The experience of doubt can be understood relative to faith and to belief. Doubt is commonly perceived to be inimical and opposed to, even erosive of one’s faith, as an absence or significant lack of affective confidence and trust in God, in the divine-human relationship and in divine nature and power. The one who doubts is seen to be weak in faith. Relative to beliefs, doubt can be defined as an absence or significant lack of assurance and certitude, even an active dissent and questioning of religious doctrines and practices that traditionally provide structure and meaning to the faith experience. The one who doubts is seen as an unbeliever, unwilling or unable to acknowledge, assent to and embrace the truth of religious tenets and teachings.
Religious beliefs provide a way of articulating, conceptualizing, and providing meaning to the faith experience, that is, to the individual’s experience of God and their relationship. Beliefs are about putting the faith experience into words....
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del Rosario, I. (2014). Doubt. In: Leeming, D.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6086-2_180
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