Aug
Faith and Doubt
Faith is a concept that ranks high in monotheistic religions. People are told to have faith, even when there is no evidence to support it. “Take it on faith” and “blind faith” mean to believe without proof.
Faith also looms large in some New Age and metaphysical systems. These groups promote faith as the prerequisite for miracles. Their teaching stresses faith as the key ingredient in any successful. metaphysical working Failure is blamed on a lack of faith.
One thing the monotheists, the metaphysicians and New Agers have in common is condemnation of doubt. They say that doubt is a lack of faith. One would get the impression from them that doubt is a moral wrong.
Perhaps doubt is a perfect excuse. If their teachings do not work, they blame the student rather than flaws in their methods.
Does doubt inhibit spiritual work?
No.
Doubt is what keeps things honest. In spiritual matters, there are always areas of uncertainty. We do not know everything. Those obscure things can be handled in one of two ways. We can “take it on faith” and chalk it up to spiritual mystery, or we can keep our doubts and leave room for further investigation. Doubt is our way of acknowledging that we do not know everything, and that there is room for further exploration.
When a spell fails or a working fizzles, the problem is not doubt. The problem might be lack of training, a mistake in technique, an act of Wyrd or other such thing. It certainly is not caused by a lack of faith.
Blind faith is weak. It is not faith, but more like wishing on a star. Genuine faith knows what it believes because it has proof. For that reason, genuine faith is unaffected by doubt. Faith rests on what we know, while doubt focuses on what we do not know.
Belief requires proof. Doubt is what makes us demand that proof.
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I have been asked many times about my faith. People assume that because of my experience and knowledge, that I am free of doubt. Nothing could be further from the truth! There are many things about which I have doubt. As I get older, I am more honest with myself about my doubts. I also am relieved that I have them, since they keep me open to discover more.
