Week Two - Day One: Doubting Doubt

Last week we talked about facing our doubts. That starts with admitting that we have them. But it does not mean that we surrender to them easily. In other words, facing our doubts may mean owning that we really do not believe a certain concept or it may mean we will dismiss our doubts, own our belief and allow that belief to fully inform our everyday lives.

This discussion involved looking at a couple of misconceptions of doubt. If doubt really is an (almost) inevitable part of the spiritual process, then we should know what it is and what it isn’t. First of all, we said that doubt itself is not the opposite of faith. Unbelief is the opposite of faith. Doubt is the condition of existing with a split mind – one part faith, one part unbelief. This means that the doubter actually is a believer to a degree. Secondly, we said that doubt creates the impression that knowledge is stronger and more certain than faith. But we questioned what this “knowledge” is and we admitted that everything we know along with everything we believe is based on certain assumptions.

We ended last week saying that we do not need to give doubt a free pass. We concede ground to doubt simply by allowing ourselves to believe that faith should be put to the test, while doubts do not merit the same attention. But why? Certainly we should ask whether or not there is a God, but honest inquiry should flow both directions. We should also ask ourselves on what basis we could believe that there isn’t a God. (And the same for every other doctrine of faith) This is what we mean by doubting our doubts.

How can Christianity claim to be the only true truth?

So let’s chew on a specific example this morning.

Perhaps the primary objection to Christian faith today is its exclusivity. “How can there be only one way to find God? You’re telling me that all those other people – genuine, moral, wonderful people – are completely wrong in their concept of God?! That is completely arrogant and intolerant!” And in many discussions, the word “intolerant” is tossed out like the Ace of Spades. In our current cultural debate, that is the worst sin imaginable.

But should this objection go unchecked? I really like Tim Keller’s response to this line of thinking.

“You cannot doubt Belief A except from a position of faith in Belief B. For example, if you doubt Christianity because ‘There can’t be just one true religion,’ you must recognize that this statement is itself an act of faith. No one can prove it empirically, and it is not a universal truth that everyone accepts … The reason you doubt Christianity’s Belief A is because you hold unprovable Belief B. Every doubt, therefore, is based on a leap of faith.”

I am reminded of the old parable about observing an elephant. Have you heard this one? According to the parable, every religion’s approach to God is like a blind person trying to figure out the anatomy of an elephant. One person grabs the trunk, examines it and proclaims, “This thing is a giant hose.” Another grabs the leg, examines it and declares, “No, this is a bendable tree covered by flexible bark.” A third feels the bottom of the stomach and a fourth grabs the tail – each making partial and, therefore, inaccurate assessments. The moral of the parable is that none of us has an exclusive claim on truth. We need one another to recognize that this really is an elephant.

Sounds pretty compelling. The parable forces us to recognize that no one has an exclusive claim on truth … uh … no one except the all-knowing distant observer who recognizes that this really is an elephant. The all-knowing observer sees the error of everyone else’s ways. The all-knowing observer sees that all of the other perspectives are limited. But who is this all-knowing observer? Isn’t the all-knowing observer doing just what she has told the rest of us we cannot do? Doesn’t she have an ultimate, therefore absolute, perspective?

What about absolute truth claims in general?

We have to realize that whenever someone claims there is no absolute truth, they have just made an absolute truth statement. They have rejected Belief A (there is only one right concept of God), believing instead an equally unprovable, absolute Belief B (there are no absolute truths).

Now, someone may say, “I’m not basing my doubts on any belief. I have no belief about God. I’m not saying you’re right and I’m not saying you’re wrong. It seems to me that we just can’t know.” Doesn’t this avoid the whole faith debate? Aren’t we making no assumptions here?

Again, I like Keller’s response.

“But hidden beneath this feeling is the very modern American belief that the existence of God is a matter of indifference unless it intersects with my emotional needs. The speaker is betting his or her life that no God exists who would hold you accountable for your beliefs and behavior if you didn’t feel the need for him. That may be true or it may not be true, but, again, it is quite a leap of faith.”

There is simply no intellectual high ground where you are immune from assumptions and leaps of faith. And because of that, all of our doubts must be doubted. I believe doubting our doubts is a necessary and important part of our spiritual diet.

Before You Start Your Day

1. What are you thinking? Do some spiritual chewing right now! Have you surrendered ground to doubt unnecessarily?
2. Let’s look at an early Christian statement of faith. It states plainly some of orthodox Christianity’s chief doctrines. Look at Colossians 1:15-20.

   (15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (16) For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. (17) He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (19) For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, (20) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

3. This statement was written by an early Christian minister named Paul. What part of Paul’s statement can you readily affirm? What part causes you heartburn?
4. Pray.
   1. Tell God what you believe about Him.
   2. Ask Him to help you doubt your doubt.
   3. (Watch for the answer.)
5. Try raising your religion freak flag today. Show this faith statement to someone, tell them about our exercises and ask them what they think.

Comments (1)

Freak Flag

1Monday, 04 October 2010 17:37

Jenny Foose

I had the chance to share this idea with someone from work today and it sparked up a really great conversation. She unfortunately had a bad experience with Catholic school growing up and it basically turned her away from the idea of religion period. I told her who Jesus was and why it was necessary for him to die on the cross for our sins. She was very interested in this concept and was eager to get her and her boyfriend involved in some sort of religious establishment! How cool is that? Our discussions will continue :)

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