Faith and Doubt

Have you every thought about Faith? Here’s an interesting thought I realized: Faith includes doubt.

Faith is an imperfect knowledge. It is believing something is true enough to act on it. But you don’t know for sure. For example, I have faith in Jesus Christ. I believe He is a real person. But I’ve never seen Him. I probably won’t until after I die.

So because you don’t know something you have faith in, there is also doubt there. I mean doubt as “a feeling of uncertainty about the truth, reality, or nature of something.” Our lives are intended to be a test, to see what we really believe in. We demonstrate how deeply we believe something by our actions.

Children have simple yet beautiful faith.

In religion, there are always questions about how we believe in things we don’t know for sure. I think part of the answer lies in the different nature of testing spiritual evidence.

Secular doctrines have the advantage of convincing, tangible evidence. We seem to do better in gathering data on things that can be counted and measured. Doctrines which originate in the light, on the other hand, are more often supported by intangible impressions upon the spirit. We are left for the most part to rely on faith. But, in time, the consequences of following either will become visible enough.

-Boyd K Packer, The Shield of Faith

Our experiment in faith won’t end until after our mortal lives are over.

Until then, faith and doubt will exist in each of us in varying proportions. Acknowledge what you doubt–you can’t work on improving until you’ve identified a weakness. But don’t let doubt discredit the reality of faith.

Sculpture by Jerry Anderson

Here are some thoughts on the subject by Elder Holland:

“Belief is always the first step toward conviction.”

from http://simplybeffie.blogspot.com/

“Hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.”

“The issue…is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know.”

“In this world, everyone is to walk by faith.”

“Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that believe.”

So, in the question of faith versus doubt, choose to believe.

 This post in response to a post I read over at Normons.