Grant Welge
Theology III
11/26/08
Challenges to Faith

A History of Doubt
In Speaking of Faith, A History of Doubt, historians Krista Tippett and Jennifer Michael Hecht discuss the topic of modern doubters versus doubters of the past. Doubt is the human impulse to question what is given in order to find its meaning. Doubt is not a modern phenomenon. Today, doubt is most often interpreted as a rejection of faith, but doubt can also be a sign of people grappling with religion in order to find the possibility of other answers. Now there is not much pride in doubt. Mystery does not mean that we have to fill in the blanks. There are some things in the world we may never be meant to know, and we have to accept that. Hecht says that we experience a "newborn freedom" if we doubt rather than follow others' convictions.

In ancient Greece, many people had doubts about their beliefs and beliefs about their doubts. Cynics attempted to live like dogs and did not worry about dignity. They just went with the flow and did not try to accomplish anything. The most famous Cynic from that time is Diogenes. Modern cynics still reject parts of the human world. These cynics try to conquer their ambition by using techniques such as meditation in the desert. Skeptics say that they don't know anything. To demonstrate this they question what we cannot know. Skepticism is a denial of any ability to know anything and a study of probabilities. Socrates is one of the most famous skeptics because he knew and admitted that he did not know anything. St. Augustine said "If he doubts, he knows that he does not know." In Christianity, even Jesus Christ shows signs of doubt. While he is hanging on the cross he says "My God, my God why have you abandoned me?" Epicureans refine their hungers and are committed to figuring out how we should live in a real world without religion. They believe that fear is what ruins our lives. For Epicureans the three worst types of fear are fear of pain, fear of gods, and fear of death. Epicureans also believe that both the old and the young should seek wisdom.

Doubt is often thought of as the outright rejection of beliefs and theologies. Hecht believes that doubt can lead to positive philosophies, what she calls "graceful life philosophies." Most doubters don't hate religion. They are actually more like religious thinkers than average people who don't ask questions and just go through the motions. One of the main characteristics of faith is that there will be times of doubt. If we do not experience times of doubt then we do not have true faith.

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