Doubt: Five Misconceptions Dr. Peter E. Payne. Misconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief 1. Biblical perspective 1. Biblical perspective.

Doubt:Five Misconceptions

Dr. Peter E. Payne

Doubt:Five Misconceptions

Dr. Peter E. Payne

Misconception #1: Doubt is UnbeliefMisconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief

1. Biblical perspective

1. Biblical perspective

Misconception #1: Doubt is UnbeliefMisconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief

1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection

1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection

Misconception #1: Doubt is UnbeliefMisconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief

1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection

b. Doubt is being torn between belief and disbelief

1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection

b. Doubt is being torn between belief and disbelief

Misconception #1: Doubt is UnbeliefMisconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief

1. Biblical perspective a. “Unbelief” usually refers to willful rejection

b. Doubt is being torn between belief and disbelief

c. God honoring faith does not have to be free of doubt

1. Biblical perspective a. “Unbelief” usually refers to willful rejection

b. Doubt is being torn between belief and disbelief

c. God honoring faith does not have to be free of doubt

Misconception #1: Doubt is UnbeliefMisconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief

1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection

b. Doubt is being torn between belief and disbelief

c. God honoring faith need not be doubt-free i. "I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection

b. Doubt is being torn between belief and disbelief

c. God honoring faith need not be doubt-free i. "I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

Misconception #1: Doubt is UnbeliefMisconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief

1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection

b. Doubt is being torn between belief and disbelief

c. God honoring faith need not be doubt-free i. "I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

ii. Jesus on John the Baptist (Luke 7)

1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection

b. Doubt is being torn between belief and disbelief

c. God honoring faith need not be doubt-free i. "I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

ii. Jesus on John the Baptist (Luke 7)

Misconception #1: Doubt is UnbeliefMisconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief

1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection

b. Doubt is being torn between belief and disbelief

c. God honoring faith need not be doubt-free i. "I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

ii. Jesus on John the Baptist (Luke 7)

d. God does not condemn the person with honest doubts.

(Thomas, John 20)

1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection

b. Doubt is being torn between belief and disbelief

c. God honoring faith need not be doubt-free i. "I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

ii. Jesus on John the Baptist (Luke 7)

d. God does not condemn the person with honest doubts.

(Thomas, John 20)

Misconception #1: Doubt is UnbeliefMisconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief

1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection

b. Doubt is being torn between belief and disbelief

c. God honoring faith need not be doubt-free i. "I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

ii. Jesus on John the Baptist (Luke 7)

d. Honest doubt is not condemn the person with honest

doubts.

e. Doubt towards God, however, is never viewed as being

good.

1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection

b. Doubt is being torn between belief and disbelief

c. God honoring faith need not be doubt-free i. "I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

ii. Jesus on John the Baptist (Luke 7)

d. Honest doubt is not condemn the person with honest

doubts.

e. Doubt towards God, however, is never viewed as being

good.

Misconception #1: Doubt is UnbeliefMisconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief

2. The value of doubt in a fallen world

2. The value of doubt in a fallen world

Misconception #1: Doubt is UnbeliefMisconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief

2. The value of doubt in a fallen world a. As a check on falsehood

2. The value of doubt in a fallen world a. As a check on falsehood

Misconception #1: Doubt is UnbeliefMisconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief

2. The value of doubt in a fallen world a. As a check on falsehood

b. Facing doubt and moving past it can strengthen faith.

2. The value of doubt in a fallen world a. As a check on falsehood

b. Facing doubt and moving past it can strengthen faith.

Misconception #2: Faith is essentially

a feeling of certainty

Misconception #2: Faith is essentially

a feeling of certainty

1. Biblical perspective:

Faith involves feeling, but when faith is honored the

focus is generally on action, on being faithful.

1. Biblical perspective:

Faith involves feeling, but when faith is honored the

focus is generally on action, on being faithful.

Misconception #2: Faith is essentially

a feeling of certainty

Misconception #2: Faith is essentially

a feeling of certainty

1. Biblical perspective:

Faith involves feeling, but when faith is honored the

focus is generally on action, on being faithful.

2. An analogy:

belief - doubt - unbelief

courage - fear - cowardice

1. Biblical perspective:

Faith involves feeling, but when faith is honored the

focus is generally on action, on being faithful.

2. An analogy:

belief - doubt - unbelief

courage - fear - cowardice

Misconception #2: Faith is essentially

a feeling of certainty

Misconception #2: Faith is essentially

a feeling of certainty

1. Biblical perspective:

Faith involves feeling, but when faith is honored the

focus is generally on action, on being faithful.

2. An analogy:

belief - doubt - unbelief

courage - fear - cowardice

3. A philosophical question: What is belief?

A major component: Disposition to behave.

1. Biblical perspective:

Faith involves feeling, but when faith is honored the

focus is generally on action, on being faithful.

2. An analogy:

belief - doubt - unbelief

courage - fear - cowardice

3. A philosophical question: What is belief?

A major component: Disposition to behave.

Misconception #3: Doubt always stems from reasons Misconception #3: Doubt always stems from reasons

Other influences on or sources of doubt

1. Misreading physical and psychological strain

2. Spiritual dryness or disobedience

3. Social influences

4. Personality

Other influences on or sources of doubt

1. Misreading physical and psychological strain

2. Spiritual dryness or disobedience

3. Social influences

4. Personality

Misconception #4: The reasonable person proportions belief to the evidenceMisconception #4: The reasonable person proportions belief to the evidence

1. Problem: The assessment of evidence is often uncertain.

1. Problem: The assessment of evidence is often uncertain.

Misconception #4: The reasonable person proportions belief to the evidenceMisconception #4: The reasonable person proportions belief to the evidence

1. Problem: The assessment of evidence is often uncertain.

2. Problem: Evidence (always from the past) usually fails to

take into account everything about the present case.

