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Mendalla

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Doubt and Faith

Why I put this on my wall instead of my blog, I'll never know. Moving it here to make it easier to link to.

 

I post this so often, I'll just stick it on here for quick reference. It is by Robert T. Weston and has been a reading in at least two UU service books, including the current hymn book Singing the Living Tradition. It captures my thoughts on the subject so perfectly that I can't see any reason to write any commentary on it.

 

Cherish your doubts, for doubt is the handmaiden of truth.

Doubt is the key to the door of knowledge; it is the servant of discovery.

A belief which may not be questioned binds us to error,

for there is incompleteness and imperfection in every belief.

Doubt is the touchstone of truth; it is an acid which eats away the false.

Let no man fear for the truth, that doubt may consume it; for doubt is a testing of belief.

The truth stands boldly and unafraid; it is not shaken by the testing;

For truth, if it be truth, arises from each testing stronger, more secure.

He that would silence doubt is filled with fear;

the house of his spirit is built on shifting sands.

But he that fears no doubt, and knows its use, is founded on a rock.

He shall walk in the light of growing knowledge;

the work of his hands shall endure.

Therefore let us not fear doubt, but let us rejoice in its help:

It is to the wise as a staff to the blind;

doubt is the handmaiden of truth.

 

Mendalla

 

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Lori-Ann's picture

Lori-Ann

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I rather like that, especially the line "He that would silence doubt is filled with fear;"  I have found that it has been through the acceptance of doubt that I found my deepest moments of faith. It's a conundrum to be sure.

cafe