The Role Of A Questioning Approach To Faith

[Ahab]

http://www.withouten...ning-mormonism/

I found this to be a thoughtful and thought-provoking essay by David Bokovoy on the role of questioning in a search for truth. He lays out very well the case for why questioning is not a sin, is not immoral, and should in fact guide our efforts to reach the truth, even in a revealed faith. Well worth a read.

As with any other issue, the key is to know who to listen to or regard as a source of wisdom and intelligence.

I learned a long time ago that when anyone says anything, like for example that I shouldn't question something, that what they are saying isn't necessarily something I should pay any attention to or absorb into my own way of thinking.

Who are they to tell me that I shouldn't question? Or why should I accept what they say when they tell me I shouldn't?

Sometimes it's as if some people think we should keep our own brain out of the process of learning the truth, and instead we should just accept what they tell us.

The Book of Mormon isn't true. Joseph Smith was just a con man. Sheesh. How many other idiotic things do they need to tell us before we learn to just ignore what they're trying to teach us?

And btw, I plan to use this line on thinking when I teach the upcoming lesson in the HP group this next Sunday.

Thanks for the thoughts.

[Ahab]

I get stuck on questions because there are no answers. The thing I feel good about now is just being able to move on without the answers and not feeling guilty for having questions, thanks to this thread.

There are answers to all questions, with some answers right and some other ones wrong. Just because you don't have the answer right now, or don't recognize it as the truth if you have it, doesn't mean the answer (and true answer) isn't out there. God knows everything and he can teach us what he knows either personally or through those he has inspired to know what is true.

Go ahead and ask him whatever you want to know. He'll answer you, eventually.

[mathonihah]

A quote from the article:

"We ought not treat each other (or even ourselves for that matter) as sinners when we doubt.

Questioning and doubting are two different things. I have been questioning things ever since I gained my first testimony; but I have never doubted. Now I am not suggesting that the answer to someone who doubts is to shout at them, or to beat them with a stick. But I think it is important to distinguish between the two. While questioning (with a right attitude) can be a blessing, doubting never is.

Here is another quote from the article worth commenting on:

"So men reason; and just now it is much in fashion to laud “the simple faith;” which is content to believe without understanding, or even without much effort to understand."

While "questioning" may be an admirable attribute, despising those who (in our estimation) don't; or who have "the simple faith," is not. Let us not be so proud of our own "questionings" that we cannot tolerate, or begin to despise those who, we think, don't.

Edited January 10, 2013 by mathonihah

[bluebell]

A quote from the article:

"We ought not treat each other (or even ourselves for that matter) as sinners when we doubt.

Questioning and doubting are two different things. I have been questioning things ever since I gained my first testimony; but I have never doubted. Now I am not suggesting that the answer to someone who doubts is to shout at them, or to beat them with a stick. But I think it is important to distinguish between the two. While questioning (with a right attitude) can be a blessing, doubting never is.

Christ certainly commands us multiple times in the scriptures not to doubt. I don't know if that means that doubters need to repent, but i agree that it must mean that nothing good comes of it.

[Calm]

Christ certainly commands us multiple times in the scriptures not to doubt. I don't know if that means that doubters need to repent, but i agree that it must mean that nothing good comes of it.

I would like to know if the "doubt" of the Greeks is the same of the "doubt" of Americans and English.

[bluebell]

I would like to know if the "doubt" of the Greeks is the same of the "doubt" of Americans and English.

The commandment not to doubt isn't only in the Bible but is in other scriptures too, such as the D&C (6:36, for example) so i don't know that there can be an argument made that Christ didn't mean it the way that we interpret it in English.

However, i looked up a verse that used the word (Matt 21:21) in strong's concordance (since i obviously don't speak greek, and these were the definitions given for the word that was used:

1. to separate, make a distinction, discriminate, to prefer
   
2. to learn by discrimination, to try, decide
   
   1. 
      
   2. to determine, give judgment, decide a dispute
      
   3. to withdraw from one, desert
      
   4. to separate one's self in a hostile spirit, to oppose, strive with dispute, contend
      
   5. to be at variance with one's self, hesitate, doubt
      
      
      Hopefully someone much more knowledgable on the language will be able to explain a little more what 'doubt' might have meant in the original language.

[Calm]

Here is it in the 1828 dictionary which is how Joseph and his friends would likely use it:

doubt

DOUBT, v.i. dout. [L., G.]

1. To waver or fluctuate in opinion; to hesitate; to be in suspense; to be in uncertainty; to be in suspense; to be in uncertainty, respecting the truth or fact; to be undetermined.

Even in matters divine, concerning some things, we may lawfully doubt and suspend our judgment.

So we say, I doubt whether it is proper; I doubt whether I shall go; sometimes with of, as we doubt of a fact.

2. To fear; to be apprehensive; to suspect.

I doubt theres deep resentment in his mind.

DOUBT, v.t. dout.

