Sunday School: Day 3

Author: CatholicApologetics
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#1
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LET'S CUT TO THE CHASE THIS TIME.

Don’t you know… that belief is a doubt? It sounds paradoxical, yet it reminds us that to believe—whether in a deity, a cause, or even the reliability of science—requires an element of uncertainty. We embrace convictions based on evidence, experience, and intuition, but we cannot confirm every dimension of reality with absolute certainty. Even a commitment to not believing in a higher power rests on weighing available evidence and concluding that a deity is unlikely. This subtle admission of “I could be wrong” is what keeps us humble, curious, and open to growth.

Yet, uncertainty need not terrify us; in fact, it can unite us. Whether you define yourself as atheist, agnostic, or a believer, there’s a universal desire to seek the truth, understand our place in the world, and live meaningfully. It is through questioning—acknowledging the gap between what we know and what remains unknown—that we find common ground. Rather than set us apart, doubt can be the starting point for genuine conversations, encouraging cooperation, compassion, and a shared search for insight. In that search, we learn not only facts about the cosmos but also deeper truths about compassion, empathy, and the power of human connection. Faith communities sometimes speak of “faith seeking understanding,” but this concept isn’t exclusive to religion. In every sphere—science, philosophy, or daily life—our convictions emerge from a process of testing ideas, encountering challenges, and refining what we hold to be true. In that sense, the essence of belief, grounded in questioning, is something we all share. May this acknowledgment inspire us to reach across divides, learn from each other’s perspectives, and channel our uncertainties into building a more understanding, compassionate society.

Following from this guidance, I would like to dedicate today's post solely to answering questions. To all comfortable opening up, feel free to ask any questions about the Catholic faith. Though I may not be perfect, I will definitely try to answer your questions genuinely and wholeheartedly.
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Don’t you know… that belief is a doubt? [........]This subtle admission of “I could be wrong” is what keeps us humble, curious, and open to growth.

"Believe without any doubt" 
James 1:6
Matthew 21:21
Mark 11:23
Mathew 14:31
Mark 11:23


It is through questioning—acknowledging the gap between what we know and what remains unknown

doubt can be the starting point for genuine conversations, 

I would like to dedicate today's post solely to answering questions. 

And you believe all those words, do you? Because I  my doubts you mean them.
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@Stephen
"Believe without any doubt" 
Those verses raise a thought-provoking point, and I appreciate your attention to detail with Scripture. At first glance, verses like James 1:6 (“But ask in faith, never doubting...”), Matthew 21:21, and Mark 11:23 might seem to demand belief that excludes all doubt. However, these passages are better understood in the context of trust rather than the complete absence of questions or uncertainty. The biblical call to "believe without doubt" is about the quality of one’s reliance on God, not the elimination of intellectual or emotional struggles. In fact, figures like Job, David, and even Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane show us that God is not threatened by honest doubt or questioning.

And you believe all those words, do you?
Yes! And if you had any questions, I'd love to answer them. Today's post can be more "debate-like," so long as we keep things cordial.

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"The devaluation of the human world increases in direct relation to the increase in value of the world of things." - Karl Marx

The world needs spiritual growth, I guess.
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"Believe without any doubt" 
James 1:6
Matthew 21:21
Mark 11:23
Mathew 14:31
Mark 11:23
Those verses raise a thought-provoking point, and I appreciate your attention to detail with Scripture. At first glance, verses like James 1:6 (“But ask in faith, never doubting...”),   might seem to demand belief that excludes all doubt.
They don't just "seem to exclude all doubt" - they do!
Because that is what the scripture actually states: 
James 1:6 New King James Version  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.


Matthew 21:21,   

Matthew 21:21 New King James Version:   So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.

Mark 11:23

 Mark 11:23 New King James Version " For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.



However, these passages are better understood in the context of trust rather than the complete absence of questions or uncertainty.
You are trying to play with word here.
Yes ,to Trust without doubt. Didn't Peter fall in the water because he doubted ? Didn't Jesus ask to him " why did you doubt"?  Doesn't Romans tell us its a sin to doubt?  Luke tells not to allow doubt to enter our hearts.  I could go on but fail to see the point in doing so only to say that the bible simply does not agree with your interpretation of what those verses clearly convey. 


Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane show us that God is not threatened by honest doubt or questioning.

I doubt very much that the episode in Gethsemane was anything to do with doubting, although his last words on the cross clearly were. But that's for another time . 












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@Stephen
You've really gotten me to use my brain today. Thank you for the challenge! When we read biblical passages like James 1:6 (“…the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea…”), Matthew 21:21, or Mark 11:23, it can seem like Scripture demands an unshakeable, doubt-free faith. Yet, as many Christians and even saints throughout history have found, faith inevitably gets tested by adversity, pain, and the mystery of evil in the world. Mother Teresa—someone widely admired for her sanctity—wrote candidly of her many years spent in a spiritual “darkness.” She confessed that roses of consolation were rare on her path, replaced instead by an abiding sense of desolation and temptation to doubt. Bl. John Henry Newman helps clarify this apparent contradiction by distinguishing “difficulties” from “doubts.” A difficulty, he notes, does not necessarily equal a willful rejection of belief. Instead, it’s a confrontation with questions, the impetus to look more deeply into what we claim to believe. When James 1:6 or Matthew 14:31 exhort believers to “not doubt,” they are describing the steadfast choice to trust God—even when the mind is clouded by perplexity or the heart by sorrow. This is where biblical “belief without doubt” turns out to be less about banishing every question from one’s mind and more about refusing to abandon faith in the face of challenges. Like Frodo in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, who accepts the burden of the Ring despite not knowing the way, a Christian in the throes of hardship can declare, “I will walk forward by faith, though I do not see all the answers.”

