Are we Afraid to Question our Faith or Tradition?

Russell Roberts · Postby **Russell Roberts** » November 7th, 2008, 4:44 pm

I used to be afraid to question what I had been raised to believe. I thought it was a lack of faith to question it. I have since come to believe quite the opposite. I think that the reluctance to question traditional beliefs is what is really the sign of a lack of faith. This might sound crazy, but questioning my faith and questioning tradition did more to strengthen my faith than anything else ever could have done.

In your heart of hearts, is it un-nerving to you to question your faith. What if you found out that what you believed wasn't really true? What then? What I want to know from you is this: Does it make you nervous to question your faith and tradition? It did for me for a long time - until about the age of 30. Please be honest.

crispfin · Postby **crispfin** » November 7th, 2008, 4:59 pm

I've never really had a problem with questioning stuff. Got me into a lot of trouble in Sunday School when I was little, though. I remember mom having quite a few conversations with concerned teachers. Guess I was just a maverick. :wink:

I think too that what people consider "tradition" is often narrowed to "just that Catholic stuff". The thought that their own church traditions would have "tradition" in them just doesn't occur. "That's not tradition, that's the truth!" But I suppose a lot of us are that way. Me excluded, of course. :wink:

So no, questioning doesn't make me nervous. But then again I'm a scary post-modern young person who doesn't believe in truth. :twisted:

beckrl · Postby **beckrl** » November 7th, 2008, 5:01 pm

Brother, to say one is wrong in their beliefs is every hard.
Its like a camel in a eye of a needle. That maybe out of context :wink:

but it sound good.

Russell Roberts · Postby **Russell Roberts** » November 7th, 2008, 5:04 pm

beckrl wrote:Brother, to say one is wrong in their beliefs is every hard.
Its like a camel in a eye of a needle. That maybe out of context
but it sound good.

I agree. I've had to do it on numerous occasions. But I guess it is the price of learning. I call this ability, the ability to revise ones beliefs, a subvertible worldview. In order to learn, we have to hold a subertible worldview...one that is subject to modification based on new information.

It takes a lot of humility to admit it too. More for some than for others. If one was in a position of leadership, more humility would be required don't you think? It takes a lot of hutzspah to get in front of a congregation and say "Hey, guess what, I've been wrong all these years about X".

It's easier for me. I don't have a congregation to lead.

Russell Roberts · Postby **Russell Roberts** » November 7th, 2008, 5:18 pm

crispfinagin wrote:I've never really had a problem with questioning stuff. Got me into a lot of trouble in Sunday School when I was little, though. I remember mom having quite a few conversations with concerned teachers. Guess I was just a maverick.

I think too that what people consider "tradition" is often narrowed to "just that Catholic stuff". The thought that their own church traditions would have "tradition" in them just doesn't occur. "That's not tradition, that's the truth!" But I suppose a lot of us are that way. Me excluded, of course.

So no, questioning doesn't make me nervous. But then again I'm a scary post-modern young person who doesn't believe in truth.

Crisp, my brother, I think you are probably the exception and not the rule.

crispfin · Postby **crispfin** » November 7th, 2008, 5:25 pm

irthnvesl wrote:Crisp, my brother, I think you are probably the exception and not the rule.

I know. I'm a weirdo. But I guess God needs weirdos. :mrgreen:

Russell Roberts · Postby **Russell Roberts** » November 7th, 2008, 5:28 pm

crispfinagin wrote:
irthnvesl wrote:Crisp, my brother, I think you are probably the exception and not the rule.

I know. I'm a weirdo. But I guess God needs weirdos.

I like weirdo's cause I are one.

crispfin · Postby **crispfin** » November 7th, 2008, 5:31 pm

irthnvesl wrote:
crispfinagin wrote:
irthnvesl wrote:Crisp, my brother, I think you are probably the exception and not the rule.

I know. I'm a weirdo. But I guess God needs weirdos.

I like weirdo's cause I are one.

One of us, one of us,
Gooble gobble, Gooble gobble,
We accept him, we accept him,
One of us, one of us!

Russell Roberts · Postby **Russell Roberts** » November 7th, 2008, 5:35 pm

Crisp, my brother, your weirdness might actually exceed my weirdness. You are forging new ground here. :lol:

But I'm taking notes brother. I will try to join you at the cutting edge.

paul · Postby **paul** » November 7th, 2008, 6:20 pm

irthnvesl wrote:I used to be afraid to question what I had been raised to believe. I thought it was a lack of faith to question it. I have since come to believe quite the opposite. I think that the reluctance to question traditional beliefs is what is really the sign of a lack of faith. This might sound crazy, but questioning my faith and questioning tradition did more to strengthen my faith than anything else ever could have done.

In your heart of hearts, is it un-nerving to you to question your faith. What if you found out that what you believed wasn't really true? What then? What I want to know from you is this: Does it make you nervous to question your faith and tradition? It did for me for a long time - until about the age of 30. Please be honest.

I am sure that there are some of us on the forum that have challenged the belliefs we were raised with. For me it led to a different direction in my ministry, the way I viewd the world and my responsibility as a Christian. It led me away from the very organization that I was raised in and loved very dearly.

MacUser · Postby **MacUser** » November 7th, 2008, 6:34 pm

paul wrote:it is said that bitterness is like drinking poision and expecting someone else to die.

Wow.. Paul. I just saw your tagline. Powerful!
I have seen this in action and it's extremely sad.

Tim Elston · Postby **Tim Elston** » November 7th, 2008, 9:23 pm

irthnvesl wrote:Please be honest.

It wasn't terrifying until it got to the brass tacks.

Russell Roberts · Postby **Russell Roberts** » November 8th, 2008, 1:52 am

Want to unpack that a bit Tim? I ask because I don't want to be afraid to face the very hard questions with intellectual honesty. What, in your case at least, are the brass tacks? I am not trained in philosophy so your 'brass tacks' might be above my paygrade.

I'm convinced that faith requires intellectual honesty but part of intellectual honesty is facing up to the fact that we just don't have all the answers and that the foolishness of God is wiser than men. After all, if Jesus rose from the dead, he defeated death by subjecting himself to its power - who would have thunk it?

By saying that, I'm not looking for a future loophole should I paint myself into a corner. But maybe this is the reason for the thought behind Habbakuk 2:4?

By whose faith(fulness) are we saved? Richard Hays would have an interesting answer to that question. I feel sure that you are familiar with the ambiguity between the Hebrew and LXX on Habbakuk 2:4. I don't think that faith equates to lack of doubt but maybe trust despite that doubt - like courage - not lack of fear but acting in spite of that fear. This could be an interesting discussion.

Mike Vande · Postby **Mike Vande** » November 8th, 2008, 3:22 am

Am I afraid to question my faith or tradition?

Nope. Not even a little bit. I have done so, and continue to, because I'm not interested in fairy tales, pet theories, best guesses, or misconstructions. I want TRUTH, because JESUS IS TRUTH!

Russell Roberts · Postby **Russell Roberts** » November 8th, 2008, 3:40 am

Mike Vande wrote:Am I afraid to question my faith or tradition?

Nope. Not even a little bit. I have done so, and continue to, because I'm not interested in fairy tales, pet theories, best guesses, or misconstructions. I want TRUTH, because JESUS IS TRUTH!

Excellent Mike. We are on the same page.

Jude 2