I like knowing without a shadow of a doubt that I am right. I like being on the side that understands how the world works and helps me make sense of it. I like asking and answering life’s big questions. I wonder, though: is such certainty a virtue?
Finding truth is an interesting process. It starts with not knowing the truth—after all, if you already knew the truth, why would you be seeking it? Seeking truth is an exploration: you don’t know what you are going to find. Each step provides new information and new opportunities to re-evaluate and re-interpret all that you’ve learned so far. Not everything you’ve learned is true. Or, perhaps, the interpretation that you put on some data has misled you, and you need to put away the explanation you had and try again.
How do we know when we find truth? We don’t. We gain certainty over time, we find that our ideas have predictive or explanatory power, but for any human being to claim with absolute certainty that they know the truth, without any room for doubt, is claiming to be an infinite, all-knowing deity.
At the same time, don’t we operate as if we know truth all day, every day? “Brush your teeth or you’ll get cavities.” “Be kind so others will be kind to you.” “You’ll sell more if you lower your prices.” Most of the time, it works out fine. It’s a convenient shortcut to the laborious process of finding truth for ourselves: we choose to trust certain others who are also on the truth-seeking path.
A convenient shortcut, at least, until we find that our trust has been misplaced.
Doubt can help find truth.
Not the wishy-washy kind of doubt that cannot make commitments. Not a cynicism that is never willing to place trust. Rather, doubt as in a willingness to acknowledge our own human limitations to knowing what is true, and a drive to continue on the path of seeking truth, rather than accepting the status quo. Doubt as in, “I might not know yet, but I want to find out!” Doubt as in still being willing to ask the hard questions.
Some will say that doubt is unhealthy for a Christian. Doesn’t Scripture tell us we must believe and not doubt? (Mark 11:23, James 1:6) Wasn’t Thomas chided for not believing in the risen Christ?
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:26-29)
I’m deeply encouraged by Jesus’ response to Thomas. He could have chewed Thomas out for his lack of belief and left it at that. He could have insisted that Thomas just “start believing.” Instead, He chose to meet Thomas right where he was at, and proved to him that He was risen. He stepped directly into Thomas’ doubt, and filled it the only way possible: with Truth.
Why all this “philosophy of doubt” on a blog purportedly about politics?
Our politics would be a whole lot healthier if we allowed ourselves room for doubt. Maybe the other side isn’t as evil as I thought. Maybe “they” are not wrong in everything. Maybe my political heroes…shouldn’t be. Maybe some of the arguments from the other side actually make sense. Maybe I like some people with differing political viewpoints. Maybe I should keep my opinion, but for different reasons than I thought. Maybe a compromise is in order. Maybe my opinion is for myself and not a policy for other people. Maybe the assumptions I’ve had since I was a kid are more inherited than truthful. Maybe the Jesus doesn’t fit neatly into one political party or the other.
Doubting is tiring. Seeking truth is difficult. It is worth the journey.
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