guess if a Christian wants to stay one they are going to seek out evidence or confirmation to help them stay a Christian during those times and in the same way perhaps Atheists have a support group of sorts because they want to stay Atheist. It is really hard for me to fathom someone wanting the end of this life to really be the "end". But yes we go through periods of doubt. That's recorded in the bible for many people who served God it's nothing new under the sun. Jonah, King David, many other doubted. Heck Sampson doubted there would be a consequence for messing with Delilah and the end result is recorded. The fact that Mother Theresa lived her life for God, her whole life, testifies to what she truly believed.

Answer 4

Stop for just a moment and look at what Mother Theresa must have seen thru her eyes morning, noon, and nite. Children died on her lap by the hundreds per week, death and suffering was all around her constantly.
Of course she had times of doubt; the woman was flesh and blood, not some damn robot. And besides all the death and misery, think about the conditions she lived in: poverty, stench, filth, bugs, horrid weather conditions. This woman was tried
and tried and tried. And it wouldn't surprize me if Satan wasn't whispering in her ears constantly as well - he attacks whenever we are vunerable or let our guard down; I am sure she was very vunerable at many times,
and she had times of doubt, BUT SHE NEVER SAID SHE WAS AN UNBELIEVER, only that she had TIMES
of doubt. Thats understandable.
To top it off, the woman wrote personal letters that are blatently honest from the heart, and they never should have been published; that was a terrible insult to a woman who did alot of good work. And now that they are published, scavengers like you get to take them and twist them out of proportion and make the woman look like she was against God instead of for Him.
Your motives in posting this are filthy at best. Maybe you should start examining your own motives for things that YOU do,
instead of disecting a good womans life and dragging it through the mud.
Physician, heal thyself.

Answer 5

I can't even pretend to know this for certain, but I wonder if the greater a person's calling, the more doubt they will face?
It's just an idea.
OK, now that I've read a few of the other responses I will add, I myself constantly test truths. For the first several years of my Christian walk I was forever questioning God's actual presence . Once I knew for certain that He is in fact real, and aware of me, I then and still test everything I here coming from other Christians. I test the Word continually and I will let you know that the Word itself tells us to test it.
There is no harm in taking a step back and asking yourself if what you believe is for certain. Try it some time atheists, you might not like what you find.

Answer 6

A few moments of doubt are not a "crisis of faith".

My goodness, you really should not expect Christians to be perfect, we are all human, even the Pope and Mother Teresa.

Can you find ANY group that is only made up of perfect people?

Peace!

Answer 7

She didn't say there is no God. She said she felt removed from him. She was looking constantly for that perfect shining moment of connection between herself and God..and had it..briefly.

So I don't think there is any existential question to be answered from her questions, uncertainty and doubt. Just an appreciation that she had them, and strived always to take care of the life around her.

Answer 8

The devil can put thoughts in your head but you don't have to entertain them. I'm convinced beyond a Shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the way to salvation. Questions are normal and should result in one checking into the word of God for answers,

Answer 9

It is unfair to make claims after a person is gone. Mother Theresa's questioning her faith, makes her more dear. We all have times of questioning.

No one can prove God to you. No one can disprove God to us. The bigger picture is when we can get along and treat each other with kindness and respect.

Answer 10

Sounds like Mother Teresa was a normal person with normal feelings like the rest of us. Good luck. 2D