Doubt.

I parse words carefully, and I think there is a big difference between “doubt” as used in the scriptures and “uncertainty”. In the scriptural sense (which also is how the GA’s tend to use it), “doubt” is a bad thing, while “uncertainty” is an integral part of faith.

Rather than quote the whole thing, I wrote the following about faith, uncertainty and doubt:

“Faith, Doubt and Enduring Uncertainty” (http://thingsofmysoul.blogspot.com/2009/04/faith-doubt-and-enduring-uncertainty.html)

Thanks!

Looks like I have faith in certain principles, doubt in certain principles and uncertainty in many principles within the Church. I kind of believe everything can co-exist within me .. Because I’m stepping away from everything being connected (one true Church) and moving towards dealing with 100 principles seperately ( and then breaking down those principles down also ). It is the only way I can continue to stay active in the Church. All or Nothing/Black and White are out the window.

Just me, please read the link I provided in my last comment.

Summary:

I see uncertainty as what you are calling questioning – not being sure and trying to figure out whatever you can. Doubt, otoh, is the type of disbelief that Thomas had about the resurrection – not, “I’m not certain,” but rather, “I won’t believe unless I see.” Thus, he became known as “Doubting (not believing until he could know) Thomas”. That’s “doubt” – a negative, unbelieving orientation. “Uncertainty” carries no such negative connotations; it simply is a lack of knowledge, which is a critical aspect of faith.

Frankly, I think we tend to overvalue “knowledge” (certainty) and undervalue “faith” (uncertainty) right now in the Church.

So this is one issue I have within the LDS community. It may (probably does) exist in other communities but since I’m LDS I’m focused on it. That is, the meaning of words. Each person has an idea of what a word means, largely shaped by environment. The nuances those words carry with them are important and I respect Ray greatly for his ability to parse those nuances. However, I believe part of the problem in the church is a severe lack of definition of terms in describing what we mean. Let me illustrate.

People stand up and say they “know” the church is true. Well, what does “know” mean? To me, “know” in the church means something different than outside the church. Prophets tell us faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time. To me, doubt does not quite equal what Ray says, disbelief. I admit that it maybe should, and probably does mean that in the Gospel and biblical sense, but in a modern day usage it has close ties with the word “uncertainty,” especially when contrasted with faith. Whether this is an accurate definition according to Webster is irrelevant. That many people use it, or think about it in these terms is evidence that it carries another nuanced meaning. This is where many of us in this forum and elsewhere get off the same page with the rest of the church. We battle over the nuance of the words when the prophets say things like “faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time.”

It is in this vein, that I think that we have an obligation to define the terms we are using. When a prophet uses a word, that word will take on new meaning within the LDS community. That word (like “doubt”) may become a form of profanity almost.

My opinion on doubt? When doubt is used as synonymous with uncertainty then yes, I believe it is very healthy. We have certainly all met people who won’t acknowledge any uncertainty with regard to anything in their life. These people (like I was/am) are almost impossible to deal with. I personally believe that most of us could use a course in skepticism. In my mind this doesn’t refute the need for belief, or faith, but it will help us make good rational decisions in areas where that is necessary.

But even if doubt is used as a synonym for disbelief is it really bad? I think it’s only bad if one believes in the reality of the object. For instance, I highly doubt the reality of alien abductions. In this instance, I am not professing uncertainty, but rather disbelief. For one who has claimed to have been abducted my thoughts will be heretical. But for me, a high level of skeptical thinking is required when analyzing these claims. Why do we not apply the same levels of skepticism to what we currently believe in? In this light, if skepticism is taken too far, it too can become almost religious and destructive. A balance is needed, as in virtually all things in life.

So what does everyone think of doubt?

I believe doubt to be healthy, human and very much needed in life. Where ever my doubt will take me I believe it to be a blessing is disguise …It is a start of growth and change.

It is a blessing that unfortunately so many people might not experience.

Anyone know of scripture/quotes promoting and supporting doubt?

Edit to add :

Is there some type of time limit for doubt/questioning/uncertainty?

Can it ever be resolved?

I have so many questions about it but .. I can’t think of any more right now!

One thing I have been learning recently, is that questioning can be a healthy thing to do…and in the long run may be the best thing to do. Some people are afraid of questioning, but this is because they feel the answer may not be what they want or may be negative. This is not the case. In the religious sense of the term, I also feel that people who are afraid of questioning are those with weaker testimonies and are afraid that they may lose their faith…which brings you to the term of ignorance is bliss.

When I was first baptised into the Church…I didnt really question anything, research anything…then when I heard something which I didnt agree with or didnt understand at first, I panicked and through pressure from my atheist family..left the Church….This year I have started to question all of my uncertainties, issues etc, research them, pray about them and have found I am now looking at things with a completely new understanding and because of this my testimony is now stronger than it has ever been. OK, I still have a long road to go down…but it is possible..

Put simply, questioning can lead to a stronger faith..it may take time but as someone told me on here just the other day (sorry cant remember who it was off the top of my head), faith takes time.

Of course you can (as I also know) over analyse things and over question things and in the end make things more complicated than they need to be. However everyone is different, so the limit would depend on yourself.

Does that make any sense?

I also think Doubt shows humility that we don’t know all things and are therefore benefitted from searching out others opinions.

We don’t have to agree with others, but searching it out can help clarify what we do believe, and that can increase confidence that we are moving forward and learning as we go.

The uplifting truth:

“Living with ambiguity is a form of intellectual honesty, of

humility. It is only when we admit that we don’t know that we

are receptive to what lessons may be taught. In some strange

way, it also brings an inner peace since we are no longer

fighting reality to maintain our inner fantasies on how things

should be. While I am characterizing it as an intellectual

process, it also has spiritual implications, since only an open

mind is capable of hearing God.”

— Andy Piereder (on Eyring-L)

Absolutely brilliant. This represents my thoughts exactly.

Influences That Erode Faith

“First is doubt. . . . It comes from a lack of confidence in one’s self or abilities. It is inconsistent with our divine identity as children of God. “Doubt leads to discouragement. Discouragement comes from missed expectations. . . . Discouragement leads to distraction, a lack of focus. . . . Distraction leads to a lack of diligence, a reduced commitment to remain true and faithful and to carry on through despite hardship and disappointment. . . . This path ultimately leads to disobedience, which undermines the very basis of faith. So often the result is disbelief, the conscious or unconscious refusal to believe.”

Kevin W. Pearson, “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May 2009

This was today’s Daily Gem.

Usually, even though I find myself becoming more Agnostic these days I still enjoy receiving these Daily Gems. Today’s makes me reconsider. I completely disagree that Doubt erodes faith; in fact Doubt has helped me ferment my faith. My doubts have lead me to question which in turn lead to research and study, which lead to prayer.

Quotes like this reinforce the idea that doubt leads to sin and furthers the idea that doubters must be going contrary to the commandments and using their doubt to justify their behavior.