Questioning Your Faith

"[do] doubts relate mainly to God or society: Is it religion that is really in question, or is it the secular loss of faith?... A hunger for certainty leads some people to embrace neotraditional formulations of faith and truth, but greater numbers, it seems, simply acknowledge the possibility of beliefs but do not necessarily affirm belief... many people are not convinced by older beliefs and notions about religion that were once more widely accepted; they combine skepticism with varying degrees of faith, or openness to faith" (Roof, 47-48).


Questioning and doubting religion has increased throughout history. As one interviewee, Becky, pointed out: "Faith has changed. Institutions are now questioned and faith is becoming a personal level of action behind closed doors. I think it is a good change." There is a trend that is seen throughout history of changing religious landscape much like what Becky is describing.


From Catholicism to the protestant reformation and Martin Luther, to, in the 1950s, "the decline of the Protestant establishment, post-Vatican Council II Catholicism, the Evangelical and Fundamentalist resurgence, the rise of new religious movements and increased diversity, the rise of televangelism, the growth of special-purpose groups, and the polarization of religious liberals and religious conservatives" (Roof, 48). To now the trend being more introspection and self realization. This shift is described by Roof as, "a shift from a world in which beliefs help believers to one in which believers hold beliefs" (Roof, 42). This shift in religious traditions is seen to evolve with different encounters between groups of people, for example, whites and blacks, southerners and northerners, east and west coast, social and Evangelical theologies, men and women, and gays and straights (Roof, 44).


Roof predicts that the next generation (the one that we are investigating) are "...less likely to value faith in God or to say they feel close to God that did older generations... and are more open about their doubts and uncertainties" (Roof, 52, 54). But are these doubts and uncertainties always bad? doubting causes a person to question their religions, which has the potential to make their religious views come back stronger than ever when the come to their own conclusions on why they believe what they believe.


We asked the last few people we've interviewed whether or not they had ever personally questioned or doubted their religion, and whether or not they thought this doubt had positive or negative retributions. All but one person agreed that intelligently questioning religion was a good, and even necessary, thing. The one who had hesitations started by saying she was naturally a skeptic, but that it is not good to doubt religion. Then she got quiet for a minute, thinking, and rephrased "Searching for answers could make your faith stronger when you find them". This very thought has been the general consensus thus far.


Jonathan, Christian
Had a hard time with religion for a while- questioned it. I believe that questioning your religion is necessary- if you don't question it you don't know what you really believe. So many people today just believe things because of the home they grew up in. This is a huge factor but it's not the only one. Religion is a personal thing and everyone has to find it differently and has a different view of things and meaning of what religion is.


Anjum, Muslim
Growing up your parents tell you your religion and you don't know why, but I have gotten closer myself not because of my parents enforcing it. It is an independent thing, I have researched things too. The experience has been positive.


Zack, None
It is best if you can doubt your religion. It is awesome. Doubt could still be considered worshiping the higher power as you are still considering the higher power.


Hilna, Hindu
I agree with Anjum [about the researching], I go to the temple by choice.


Theresa, Undecided
Yes. I think it's a must. I don't think you are your religion fully unless it is questioned. I am currently questioning my religion.



From listening and talking with these people, we are beginning so come to the conclusion that only through questioning can you truly know why you believe what you believe. Roof speaks about this a little in his book and one of his categories of religious people involved someone who has previously doubted their religion. Apparently this is common in the people that we are encountering in our study as well.