1. To question, or hold questionable; to withhold assent from; to hesitate to believe; as, I have heard the story, but I doubt the truth of it.

2. To fear; to suspect.

If they turn not back perverse; but that I doubt.

3. To distrust; to withhold confidence from; as, to doubt our ability to execute an office.

T[o ]sic admire superior sense, and doubt their own.

4. To fill with fear.

DOUBT, n. Dout.

1. A fluctuation of mind respecting truth or propriety, arising from defect of knowledge or evidence; uncertainty of mind; suspense; unsettled state of opinion; as, to have doubts respecting the theory of the tides.

Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. Genesis 37.

2. Uncertainty of condition.

Thy life shall hang in doubt before thee. Deuteronomy 28.

3. Suspicion; fear; apprehension.

I stand in doubt of you. Galatians 4.

4. Difficulty objected.

To every doubt your answer is the same.

5. Dread; horror and danger.

Interesting first example.

Thomas was not punished for doubting, but blessed both by having his doubt resolved and being willing to allow for his doubt to be resolved into faith. I think we need to be careful---considering the wide range of connotations and denotations for "doubt" not to assume it is always simply "uncertainty".

Perhaps it is the bolded versions that are the problem more than simple uncertainty.

Edited January 11, 2013 by calmoriah

[bluebell]

Here is it in the 1828 dictionary which is how Joseph and his friends would likely use it:

Seems pretty much how we define it today.

Thanks for digging that out by the way.

[Calm]

Seems pretty much how we define it today.

Thanks for digging that out by the way.

I always doublecheck.

See my add-on comments btw.

Perhaps your 3, 4, 5 denotations are the problematic 'doubt's.

Edited January 11, 2013 by calmoriah

[volgadon]

I get stuck on questions because there are no answers. The thing I feel good about now is just being able to move on without the answers and not feeling guilty for having questions, thanks to this thread.

God truly does move in mysterious ways.

[mathonihah]

Here is it in the 1828 dictionary which is how Joseph and his friends would likely use it:

Interesting first example.

Thomas was not punished for doubting, but blessed both by having his doubt resolved and being willing to allow for his doubt to be resolved into faith. I think we need to be careful---considering the wide range of connotations and denotations for "doubt" not to assume it is always simply "uncertainty".

Perhaps it is the bolded versions that are the problem more than simple uncertainty.

Thomas was not commended for doubting, he was reproved; neither was his doubt resolved because he doubted. “because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Another way of researching the word, however, is to see how it was used in contemporary revelation of the time. It is used four times in the D&C, none of it with positive connotations:

“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” (D&C 6:36)

“Therefore, doubt not, for it is the gift of God; and you shall hold it in your hands, and do marvelous works; and no power shall be able to take it away out of your hands, for it is the work of God.” (D&C 8:8 )

“But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.” (D&C 58:29)

“And in this place let them lift up their voice and declare my word with loud voices, without wrath or doubting, lifting up holy hands upon them. For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you.” (D&C 60:7)

Edited January 11, 2013 by mathonihah

[Hamba Tuhan]

It seems to me that, in the New Testament at least, doubt is presented quite clearly as the opposite of faith. Faith (pistis in Greek) means 'trust, loyalty', so doubt would be distrust and disloyalty -- nothing at all to do with having unanswered questions. In fact, having unanswered questions in many ways creates the very situation in which we need to trust the Lord and be loyal to Him.

Edited January 11, 2013 by Hamba Tuhan

[volgadon]

It seems to me that, in the New Testament at least, doubt is presented quite clearly as the opposite of faith. Faith (pistis in Greek) means 'trust, loyalty', so doubt would be distrust and disloyalty -- nothing at all to do with having unanswered questions. In fact, having unanswered questions in many ways creates the very situation in which we need to trust the Lord and be loyal to Him.

That is it exactly. When I get a moment will post on the phrase "little faith."

[Calm]

It seems to me that, in the New Testament at least, doubt is presented quite clearly as the opposite of faith. Faith (pistis in Greek) means 'trust, loyalty', so doubt would be distrust and disloyalty -- nothing at all to do with having unanswered questions. In fact, having unanswered questions in many ways creates the very situation in which we need to trust the Lord and be loyal to Him.

Excellent.

[Hamba Tuhan]

That is it exactly.

Which would seem therefore to put emphasis on the following definitions from Strong's:

• to withdraw from one, desert
  
• to separate one's self in a hostile spirit, to oppose, strive with dispute, contend
  

[volgadon]

Anyway any more short uplifting and interesting blogs or articles, please send my way. She studied art and teaching as a career, but as a vocation she studied anything she could get her hands on in regards to spirituality,

She might enjoy this. http://asimplejew.blogspot.com/2007/10/rembrandt-rav-kook.html

[Calm]

Thank you. Feel free to PM me in the future if that works for you (I remember you saying you had a problem receiving PMs).