What do you find to be the greatest challenge to your faith/beliefs?

Question

Is there something that you ever find lacking in your beliefs (yes, you atheists and agnostics too)? Do you ever study other beliefs in the hope of finding it? Or, does your challenge come from outside your system? How do you handle it/them? How have you resolved your challenges (if you have)?

Jonmcn49: Evidence of what, exactly?

Jonmcn49: You mean there is no EMPIRICAL evidence of a supernatural world--meaning you ascribe to the Cartesian model of reality. While i have respect for that position, I can't agree. Try this exercise: Think of a person you love--now PROVE IT. You can't. All you can do is point to behavior that COULD be interpreted as love, but could also be interpreted as a manipulation of that person to receive something in return (indeed, some theorize that this is exactly what "love" is). So, can we conclude that you don't love anyone because we can't prove it? Of course not. Some things cannot be proven (or disproven)--not because they aren't real, but because they are not in the realm of the physical where we might test them in some way.

Allure45: No, that would merely prove that SOMETHING is occurring in the brain that MIGHT be love. Again, it could just be the subject's desire to get something in return for the appearance of loving. That's my point. Of course there is no "proof" of anything supernatural--that's what supernatural MEANS. If we could measure it, it would be "natural." If you want to say that brain-wave activity is proof of love, ok. Now try to quantify it. Can you? No.

The point I'm making is not that the "supernatural" is real--but that there is no evidence one way or the other. You must beware of the "black swan" fallacy. Just because we've never been able to find it does NOT mean it doesn't exist, and I tire of the argument "there's no God because there's no evidence."

Answer 1

I am a spiritualist, have studied other religions, spirituality, raised catholic. My greatest challenge is realizing how many souls have lost their way, some claim they have all the answers, their way is the right and only way. They place limits on God's love and wisdom and judge people too harshly. Then there are the some atheists that truly believe this belief in God is all a fantasy, there is no rhyme or reason, we are just here. Instead of finding an answer to something they totally disagree with, they would rather say "it does not exist." It is not a challenge that I try to change people's belief because everyone has a right to believe what they want. The challenge is to realize there are so many souls that are lost. I have to add, I do not believe in a Hell.

Answer 2

I feel bad when I have to comfort someone dying ( or the family) with words that come from my Atheist belief .
I feel bad when I am ostracized from social situations because of my beliefs .I felt the same way during the Viet Nam War because of my Anti war stance .
I have studied enough of things outside of science to feel totally unchallenged and uninspired by those beliefs .

DanC , You CAN prove the existance of the EMOTION often descibed as love by examining brain waves and activity . You can NOT prove the existance of "god" in ANY scientific way ...EVEN if you were to say that god has no form , only activity .

Answer 3

+PAX

My challenge is my own internal fault. I made promises of Charity, Obedience, Humility and ongoing Conversion of Life.

Obedience... I'm a failure at obedience. I keep the Lord's precepts and commandments but I'm a failure in obedience to the Holy Rule of St. Benedict. It was written 1500 years ago, based upon Holy Scripture and is very appropriate for today's society.

I just can't seem to get it through my head...and when I do keep the Holy Rule, I still fail in being prideful. And yet, for the love of my Lord and Savior- and because I love Him so much, I continue on, trying to become as close as I can to perfection in this wounded human nature.

I fail the Holy Rule here at R/S simply because I hope the Lord might use me, a nobody, as a tool to reach someone's heart.... doesn't sound very humble to me. And yet, I keep coming back.

Obviously, I know Perfection will never be reached until that last day... and if I don't go to bed soon, I'll be late to chant Lauds! (Obedience)

Merry Christmas!
j

Answer 4

For quite some time, the greatest challenge to MY faith was my spiritual strength to witness at every opportunity. I was weak to the point that I wanted to witness...but didn't...and then I regreted my inaction. I suppose I fell prey to the thought that I would be viewed as something that I didn't want to be seen as. My pride got in the way of my faith. This was when I was very young in the spirit.

Now, the greatest challenge is to freely forgive. I believe that open forgiveness is the first true step to unconditional love. It is the ability to forgive when forgiveness is not warranted or sought. I still stuggle with being able to forgive. But, with God's support, I know that I will grow and manage that also.

Then, it will certainly be some other challenge to meet.

Answer 5

The greatest challenge to any faith is the overall lack of proof. Not saying that I dont believe in an overall spiritual existance in life, but nothing is ever certain or prooved. I guess that is why I retain my Agnostic Spiritualist Faith.

Answer 6

I was baptized as a Christian and believed that way until I got a little older and read the bible. After reading the whole thing and seeing how rediculous some of that stuff is, I dont really believe in all that stuff anymore, doesnt mean Im an atheist, just dont believe in satan, and heaven because a book says so.

Answer 7

the only challenging thing is getting closer to good and keeping my faith strong

i also hate being sterotyped/labled by my relgion

to some ppl religion is acting a certain way..or doing certain thing sand believing certain things

if so, i am not a religious person

i HATe the bs that other ppl say too

they should just mind theyre own and if they have something to say then they should do it politely and in a classy manner
--they dont have to be @sses about it you know?

^^ im only 13 too lol

Answer 8

That is the problem, belief. Evidence is the cure. When are you faith heads going to get it?

Evidence of the natural world, of course. There is not one scintilla of evidence for the supernatural world, just belief. I do not think you are capable of getting it by your additional details. Ideology does that to a persons brain.

Answer 9

I tend to shift around aimlessly with my beliefs. Here today gone tomorrow. Having evidence is a different story.

Answer 10

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