Links On Doubt

Last updated on: April 6, 2011 at 10:11 am by Coleman Glenn

Links On Doubt 2011-04-06T10:11:25-07:00 Coleman Glenn

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Yesterday I mentioned my article on doubt in this month’s New Church Connection. The whole issue this month is devoted to “doubt, disbelief, and despair.” All the articles are worth reading; if I had to single out one, I’d suggest Rev. Dr. Jonathan Rose’s article on what it means to “take up our cross daily.” An excerpt:

How are we to bear our cross? Paul says in Galatians, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another…. Those who practice [the works of the flesh] will not inherit the kingdom of God…. [While] those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:16, 17, 21, 24). This passage is talking about crucifixion not as a physical thing but as a spiritual thing, and not as something that Jesus alone went through, but something we have to go through if we are to follow Him. Bearing the cross is the pain of dealing with the burden of our lower nature and warring against its passions. We need Jesus, because we have no power against hell on our own. And yet we have to repent and cooperate in bringing our lower nature into order. That we can do daily.

The New Church Perspective website is also featuring a series on doubt this month, kicking off with an excellent essay by Jennica Nobre. She talks frankly about a period of intense doubt, and the rock of certainty that she was able to build back up on:

Previously I had found relief in prayer and scripture, but they are completely pointless if indeed there is no God. It felt like the seed of doubt had stolen away all the meaning of my life. But that was not true. I instinctively knew that the doubt had only gotten in because my faith was not strong, and I had to find out why I wanted to believe in the teachings of the New Church, and what was keeping me from knowing they are true. I had to find a rock; my own personal ground zero; a truth I know is true and do not question even a little bit. For me it came not from heaven, but from hell.

The teachings of the New Church on married partners have always been dear to me, though they too got thrown into the doubting pot. The ideas that one man is created for one woman and they live together for eternity as conjugial partners, that fornication does not add to the married partners spiritual life, and that adultery is a terrible sin are all truths I hold today to be very sacred. When I became aware of an extramarital relationship between some people I knew, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time – conviction. I knew in my heart that adultery is wrong, that marriage is sacred. And I felt no doubt.

New Church Connection

New Church Perspective

the New Church

Previous Post

April 5, 2011

How The Lord Could Feel Absent from God

Next Post

April 18, 2011 Book Review: "Johnny Appleseed: The Man, the Myth, and the American Story" by Howard Means

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Books Culture Humor Miscellany Morality Movies Music Personal Politics Religion Science Sermons The Best Things Theatre Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2019 October 2018 September 2018 July 2018 May 2018 April 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 November 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 September 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 November 2014 October 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 October 2012 September 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book directly follows Joshua?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ruth Numbers Judges Leviticus