Faith and Doubt

The deepest, the only theme of human history, compared to which all others are of subordinate importance, is the conflict of skepticism with faith.
WOLFGANG VON GOETHE

If you have doubts about your faith - don't feel that you're alone.

It's also not a new thing.

The quote above is taken from Know Doubt, by John Ortberg.  It was originally published under the title Faith and Doubt.

One review of the book is -

In this refreshingly candid look at what it takes to live a life of faith, John Ortberg takes an honest look at the misgivings and uncertainties that often shake our beliefs as we navigate through the highs and lows of life. Reflecting on his own bouts with doubt and uncertainty, Ortberg shares with readers his discovery that, rather than being a contradiction in terms, doubt and faith may be very much a part of each other. He challenges readers to consider how doubt can motivate us to study and learn, how questioning expands our understanding, and how uncertainty can lead to trust. These challenges point us toward the relief of being totally honest. The right kind of doubt can be a gift---an action-generating truth that actually allows us to deepen our faith and intimacy with God. Written to challenge, comfort, and inspire readers, Know Doubt reveals uncertainty as a cause for celebration.((Ortberg, J. (2014). Know doubt: embracing uncertainty in your faith. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.))

Does that sound like you?  It certainly describes me.  Of particular interest, since it's what I did -

He challenges readers to consider how doubt can motivate us to study and learn, how questioning expands our understanding, and how uncertainty can lead to trust. These challenges point us toward the relief of being totally honest. The right kind of doubt can be a gift---an action-generating truth that actually allows us to deepen our faith and intimacy with God. Written to challenge, comfort, and inspire readers, Know Doubt reveals uncertainty as a cause for celebration.

Some of the keys:

• being totally honest
• actually studying with the intent to learn
• being willing to trust, once we have answered our doubts

 This book was first published in 2008.  It's available from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Etc.  

Another one, going back to 1740, is 

AN APPEAL
To all that Doubt, or Disbelieve
The Truths of the Gospel,
WHETHER
They be DEISTS, ARIANS, SOCINIANS,
Or Nominal Christians.
IN WHICH
The true Grounds and Reasons of the whole
Christian FAITH and LIFE are plainly and
fully demonstrated
By WILLIAM LAW, M.A.

How's that for a title?  This one's from England.  And written in Old English.  For anyone that may be willing to have a go at it, you can get it free from Google Books (it will open in the reader, although it's page copies) or in HTML format from http://www.ccel.org/l/law/appeal/appeal.htm.

The very beginning of An Appeal to all that Doubt includes these words -

I Have Nothing to say by way of Preface or Introduction. I only ask this Favor of the Reader, that he would not pass any Censure upon this Book, from only dipping into this, or that particular Part of it, but give it one fair Perusal in the Order it is written, and then I shall have neither Right, nor Inclination to complain of any Judgment he shall think fit to pass upon it.

This adds two more important keys -

• Don't just "dip" into the topic.  Study it for what it's worth.  It's an important subject, so study it like your life depends on it.  Because it does.
• There is somewhat of an "order" to the subject of faith.  Don't jump into the deep end without understanding the basics.  The Apostle Paul talks about us building on the foundation laid by Jesus.  A builder wouldn't build on a foundation without understanding much about that foundation.  Things like how strong is it, how much weight can it support, how can the building be attached to it, Etc.  In the same way, before we can work on our own faith, we need to understand Jesus, upon whom we are going to build.

There are many more books, to be sure.  I own many of them.  I have had, and sometimes still have, my own doubts.  Faith without them is blind.  Moments of doubt are how we grow.  It's how we learn.  Because we're challenged to learn.

When we have doubts, we have a couple choices.  One - we can give in to them.  BTW - I think ignoring them is the same as giving in to them.  Two - we can challenge them.  I don't know about you - but I got tired of giving in to them.