In this sense, doubt (in the form of temptation or difficulty) can actually refine and deepen faith. It forces us, in the spirit of Socrates, to examine what we believe and why. Just as Pope Benedict XVI (Cardinal Ratzinger) observed, both believers and nonbelievers harbor elements of doubt and belief. It is part of our human condition to question, to fear being wrong, and even to catch a glimpse of “Perhaps I am mistaken.” Yet, when that moment of uncertainty leads us to seek understanding, find clarity, or persevere in faith (like Mother Teresa did when she offered her darkness to Jesus) it can strengthen our convictions rather than destroy them. Ultimately, Scripture’s call to believe without doubting is about choosing, again and again, to remain faithful to God in heart and will, even if the intellect wrestles with honest questions along the way.
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Ultimately, Scripture’s call to believe without doubting is about choosing, again and again, to remain faithful to God in heart and will, even if the intellect wrestles with honest questions along the way.
And Jesus is the perfect example of trust without doubting.

Matthew 26:39 
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

What was his conclusion.
Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”


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You've really gotten me to use my brain today. Thank you for the challenge! When we read biblical passages like James 1:6 (“…the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea…”), Matthew 21:21, or Mark 11:23, it can seem like Scripture demands an unshakeable, doubt-free faith.

Those  above #6 are a lot of words to simply to tell us that the bible and those verses in particular do not mean what they say but only "seem to" tell one that their faith and belief should be unshakable and doubtless. One has to ask why even put them in such a way when they don't mean what they say?

Mother Teresa

Died doubting. I think she was right to doubt . Those dying children that hardly received any medical care  - not even basic penicillin - suffered in their dying.  She,  if I remember correctly called these dying children " gods contraception"  .   She, being the anti contraception voice of the Catholic church added, "This is how we fight contraceptives and abortions in Calcutta."
And still  you canonised her made her a saint.


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@Stephen
 One has to ask why even put them in such a way when they don't mean what they say?
Because rhetorical style in Scripture frequently uses heightened language to drive home a point. 

Mother Teresa
Catholic teaching generally understands that even saints can (and often do) experience deep spiritual dryness or questioning. You point out that many have criticized how her missions handled medical care for the dying, especially regarding adequate pain relief or basic interventions. It’s also been alleged she referred to some of the suffering as “God’s contraception,” aligning with her stance against birth control. While multiple sources report these controversies, others argue that her facilities were meant primarily as places of refuge and dignity for the dying—though critics maintain that, in modern terms, this care fell short. The Church looked at Mother Teresa’s overall life: Her commitment to serve the most marginalized, the global network of charities she inspired and led, the personal sacrifices she made—living in poverty herself, working among the dying of Kolkata.
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You've really gotten me to use my brain today. Thank you for the challenge! When we read biblical passages like James 1:6 (“…the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea…”), Matthew 21:21, or Mark 11:23, it can seem like Scripture demands an unshakeable, doubt-free faith.

Those  above #6 are a lot of words to simply to tell us that the bible and those verses in particular do not mean what they say but only "seem to" tell one that their faith and belief should be unshakable and doubtless. One has to ask why even put them in such a way when they don't mean what they say?

Because rhetorical style in Scripture frequently uses heightened language to drive home a point. 

Take a slow read of what you have written.

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@Stephen
Ancient writers often employed stark contrasts (“light vs. darkness,” “faith vs. doubt”) to illustrate spiritual truths in a memorable way. The strong wording may serve as a motivational “ideal,” rather than a literal edict that punishes every flicker of uncertainty.
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@Stephen
Take a slow read of what you have written.
And compare to one who paid the price for trusting.

And Jesus is the perfect example of trust without doubting.

Matthew 26:39
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

What was his conclusion.
Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”


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@Shila
Take a slow read of what you have written.
And compare to one who paid the price for trusting.


That wasn't the point I was making.  I am waiting to see if I get a response from he that I directed it at. 

However. As  to what you have posted.

And Jesus is the perfect example of trust without doubting.

Matthew 26:39
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
This wasn't doubt. This was sheer fear of not wanting to go through with the so called "prophecy". I believe it was a plot that went horribly wrong. 


Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
This indeed was a show of  more than just simple doubt. It was a complete loss of faith.
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@Stephen
And Jesus is the perfect example of trust without doubting.

Matthew 26:39
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
This wasn't doubt. This was sheer fear of not wanting to go through with the so called "prophecy". I believe it was a plot that went horribly wrong. 
Jesus put faith and trust in Gods decision. Then regretted his decision.

Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
This indeed was a show of  more than just simple doubt. It was a complete loss of faith.
Jesus regrets his decision.
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@Stephen
I responded on post #11. Am I missing something? I could totally be; I'm not perfect after all. If you don't mind, I would love to hear your insights.
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Ancient writers often employed stark contrasts (“light vs. darkness,” “faith vs. doubt”) to illustrate spiritual truths in a memorable way. The strong wording may serve as a motivational “ideal,” rather than a literal edict that punishes every flicker of uncertainty.
Nothing can be more of a stark contrast than the strong wording by Jesus.

And Jesus is the perfect example of trust without doubting.

Matthew 26:39
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus put faith and trust in Gods decision. Then regretted his decision.

Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus regrets his decision.