Questioning One's Faith... An Abomination? - Pt. 2
By Michael Aidoo
10th September, 2021
Questioning One's Faith... An Abomination? - Pt. 2
There comes a time in a person's life when that which is supposed to give you comfort rather keeps you up at night. We get to points where we question the validity of the faith we have. Many do not voice this out due to multiple reasons. Continuing from where I left off in my previous post [https://www.news.comedigitalize.com/postdetails.php?07_August_2021+139~Questioning_One%27s_Faith..._An_Abomination], the nature of faith in it's purest form makes it possible and reasonable for questioning.
In the context of this write-up, faith is basically one's religion or religious beliefs.
Majority of the world's population are religious. Like myself, many religious folks were born into their faith, or as a friend would put it, "We were directly born into the Pope's pocket". Logically, we can somewhat conclude that most religious folks are just a group of indoctrinated beings.
Many, therefore, only begin to really examine their faith when they encounter people with opposing worldviews, critics or skeptics. Perhaps many begin to realize their lack of grounding in their faith. These encounters become wake up calls which leads us to some deep questions with regards to our faith.
In the university, I happened to be in the same room with a gentleman (he was an elderly fellow) who in spite of his religious background, was very skeptical. Probably, it might have been the result of the fact that he was a Religion and Sociology student. I remember when he asked me in his local dialect, "Ɔsɔfo, deɛn na ɛma Christofo dwen sɛ ɔmo na ɔmo ka nokorɛ? Adɛn nti na Zoroastrianism ɛnyɛ nokorɛ?" By way of interpretation, he asked why Christianity was true and Zoroastrianism was not. It was as that moment that I realized all I knew about my faith is what my faith had claimed to be, or told it was. I knew very little about my faith even though I was thought to a religious zealot.
This is the state of many, they know very little about their faith, and have not embarked on any personal study on the faith they hold so dear. My story changed after that particular encounter. It wasn't until a few days when I was questioned on certain doctrines in my faith. At this point, I felt very miserable due to how little I knew about my faith.
Inwardly, I knew my faith was true, but that's not justifiable. If everyone walked by inner feeling, on what grounds would you dismiss or embrace one's faith? By similar feelings? A motion was set on the path of discovery to find evidence for the faith I so held on to. In the face of intense skepticism, I thrived in deeper learning through questioning.
There are four fundamental questions anyone of faith must ask and find answers to:
1. Who do I believe (the object of your faith)?
2. What do I believe (the content of your faith)?
3. Why do I believe what I believe (the reason for your faith)?
4. Is my faith true (assessing the truth of the faith you profess)?
You must understand that having questions about your faith is not equivalent to a disbelief of your faith (even though questioning your faith may lead to a disbelief of it - which is inevitable if you're after truth and your faith falls short of it). Whenever you're not confident enough to question your faith, it may mean one of these:
1. You're afraid of where it might lead you,
2. You're just complying to a norm (cos you have little to no choice),
3. You're ignorant of any contrasting worldview/faith (which is highly improbable),
4. Or you simply don't care about truth.
Apparently, the noblest quest any man will pursue is the PURSUIT OF TRUTH. Therefore, one must subject his/her faith to the 'Truth Test' [link provided] in order to confidently stand in and for his/her faith.
Jesus claimed to be the Truth, I searched it out and found it to be so. None compared to His personality nor His claims which was authoritatively justified by His resurrection. Jesus' resurrection is a historical fact acknowledged by even some of the staunchest skeptics/critics like Dr. Bart Erhman. I'm a Christian because it's the truth, and there's nothing sentimental or fanatic about that.
Mich-Shaker ©
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