Do you think faith without doubt is meaningful?

1. 73

   Dan Barfieldposted 11 years ago

   Do you think faith without doubt is meaningful?
   
   That is to say - in the same way you need 'left' in order to understand the concept of 'right' - how can blind faith have value if it has never withstood the rigours of self analysis and doubt?

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2. 70

   dahoglundposted 11 years ago

   I think faith should be questioned or examined in order to truly understand it. By questioning it one has to take a deeper look and maybe some additional learning.

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      lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Questioning and understanding are good, certainly. But there is something beyond reason and understanding.
      
      True faith (perfect confidence) is creation (at cause); mortal confidence and doubt are perception (at effect)

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3. 77

   calynbanaposted 11 years ago

   I think doubt is a very important part of faith. If you just have blind faith and never question it, or yourself then you are not growing as a person spiritually. Scriptures talk about people who are being stretched, and suffering. They are learning and doubting. They are growing closer to God through their doubts. Doubt builds faith when carefully addressed. Ignored doubt, and blind faith I honestly believe will destroy one's faith. Often leading to very anti-religious beliefs in ones future.
   
   That is why indoctrination is such a frustrating thing. Kids that are indoctrinated don't know that there are alternate ways of thinking, or that doubt is okay. The concept of doubt where there was no questioning of their faith previously can kill their faith. 
   
   A healthy spiritual life needs doubt. That doubt needs to be understood and looked at very carefully. At least that is what I believe. It was through phases of doubt that I grew the most because the doubt drove me into a crazed research rampage :p

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      lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Could "faith" as you describe it be "imperfect belief?"
      
      And what about the confidence that Peter had to step out of his storm-tossed boat onto the unsettled Sea of Galilee?

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   2. 77

      calynbanaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Peter had faith but he also had periods of doubt. Listen to the rooster crow. His period of doubt was overcome, and his faith became stronger. That time of doubt built him up.

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4. 52

   whonunuwhoposted 11 years ago

   True faith overcomes all doubts. You cannot have a faith by having doubts of anything, especially religious in nature. Human kind seems to always have to be in their thinking, that in order to believe, they have to be shown proof of a thing in which to believe. Religious beliefs go beyond this and are finalized in each by a strong faith in what is not completely understood by men.This encompasses a lot that we do not fully understand, yet in our faiths we accept and are rewarded in a wonderful gifting by our Creator, for our strength and unswerving devotion. Often faith is tested and a learning process by most, who in time see that it is righteous and good in its meaning. Like a testing of steel by the fires of life, we learn by our mistakes and are made stronger in our faith in God.

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      unitifyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Very well put. God Bless

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      lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Amen! Well said. But always be open to receiving God's truth. There are so many interpretations and only one truth.

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5. 38

   edhanposted 11 years ago

   Faith comes without doubt.
   
   When you have doubt, then you will definitely do not have faith. My faith is my belief of what I know and trust. So, it will never be doubtful. It is through 100% clear understanding of what it is before I have the faith. Once having the faith, it never be doubtful. Just like I believe in the existence of God & Buddha.

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      lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Beautiful! And just as Buddha described the paramitas, "faith" is the one-sided coin that does not contain a spot of doubt -- for confidence (which is faith) has no opposite

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6. 69

   onegoodwomanposted 11 years ago

   Let me address it in this term:
   
   
   I have faith that my husband is true and dear.........as long as I know his every thought and move.
   
   but, I doubt, that when he goes out without me, that he is true to me.
   
   
   
   Do I really have FAITH in my husband?
   
   
   
   Faith IS without doubt.

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   1. 72

      lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Amen!

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7. 0

   jlcustompcposted 11 years ago

   Faith is not real, why would you believe something without proof?
   
   Faith by definition is trust or belief without proof.....I need proof!
   
   If you tell me you have faith that unicorns exist that's fine, but when you tell me I have to believe in unicorns or I will be tortured forever...well at that point you and I cannot have a conversation.
   
   Faith is pointless only what can be demonstrated can be believed with reasonable certainty.

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      lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      And yet, beyond reason is creation. Beyond the continuity of physical commensurability is the discontinuity of spirit.

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   dghbrhposted 11 years ago

   Faith without doubt is what goes for me.
   I prefer to have faith in what i think is right and then I prefer not to doubt it anyhow. Analysis and doubt in faith for me is not necessary. An unconditional faith in life, death and many things will sure make world simpler to move on.
   Thanks for the question.

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      lone77starposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Unquestioning faith is good, but arrogance in thinking that one knows it all is bad. What's the difference? Humility to hold yourself as an empty cup, thirsty for the water of truth. But humility is entirely different than ego.

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9. 72

   lone77starposted 11 years ago

   Yes! Faith in the purest sense can only be meaningful when it is completely devoid of doubt.
   
   The idea of "blind faith," in this sense is an oxymoron. "Faith" that is pure is never blind. What is typically meant by this is more accurately "blind belief."
   
   Try walking on water. Any doubt will merely get in the way. That is the mountain we need to climb. Once climbed, creation is effortless. Walking on water is too. So is true forgiveness.
   
   Self-analysis and doubt sounds a lot like humility. Humility is definitely a good thing, but doubt is somewhat different. Humility allows for ego to be subdued. Doubt does not. Doubt is failure. Humility is winning. This is what Christ tried to teach us when he said that those who try to save themselves will surely die, and those who die for righteousness sake will gain everlasting life.
   
   For anyone who thinks that they are Homo sapiens, this will never make any sense. This only works for a child of God -- the sleeping true self (soul, Holy Ghost) within.

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   1. 73

      Dan Barfieldposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes - faith in its purist definition requires there to be no doubt - otherwise it is not true faith. However, without doubt is faith not less meaningful? If there's nothing to contrast with faith then how can its value be understood?

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