Recently, psychology has explored the psychological wellbeing of those who experience religious doubt. What has unfolded is complex and at times seems inconsistent (Krause & Ellison, 2009). Is religious doubt healthy or unhealthy, positive or negative to mental wellbeing? My upbringing would shout (bellow!) that it is unhealthy and negative. Yet research has revealed that it is a dynamic mixture of both. Common doubts rise from difficult life experiences. Seeing evil or suffering gives rise to tension with religious views. Further, conflicts between faith and science as well as struggles with life meaning may also generate doubt (Galek, Krause, Ellison,Kudler, and Flannelly, 2008).
Francis Schaeffer, pastor and founder of L'Abri, went through a period of religious doubt surrounding meaning as a pastor. He states in True Spirituality, "I faced a spiritual crisis in my own life. I had become a Christian from agnosticism many years ago... After that I had become a pastor... Gradually, however, a problem came to me - the problem of reality... I realized that in honesty I had to go back (to agnosticism) and rethink my whole position."
Joni Earikson Tada struggled with doubt as a result of severe pain and trauma when she became a quadriplegic after a diving accident. As she healed and learned to cope with her new disabilities, Joni went through a period of intense anger and doubt of God.
|Joni Earikson Tada|
Conducting a study on the effects of doubt, Galek et. al. (2008) discovered that those who doubt are likely to experience more depression and anxiety. Such struggles seem consistent and natural for painful life experiences that give rise to questions concerning longstanding beliefs.
Doubt does not affect everyone in the same ways. Several factors influence the experiences of doubt. Doubt is not the same thing as unbelief. As opposed to the rejection of religion as in unbelief, doubt is seen rather as uncertainty and questioning. It does not reflect immaturity or lead to a blind rejection or rebellion against religion as many may fear (Puffer,Pence, Graverson, Wolfe, Pate, and Clegg, 2008). The struggles of doubt may be exacerbated by painful experiences with other church members. Additionally, attempts to suppress doubt are related to poorer overall health (Krause &Ellison, 2009). These issues may reflect the strong associations doubt has with anxiety and depression.
Rather than avoiding these questions and doubts, it may be beneficial to engage them. The questions of faith may be an important step in forming individual convictions and maturity. Doubt has been shown to have several advantages: higher self-esteem, the ability to think critically and problem solve, to develop principles and morality, and to have less dogmatic judgments. Baltazar and Coffen (2011), researchers who see doubt as an important part of religious exploration and commitment, encourage youth workers to teach the Bible using faith challenging questions in order to foster deeper religious thinking.
Francis Schaeffer worked systematically through his doubt and developed a deep and rational conviction for the basis of Christianity. He continued as a pastor and founder of L’Abri and became a renowned apologist and author.
Joni Eareckson Tada found peace with her doubts and became a bestselling author, motivational speaker, artist, and disability advocate founder of Joni and Friends.
And I – I learned how to doubt from Joni and Francis. I learned how to take my questions and struggles to God. From this I developed a better understanding of the character and nature of God - and of grace. Now my questions about my faith do not cripple me. They encourage me to explore and to learn.