Doubts Of The Faith

[Apotheoun]

Perhaps the following quotation from St. Augustine will bring some consolation:

 

"Therefore, because you have been made members of Christ I must warn you; for I fear dangers for you, and not alone from those who are pagans, not alone from the Jews, and not so much from the heretics as from bad Catholics. Choose from among the people of God those you would imitate. For if you wish to imitate the multitude, you shall then not be among the few who shall enter by the narrow way" [St. Augustine, Sermon 224]. 

[Little Flower]

Follow me.  Obey me.  Love me.  I'll never let you all down.  Hasan will always accept you.  And, unlike the Church, I only ask you to tithe 7.34% of your annual income.  That's a sweet deal.   

Oh you're just like the government!

[CatholicsAreKewl]

If you're doubting your faith, try exploring that doubt. I know it's scary and seems like the total opposite of what you should be doing but eventually these unanswered questions in the back of your mind will catch up with you. Better to deal with them now then later.

[Gabriela]

I haven't read all the posts, so forgive me if I am repeating something. This is what the OP made me think of:

 

Whenever I see another scandal exposed in the Church, or a Catholic publicly declaring that abortion is "holy ground", or liturgical dance, or what have you—whenever I see things like this, I actually smile a little. The filth and corruption in the Church is getting flushed out. And it's about time. Those who are unfaithful to Christ will not persevere on their own power. We know that. They will fall away and the remnant will be that much purer as a result. And smaller. Which I don't mind. Because I would much rather see the Church grow from a pure and holy mustard seed than I would see Her boom internationally without Christ. That it happens publicly? All the better. It keeps us humble, hesitant to judge others when we know that we have so much to repent for ourselves. Let people bash us. Let them say the Church is full of pedophiles and obviously man-made on account of all Her faults. The more people hate us, the more faithful and devoted must be those who remain.

 

Turn inward, to the Lord who is never corrupted or stained or dragged down by human unfaithfulness and pride. And whenever you do look outward and see so much chaff blowing away from the face of the Church, smile, because once it's all gone, what will be revealed will be nothing but Christ and His true Church.

 

 

:smile2:

[Era Might]

I have found myself seriously doubting my faith lately. I have had some very disturbing run-ins with a priest and the reporting process of a diocese, leaving the convent, watching scandal after scandal break in the Church, seeing the wreck the diocese is here, and many personal changes, decisions, and trials. The latest change has moved me from NYC as a missionary to Ohio unemployed (I need a job so bad). I went from being surrounded by amazing Catholics- almost a Catholic bubble- to being the lone Catholic in household. I still attend daily Mass, but am just starting to see it as futile. I am starting to go to young adult events, but am finding it hard to “click” … As I have struggled with these doubts: is the Church just a man made Institution? How did She fall so greatly? Is Jesus really present in the Blessed Sacrament?   Was my faith mine, or just the people around me in the convent and NYC- if not why do I have so many doubts and faltering so much? I think reason can lead us to the reality of a high being… but I am tired of quote history and tradition as markings of authenticity. After all the Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus have history.  Not that I am considering converting to one of those, just the point of it. How can I go from proclaiming that the Church is the one true Church to this, if my faith was actually my own? Have I just dedicated the last 5 years of my life to Church for no reason? Is my family right after all?

 

These have left me sleepless. Have any of you ever struggled with this? How did you pull through it?  My faith, hope, and charity are obviously lacking and I know that these are theology virtues. So if it is a gift from God, why is it lacking so much?  I know this might just sound like a pity-party. And perhaps part of this is. But I am seriously seeking. Maybe there are no real tangible answers. I am just at a loss. 

 

Sounds like you're burned out with the institution. I have a similar problem. But remember, 99 percent of what the institution does has nothing to do, really, with the Gospel. It's all just add-on that sometimes may be useful, sometimes not. My advice is to find community outside of the institution...not leaving the institution, as such, simply living on the boundaries, witnessing to what is real. As to what that community consists of, I can't say. I'm still looking for "my" version of that community. But I recommend looking to people who have done so. Some of those people who have influenced me are Dorothy Day, Jean Vanier, Ivan Illich. Remember what the Gospel is about: it's not about paper pushing beauracracies, power-wielding clerics, academic committees. It's about a community of people who have been touched by Jesus. Read the Gospels over and over and over. Forget about reading anything else. The four Gospels contain everything you need to move forward. Go to Mass, pray the Rosary, listen to the spiritual advice of saints throughout the centuries. But don't get bogged down in the institutional form. The Gospel is a life of community, not a structure of laws and power. Feel free to PM me if you ever want to discuss.

[franciscanheart]

Just came back to say all I keep thinking is: Back to the basics.

I sometimes have to take a break from my own brain -- especially in regards to theology and the Church as an institution -- and dive into the emotional connection to Love.

[MarysLittleFlower]

If you're doubting your faith, try exploring that doubt. I know it's scary and seems like the total opposite of what you should be doing but eventually these unanswered questions in the back of your mind will catch up with you. Better to deal with them now then later.

