Knowing all the answers to the swath of questions we have each day is impossible, and asking questions can be embarrassing. Many people believe that being ignorant of something is condemnable and that they should stay silent about their confusion. This is a problem. When people are unwilling to search for answers and discover new things, ignorance grows. Learning must be celebrated, and people need to feel comfortable to reach out for answers, for any to be found. This is important in religion because there is debate as to whether doubt itself is at combat with faith. I believe that faith must begin as doubt. I also believe that no one should be shamed into staying ignorant, for fear of embarrassment. Allowing others and yourself to not have it all together and to not know all the answers is essential to being strong in your faith, and integral to sharing your beliefs with those around you.
Lesley Hazleton is an intriguing British-American author who has written books on the intermingling of religion and politics, as well as a biography on the Prophet Muhammad. She is an outspoken agnostic who shares her thoughts on faith and doubt in her TED talk in June of 2013. She argues that in many religions that the very act of “exploration is an act of transgression”. Hazleton further discusses doubt in relation to religion by arguing that strict fundamentalism itself can kill true faith. While I do not agree with all her points, I believe that this can be true in some fundamentalist cases when arrogance, rather than understanding and learning, is rampant.
In many Christian circles, it is believed that faith mixed with doubt is a slight to the Lord and should not be entertained. Verses from the book of James are often referenced in support of this view. James 1:6-7 (NASB) reads “but he must ask [for wisdom] in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord.” While it makes sense that someone should not ask God for anything while under the impression that the Lord would not or could not do so, relying only on this verse to explore what Christianity says about faith would be a mistake. Throughout the Gospels, the life of Jesus Christ and his ministry to his disciples is laid out. One disciple in the Gospels is Thomas, who is often known for his displays of doubt and unease towards what is promised to him and other followers of Jesus. But the important part here is that he was not turned away because of these hesitations. An instance of this is contained within John 20:25-29 (NASB). These verses take place after Jesus Christ was crucified and the other disciples were informing Thomas that the Lord had been resurrected.
“So the other disciples were saying to him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see inHis hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having beenshut, and stood in their midst and said,‘Peacebewith you.’ Then He said to Thomas,“Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him,‘Because you have seen Me, have you believed?Blessedarethey who did not see, andyetbelieved.’”
Here it is clear that the God of Christianity does not show disdain to those who ask questions or who are hesitant towards his promises. He rather shows them, teaches them, and at the same time blesses those who had faith without sight. At the end of the same chapter in John it is stated that “these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”
The information in the gospels themselves were written down so you and I could read about the miracles that Jesus performed, and because of that, have faith. At no point, does God expect you to be unwise, flippant, or casual about your decision to trust in him. Faith is defined as “complete trust or confidence in someone or something”. To have faith you must have confidence, but ignorance is not a part of the equation. Doubt itself is merely defined as the lack of conviction. Therefore, those who wish to know the truth, in religion and otherwise, should be people of questions, curiosity, and maybe even some healthy doubt.
Another important is the need to remain humble, rather than ignorant, in one’s beliefs. No person will be attracted to somebody who ignores them when they are wrong, repeats things they know to be proven false, or shoves their own beliefs down someone else’s throat. It is a beautiful thing to find someone who is confident in what they know, but even more precious to discover that this person is willing to learn that he is mistaken and not resent the person who was gracious enough to point out their error. Even within the church, growth is always needed. Proverbs 27:17 states “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Faith was not meant to be arrogant. My God is a God of reason and evidence. Jesus performed miracles for a reason. Jesus accepted Thomas, doubt and all, because he understood the doubt that Thomas had. The Lord understands your fears and your troubles, and can be there to comfort. I have belief, but I am in constant growth and often think of the man in the scriptures who called out to Jesus “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24, NASB). I will never know all the answers. But I will continually seek them out. Before I can be confident, I must have doubt. I cannot be convinced of something before I understand it. Before I understand, I must ask questions. It is okay to not know everything, and it is also okay to ask a few questions.
