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Here’s another great read from Jon Ogden about how doubt is a necessary component to find truth. https://medium.com/@jonogden/doubt-leads-to-truth-1e08e8b56ac1#.tzew7mki0 Quote:Visualized this way, working toward confidence is upward movement the same way moving toward doubt is upward movement. Confidence and doubt put us in opposite directions, but they both move us upwards.
If this is the case, a faith crisis isn’t something to avoid. It is an opportunity for growth and development. It is something we should lean into—even if it means that we risk not coming back to religious orthodoxy.
[img]https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1600/1*dQha-HH7soqhv2AdYIAqWg.png [/img] What do you think about this? Is doubt a necessary component to find truth for you? On the trail of doubt, how do you not get lost and find the switchback that takes you back up toward the top of the mountain?
I think there is truth in it. I do think there is a difference between doubt and questions, but we use the two words interchangeably. When Is see this diagram, I see an upward spiral of learning. Doubt often leads to investigation, which then leads to learning, and then the perspective of the new learning leads to more gaps in our knowledge, which we address, and so on. however, the diagram doesn’t show how sometimes doubt leads to discouragement and dissaffection.
It might seem like semantics, but it is important to me to make a distinction between how I see doubt and uncertainty-based questioning. I see doubt, as mentioned in scriptures and as I think our leaders generally speak of it, as a negative perceptual orientation – meaning a critical viewpoint that is the opposite of faith. Doubt is closed to exploration; faith is open to the unknown. In that sense, doubt leads to stagnation, while faith leads toward truth.
The key is realizing that faith and certainty are opposites, and certainty simply is the opposite side of the doubt coin. Doubt and certainty both are close-minded and focused on knowing. The only difference is that one won’t believe, while the other won’t disbelieve. Both are destructive, and I have seen both keep people from growth and peace and joy – at church, at work, in personal relationships, and even here in this forum.
Uncertainty-based questioning leads toward truth, and I use “toward” instead of “to” because I only can say I have faith in the ultimate destination. My experience tells me “toward” is accurate, but I have not reached “to” yet.
Ray — another negative connotation with doubt is “lack of action”. People who doubt won’t act, while people have faith are doers. Therefore, I like uncertainty as a better phenomenon for the diagram. It describes the open space in your knowledge that may be receptive to resolution. Doubt seems final and limiting.
President Uchtdorf said: Quote:Our motives and thoughts ultimately influence our actions. The testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is the most powerful motivating force in our lives. Jesus repeatedly emphasized the power of good thoughts and proper motives: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:36).
Jesus also said “Seek, and ye shall find”.
The diagram seems to be presenting doubt as the opposite of confidence in the tone of seeking.
That is not the same doubt as the cynic with negative thoughts and motives.
I think we stay positive. But yes…to question and seek answers will help us gain greater confidence, and confidence comes and goes, as does that seeking.
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