The Opposite of Faith is NOT Doubt

More words of wisdom from Father Richard. I couldn't agree more, but it takes time. A lot of time.

The opposite of faith is not intellectual doubt, because faith is not localized primarily in the mind. The opposite of faith, according to a number of Jesus’ statements is anxiety. If you are fear-based and “worried about many things,” as he says in Luke 10:41, you don’t have faith in a Biblical sense. Faith is to be able to trust that God is good, involved, and on your side. So you see why it takes some years of inner experience to have faith. It is not just that somewhat easy intellectual assent to doctrines or an agreement with a moral position. This has passed as the counterfeit of faith for far too long.

When you cannot rely upon an Infinite Source, you yourself become your primary reference point in terms of all preferences, needs, results, and controls. That would make anybody both anxious and insecure.

Adapted from Jesus’ Plan for a New World, p. 118 (Richard Rohr)

Comments

[Carlodotcom]

That's a good question. There are a couple of interesting posts on the same topic here:

http://maggidawn.com/honest-thomas/
http://maggidawn.com/faith-and-certainty/

Is the opposite of faith, 'certainty'?

[Mike]

Thanks for those links, Carlo... Good stuff.