Wrestling With Doubt: Theological Reflections on the Journey of Faith

by Frank D. Rees

As human beings we wrestle with doubt in understanding faith; yet throughout Christian history doubt has been seen as inappropriate. Teachers and pastors have enjoined their people not to doubt, while theologians have sought to explain how faith is to be understood in a way that overcomes doubt. In Wrestling with Doubt, Frank D. Rees provides a theological analysis of doubt as a constructive element within the Christian experience of faith. He considers three theological frameworks, each of which offers an interpretation of doubt, and two life-story theologies that deal with faith and doubt. These approaches are shown to depend critically upon the concept of leading to the conclusion that an adequate understanding of the relation of doubt to faith is ultimately a theological issue, requiring an understanding of God appropriate to the personal dynamics of faith and doubt. Wrestling with Doubt presents a theological argument which includes and combines theological scholarship, biblical reflection, and pastoral experience. It is for all who may have rejected the idea that doubt and faith are incompatible, but have not thus far been offered an adequate theological argument for their intuitive reaction. It will also be useful for pastors and teachers, as a reference text in pastoral theology and as a resource in spiritual direction. Chapters are "The Modern Problem with Doubt," "Faith as Assent, Incompatible with Doubt," "The Word of Creating Faith, Excluding Doubt," "The Dynamics of Doubt and Faith," "Doubt and the Religious Self," "A Celebration of Doubt," "The Context of Divine Conversation," "Faithful Participation in the Divine Conversation," "Faith in Belief and Doubt," and "Constructive Aspects of Doubt."

238 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2001