Today I heard the phrase "doubt your doubts" one too many times. It was when a concerned Christian was attempting to desuade their fellow believer from asking serious questions about the validity of their faith.
If I may, I must go on a short rant.
What does "doubt your doubts" even mean?? It seems so witty and savy, turning the doubting tables on the doubts themselves, but there is no actual substance to the statement.
For example, "doubt your doubts" could be countered by "doubt your doubting of doubts." This could in turn be countered by "doubt your doubting of your doubting of doubts." And so on and so forth.
I don't understand why someone would find security in a belief system based off of this phrase. "Doubt your doubts" means nothing.
Consider the following story: A person happens to believe that the world is flat. They are presented with some arguments in favor of the sphericallness of the earth. A fellow flat-earthest consoles them by saying "doubt your doubts!" The person goes on believing that the world is flat because they doubted their doubts about the flattness of the earth.
It is much better to dwell in a realm with substance. If you have a doubt, ask yourself why you have it. Perhaps you want an honest answer to a question. Perhaps you are curious. Perhaps you have personal experience or wisdom relating to the validity of certain kinds of claims. Simply doubting doubts does nothing. Addressing the doubts by examining evidence allows you to make progress.
So please, if you have ever heard the phrase "doubt your doubts," I would encourage you to at least doubt your doubting of doubts. Even better than that would be to start looking around for valid types of evidence and coherent streams of logic that pertain to your doubts so that you can draw some legit conclusions.
Rant: completed.
If I may, I must go on a short rant.
What does "doubt your doubts" even mean?? It seems so witty and savy, turning the doubting tables on the doubts themselves, but there is no actual substance to the statement.
For example, "doubt your doubts" could be countered by "doubt your doubting of doubts." This could in turn be countered by "doubt your doubting of your doubting of doubts." And so on and so forth.
I don't understand why someone would find security in a belief system based off of this phrase. "Doubt your doubts" means nothing.
Consider the following story: A person happens to believe that the world is flat. They are presented with some arguments in favor of the sphericallness of the earth. A fellow flat-earthest consoles them by saying "doubt your doubts!" The person goes on believing that the world is flat because they doubted their doubts about the flattness of the earth.
It is much better to dwell in a realm with substance. If you have a doubt, ask yourself why you have it. Perhaps you want an honest answer to a question. Perhaps you are curious. Perhaps you have personal experience or wisdom relating to the validity of certain kinds of claims. Simply doubting doubts does nothing. Addressing the doubts by examining evidence allows you to make progress.
So please, if you have ever heard the phrase "doubt your doubts," I would encourage you to at least doubt your doubting of doubts. Even better than that would be to start looking around for valid types of evidence and coherent streams of logic that pertain to your doubts so that you can draw some legit conclusions.
Rant: completed.
Hmmm...this sounds like the rough equivalent of saying "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush?!!! That's bad economics!" It's just a proverb.
ReplyDeleteTo me, I've always heard the phrase "Doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs" and taken it to mean: "When you commit to something, commit to it, don't commit to it halfheartedly."
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI've never actually heard it phrased that way. If someone were to interpret the statement in that sense, I would not be nearly so averse.
Every time it has been used in conversations where I have been involved it has been a "stop asking questions--just doubt your doubts." In addition, several of my friends have chosen not to search for truth because of the unfortunate meaning that can be drawn.
I don't have a problem with the way you took "doubt your doubts." On the other hand, I think we would both agree that in the sense I have predominantly encountered, the phrase has been abused and actually prevents personal growth.
Interesting that I stumbled across your blog. I doubted to write to you and then I "Doubted my Doubt" and decided to anyway. I have many answers to your rant and if you are interested, please check-out my blog, butterflymaiden7.blogspot.com/ It could open you to a whole new world! From my heart to yours, Kathleen Chelquist
ReplyDeleteDoubting your doubts works perfectly well with any belief that is false, or highly likely to be false. It also works well with something that requires some self-motivation on your part. For example, if you want to train yourself for a marathon you'd never do it if you continually tell yourself that you can't do it and believe what you tell yourself. Those doubts can be doubted and you can benefit from the doubt.
ReplyDeleteDoubting the truth will never affect the truth, so I don't quite understand why Christians get upset about people doubting it - unless of course that on some level they understand that what they believe isn't actually true ...
I entertain doubts about string theory but physicists never tell me to doubt those doubts :)
Good to hear from you again!
ReplyDeleteI cannot express how much I enjoyed your statement: "Doubting the truth will never affect the truth, so I don't quite understand why Christians get upset about people doubting it."
The truth shouldn't have anything to be afraid of. In addition, the truth doesn't need to hide behind meaningless slogans that encourage inaction.
I also entertain doubts about string theory. Its nice that the scientific method is so good about addressing doubts and building testable models based off of observations.
Because the default position should be the agnostics creed --''I don't know''
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous!
DeleteThanks for your comment. I agree that the default position should be "I don't know," until there is sufficient evidence to point one in a certain direction.
Might I ask which question you were answering with your statement?
Thanks!
-JTS
Doubt your doubts and feed your faith! I've read all those stories about Mother Teresa having doubts near the end of her life. They tend to cause other believers to doubt their faith. It all comes from the Evil One, remember him in Genesis 3:1 “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
ReplyDeleteHe's still using what works, by casting doubt. Knowing this, it always reminds me where it's coming from when a believer has doubts. The solution is to feed your faith by knowing and remembering God's truth in His Word.
Hi Mr. Farrow!
DeleteThank you so much for your comment. I appreciate you taking the time to read and respond.
Assuming God exists, your statements are completely true. However, if God does not exist, your statements are not true. The important question then becomes 'does God exist?'
This is the answer I am trying to answer, and the best way I can see to do this is to honestly consider the evidence for every type of belief, and then come to the best possible conclusion.
Thanks again for your thoughts!