Wrestling with God

Dear Dr Bob -

I used to be a believer. But then I had doubts. Those doubts led me to really examine the basis for Xianity. I discovered that it was a sham, a myth.

I'm now an non-believer. So let me ask you: are doubts among the religious acceptable if they lead to non belief, as in my case? OR, is doubt only allowed to the extent that it somehow increases your faith?

If the latter is the case, then isn't the doubt you profess no doubt at all? Indeed, how can one say the doubt was real if the option of non-belief is off the table?

From Ambrose Bierce's "Dictionary" (composed 1881-1906):

SAINT, n.

"A dead sinner revised and edited."

And so it is with Mother Teresa.

Actions are all that matter. Faith and belief never made anyone a Saint.

There really shouldn't be any doubt about a Creator/Providence. The doubt that is legitimate and should be expressed is the defining of God and God's actions in what is called the Old Testament and related documents. The writer(s) of that/those documents were marvelous writers and clearly understood human nature and used it to create their own version of reality, a la Bushco. Doubting "the God of Abraham etc." should be considered an intellectual plus for Mother Teresa.

Doubt can be considered normal in a person of great faith. St. Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church, experienced many months of severe doubt about the existence of God and heaven. Yet she is called "the greatest saints of modern times." Mother Teresa's heroism was not only in her words and deeds of kindness, but even more so in the depths of her soul where she endured all that spiritual darkness.

Doubt can be considered normal in a person of great faith. St. Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church, experienced many months of severe doubt about the existence of God and heaven. Yet she is called "the greatest saints of modern times." Mother Teresa's heroism was not only in her words and deeds of kindness, but even more so in the depths of her soul where she endured all that spiritual darkness.

Doubt can be considered normal in a person of great faith. St. Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church, experienced many months of severe doubt about the existence of God and heaven. Yet she is called "the greatest saints of modern times." Mother Teresa's heroism was not only in her words and deeds of kindness, but even more so in the depths of her soul where she endured all that spiritual darkness.

Youre scary dude.

Mother Teresa's revelation of doubt makes her life's work all the more remarkable. She walked the walk 24/7/365. Contemporary Western evangelists of all denominations should be so faithful. Their faith seems born of an arrogant certitude that most often excludes the poverty-stricken classes on whose behalf Mother Teresa toiled. Their haughty theological vanity palls in comparison to her humble, selfless devotion to the poor and destitute of Calcutta. She didn't just check in on Sundays with a sermon and pass the plate.

Mother Teresa's revelation of doubt makes her life's work all the more remarkable. She walked the walk 24/7/365. Contemporary Western evangelists of all denominations should be so faithful. Their faith seems born of an arrogant certitude that most often excludes the poverty-stricken classes on whose behalf Mother Teresa toiled. Their haughty theological vanity palls in comparison to her humble, selfless devotion to the poor and destitute of Calcutta. She didn't just check in on Sundays with a sermon and pass the plate.

That she persevered and brought comfort to the suffering, embraced the dying and fed the hungry while experiencing this darkness is also a sign of hope. Her doubt seems no more nor less than the psalmist who asks "Are (God's) promises at an end for all time?" (Psalm 77:8) Even the scriptures tell us doubt is part of the life of faith.

If her letters had indicated that MT was unwavering in her faith throughout her life, despite the human suffering she saw on a daily basis, I bet her supporters would have said: "See? That is the power of faith, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that it is misplaced. That strength of faith can only come from god."

Since she said she had doubts throughout her life, they instead say: "Doubt is a natural part of faith."

"That's the faith of a saint. That's the faith of someone who has wrestled with God in their soul and discovers God there."

Had Mother Teresa found God at the end? It's not clear to me from the media accounts if she had.

Or did she die still doubting?

If doubting is saintly, why did the Roman Church burn to death so many whose only crime was doubting?