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Doubt: Five Misconceptions Dr. Peter E. Payne

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

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Doubt: Five Misconceptions Dr. Peter E. Payne

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  1. Doubt:Five MisconceptionsDr. Peter E. Payne

  2. Misconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief 1. Biblical perspective

  3. Misconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief 1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection

  4. Misconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief 1. Biblical perspective a. Unbelief is willful rejection b. Doubt is being torn between belief and disbelief

  5. Misconception #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

  6. Misconception #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)

  7. Misconception #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)

  8. Misconception #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)

  9. Misconception #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.

  10. Misconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief 2. The value of doubt in a fallen world

  11. Misconception #1: Doubt is Unbelief 2. The value of doubt in a fallen world a. As a check on falsehood

  12. Misconception #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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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

  15. 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.

  16. 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

  17. Misconception #4: The reasonable person proportions belief to the evidence 1. Problem: The assessment of evidence is often uncertain.

  18. Misconception #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.

  19. Misconception #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).

  20. Misconception #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)

  21. Misconception #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)

  22. Misconception #5: One cannot choose to believe; one can only pretend • Pascal’s Wager

  23. Misconception #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?

  24. Misconception #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.”

  25. Misconception #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

  26. Misconception #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

  27. Misconception #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.

  28. Misconception #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

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