“Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith.” (Paul Tillich) Tillich was one of the foremost theologians and existential philosophers of the 20th Century. He wanted to demonstrate to skeptics how faith could be reasonable. A nuclear physicist used to drop his kids off for Sunday School. One Sunday the pastor invited him into the church, saying, “You don’t have to park your brain out here with your car, either.” That scientist eventually became a pastor and a Lutheran bishop. ;-) Jack
FROM PR J.S. IN MI: And then there is Tertullian....."I believe because it is absurd" MORE: I think the essence of what Tertullian was saying is that Jesus may be the cause of the aburdity....Who can believe that God would break into our world and die for us? REPLY FROM JACK: Absurd is an interesting word. You don't hear it used much anymore. Isn't that absurd?
FROM M.T. IN PA: That's a thought-provoking message today.
FROM MOLINER C.F.: Have faith in doubt. Doubt always leads the way to truth. FROM JACK: C.F. sent a picture of Doubting Thomas to hang by my computer.
FROM MOLINER LIZ: I'm sure I've said this before, but why is there this God vs. science mentality still out there? God is the ultimate scientist.
FROM PR P.H. IN MN: I offer the idea that the opposite of faith is certainty. But its a "bad" kind of certainty. The kind the Christian Right displays. As if they know the mind of God fully. This kind of certainty (and lack of faith and trust) has done tons of damage to so many over the centuries.
FROM L.K. IN OH: I believe, help my disbelief.
FROM G.C. IN SAN DIEGO: A good winning word today
FROM CJL IN OH: Excellent thought. Would that more people would use it!
FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: Our God is wonderful because of loving us even when we doubt. Maybe more because of it....that's how we do grow in faith. We all have our doubting Thomas moments. Growing in faith is learning and studying in faith.
FROM M.L. IN IL: doubt is the part of faith that makes us think the most. questions lead to answers. MORE: and questions...which came first...the answers or the questions...think i'll have an egg sandwich and ponder...
FROM PR F.M. VACATIONING IN THE SOUTH: nice story along with your WW's. We have traveled down to the Gulf Coast, left the cold and snow and winter to you who do some thinking and selecting every week day. We are resting, trying to get my computer on line and enjoying the weather, yesterday it was 63, today 57. You must be doing some blowing of the weather as they say it will get down to 35 tonight right on the shore of the gulf. Hope things are well with you in the new year. We will be down here until the first day of spring!
1 comment:
If we've experienced doubt and dealt with it, we can walk humbly with another who is experiencing doubt and trying to deal with it and not contribute more to that person's doubt or feeling badly. In my opinion, doubt comes and goes but, over time, one gets more experienced in the faith that it will always go. One gets more practiced in hoping always.
S.H. in MI
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