If You Have Doubts But Want to Stay in the Pews


Maybe everyone knows some people like this. I've known many. They may not believe anything about the faith but they like to be in and around a church. There are other church members who do not want them there. A prominent writer who is Mormon tells readers she has her doubts about the faith but stays in it. It's OK she says if people such as her choose to either stay or leave. 

She points out the sociology of her denomination is such that the most loyal and undoubting people are looked upon favorably. Being popular, this kind of person rises to the top within the denomination. This surely represents most denominations in the faith. While it might be popular to think that is how it should be, a denomination could ultimately be harmed. Viewing the faith's tenets with some skepticism allows one to understand others who experience skepticism. These are folks the denomination needs to survive. And, people who don't believe but enjoy being around a church want the church and the faith to continue. 

Several years ago my wife and I contemplated leaving our home of almost 50 years in Fargo. Our daughter here in Des Moines mentioned casually to one of her Congregationalist pastors we were moving here. She also mentioned we are not believers. The pastor said we would be welcome in her church, "We have a lot of atheists." It makes one wonder, who are these atheists in the church are and why or when did conversations happen that outed the atheists? 

Another example is a woman who suffered pain during mesopause. Traditional medicine was not helpful. Eventually, she found relief by taking plant-based medicine that comes from inside the world of witchcraft and not considered by traditional medicine. Today she continues as an Episcopalian but reaches outside into the practice of witchcraft for additional ideas and the help it provides her. The author of the link has visited lots of groups practicing various kinds of witchcraft. She found many people are using magic from the Old Testament as a jumping off place to enter another world. 

Catholicism has lot of saints, Paganism lots of gods. The two offer flexibility to roam the underworld of religion taking what helps and leave all else aside. All religious traditions could be helped by following suit.  

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