1. Problem: The assessment of evidence is often uncertain.

2. Problem: Evidence (always from the past) usually fails to

take into account everything about the present case.

Misconception #4: The reasonable person proportions belief to the evidenceMisconception #4: The reasonable person proportions belief to the evidence

1. Problem: The assessment of evidence is often uncertain.

2. Problem: Evidence (always from the past) usually fails to

take into account everything about the present case.

3. Problem: It can be practically unwise to proportion belief to

the evidence (and unwise to suspend judgment).

1. Problem: The assessment of evidence is often uncertain.

2. Problem: Evidence (always from the past) usually fails to

take into account everything about the present case.

3. Problem: It can be practically unwise to proportion belief to

the evidence (and unwise to suspend judgment).

Misconception #4: The reasonable person proportions belief to the evidenceMisconception #4: The reasonable person proportions belief to the evidence

1. Problem: The assessment of evidence is often uncertain.

2. Problem: Evidence (always from the past) usually fails to

take into account everything about the present case.

3. Problem: It can be practically unwise to proportion belief to

the evidence (and unwise to suspend judgment).

4. Problem: Two maxims (principles) in tension

• Seek to maximize # of true beliefs (where they matter)

• Seek to minimize # of false beliefs (where they matter)

1. Problem: The assessment of evidence is often uncertain.

2. Problem: Evidence (always from the past) usually fails to

take into account everything about the present case.

3. Problem: It can be practically unwise to proportion belief to

the evidence (and unwise to suspend judgment).

4. Problem: Two maxims (principles) in tension

• Seek to maximize # of true beliefs (where they matter)

• Seek to minimize # of false beliefs (where they matter)

Misconception #4: The reasonable person proportions belief to the evidenceMisconception #4: The reasonable person proportions belief to the evidence

1. Problem: The assessment of evidence is often uncertain.

2. Problem: Evidence (always from the past) usually fails to

take into account everything about the present case.

3. Problem: It can be practically unwise to proportion belief to

the evidence (and unwise to suspend judgment).

4. Problem: Two maxims (principles) in tension

• Seek to maximize # of true beliefs (where they matter)

• Seek to minimize # of false beliefs (where they matter)

Note: There needs to be a balance, but, in fact, emotional factors will influence how that balance is set. (hope vs. fear)

1. Problem: The assessment of evidence is often uncertain.

2. Problem: Evidence (always from the past) usually fails to

take into account everything about the present case.

3. Problem: It can be practically unwise to proportion belief to

the evidence (and unwise to suspend judgment).

4. Problem: Two maxims (principles) in tension

• Seek to maximize # of true beliefs (where they matter)

• Seek to minimize # of false beliefs (where they matter)

Note: There needs to be a balance, but, in fact, emotional factors will influence how that balance is set. (hope vs. fear)

Misconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretendMisconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretend

• Pascal’s Wager

• Pascal’s Wager

Misconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretendMisconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretend

• Pascal’s Wager

A problem: Can one change what one believes by

wanting to believe?

• Pascal’s Wager

A problem: Can one change what one believes by

wanting to believe?

Misconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretendMisconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretend

• Pascal’s Wager

A problem: Can one change what one believes by

wanting to believe?

Pascal’s advice: “Go to mass, take holy water.”

• Pascal’s Wager

A problem: Can one change what one believes by

wanting to believe?

Pascal’s advice: “Go to mass, take holy water.”

Misconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretendMisconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretend

• Pascal’s Wager

A problem: Can one change what one believes by

wanting to believe?

Pascal’s advice: “Go to mass, take holy water.”

• Story: David

• Pascal’s Wager

A problem: Can one change what one believes by

wanting to believe?

Pascal’s advice: “Go to mass, take holy water.”

• Story: David

Misconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretendMisconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretend

• Pascal’s Wager

A problem: Can one change what one believes by

wanting to believe?

Pascal’s advice: “Go to mass, take holy water.”

• Story: David

• The Parable of the French Resistance Fighter

• Pascal’s Wager

A problem: Can one change what one believes by

wanting to believe?

Pascal’s advice: “Go to mass, take holy water.”

• Story: David

• The Parable of the French Resistance Fighter

Misconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretendMisconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretend

• Pascal’s Wager

A problem: Can one change what one believes by

wanting to believe?

Pascal’s advice: “Go to mass, take holy water.”

• Story: David

• The Parable of the French Resistance Fighter

Lesson: At least in some situations, one can choose to

believe if one deems the option plausible.

• Pascal’s Wager

A problem: Can one change what one believes by

wanting to believe?

Pascal’s advice: “Go to mass, take holy water.”

• Story: David

• The Parable of the French Resistance Fighter

Lesson: At least in some situations, one can choose to

believe if one deems the option plausible.

Misconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretendMisconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretend

• Pascal’s Wager

A problem: Can one change what one believes by

wanting to believe?

Pascal’s advice: “Go to mass, take holy water.”

• Story: David

• The Parable of the French Resistance Fighter

Lesson: At least in some situations, one can choose to

believe if one deems the option plausible.

• Analogy: Choosing to forgive

• Pascal’s Wager

A problem: Can one change what one believes by

wanting to believe?

Pascal’s advice: “Go to mass, take holy water.”

• Story: David

• The Parable of the French Resistance Fighter

Lesson: At least in some situations, one can choose to

believe if one deems the option plausible.

• Analogy: Choosing to forgive