 

I think if a person has a genuine question (like "why does the Catholic Church teach...."), it's good to find out the answer and the doubt would be resolved. If a person has a doubt like what the OP described, there are answers to it that many people on the thread tried to provide, but of course God knows the perfect answer that would help, so prayer is very important. However, I've found that there are doubts that are of such a nature that are more doubts than questions, and often focusing on them too much can actually cloud reason and make it harder to see the truth. In that case, it would be better to reject the doubts outright, not focus on them, go on with devotions and Mass, and soon enough the reasoning would be clear again. I'll give an example as to what I mean. Let's say a person is doubting God's goodness. This is not based on truth, it's a twisting of the truth. The more they entertain these doubts, the stronger they can get, till God's goodness just doesn't make sense anymore. If they simply reject the doubt (this might take a bit of time and repeatedly rejecting it), soon enough it would go away (they don't last if we don't consent to them: personal experience), and God's goodness would make perfect sense again, and things would be very clear. At least, this happened to me, and sometimes the doubt was resolved in such a way that it was clear it was not just my action or effort, but God's. If the OP has such doubts, it's best to not entertain them, but to pray more, and God would give light. There's a difference between unanswered questions, and those confusing doubts that only cause darkness in the mind, and sometimes both are present at the same time. If there's an unanswered question, finding an answer would help. It needs to be the right answer though. If there's doubt, it could cloud our thinking so we think a wrong answer is right: that's why it's important to pray.

Edited July 21, 2013 by MarysLittleFlower

[MarysLittleFlower]

Just came back to say all I keep thinking is: Back to the basics.

I sometimes have to take a break from my own brain -- especially in regards to theology and the Church as an institution -- and dive into the emotional connection to Love.

 

I agree... sometimes I get really overwhelmed with theology (particularly the parts I don't understand), events in the Church, etc - and it helps to just read a book about Jesus or something like "Divine Mercy in My Soul" or "Way of Divine Love" which helps me to open up to Him again. After this, it's somehow easier to find the answer to the original question as well, because there's less fear and confusion, which doesn't help.

[CatholicsAreKewl]

However, I've found that there are doubts that are of such a nature that are more doubts than questions, and often focusing on them too much can actually cloud reason and make it harder to see the truth. In that case, it would be better to reject the doubts outright, not focus on them, go on with devotions and Mass, and soon enough the reasoning would be clear again. I'll give an example as to what I mean. Let's say a person is doubting God's goodness. This is not based on truth, it's a twisting of the truth. The more they entertain these doubts, the stronger they can get, till God's goodness just doesn't make sense anymore. If they simply reject the doubt (this might take a bit of time and repeatedly rejecting it), soon enough it would go away (they don't last if we don't consent to them: personal experience), and God's goodness would make perfect sense again, and things would be very clear. At least, this happened to me, and sometimes the doubt was resolved in such a way that it was clear it was not just my action or effort, but God's. If the OP has such doubts, it's best to not entertain them, but to pray more, and God would give light. There's a difference between unanswered questions, and those confusing doubts that only cause darkness in the mind, and sometimes both are present at the same time. If there's an unanswered question, finding an answer would help. It needs to be the right answer though. If there's doubt, it could cloud our thinking so we think a wrong answer is right: that's why it's important to pray.

 

While ignoring these concerns might work, I don't think it's always the best route. There aren't many questions that Catholics haven't at least attempted to answer. More knowledge = better. I think exploring doubt can lead to stronger faith. But I'm speaking as an atheist...

 

btw, It'd be a good idea for you (tojesusmyheart) to report the scandals you've witnessed if they're serious. You could be saving someone else from going through the same experience. 

Edited July 21, 2013 by CatholicsAreKewl

[BG45]

Just came back to say all I keep thinking is: Back to the basics.

I sometimes have to take a break from my own brain -- especially in regards to theology and the Church as an institution -- and dive into the emotional connection to Love.

 

IAWTC.  Continued prayers TJTM!

[MarysLittleFlower]

While ignoring these concerns might work, I don't think it's always the best route. There aren't many questions that Catholics haven't at least attempted to answer. More knowledge = better. I think exploring doubt can lead to stronger faith. But I'm speaking as an atheist...

 

btw, It'd be a good idea for you (tojesusmyheart) to report the scandals you've witnessed if they're serious. You could be saving someone else from going through the same experience. 

 

I think what I meant is if it's a real question, it could be explored, because I agree there are many questions that the Church comments on. What I was referring to is if a person understands a topic but then feels tempted to doubt it - something like doubting God's goodness - in that case it could certainly help to read about God's goodness... but that's fighting the temptation, not entertaining it. I would advise against entertaining it.

 

I heard it was said that with temptations against faith and chastity, it often doesn't help to fight them directly because they tend to increase and so does our anxiety: if we simply run from them, they'd go away on their own and we would have clarity again. It's something I've experienced myself. :)

 

I don't mean that it's wrong to want to get questions answered. :)