Have you ever heard the phrase encouraging you to “doubt your doubts?” Recently in a testimony meeting it was shared and it left me in a place of confusion, kind of a stupor of thought you could say. To say you should doubt your doubts is like saying it’s not ok to change your mind. To me that begs the question, where does free will fit in? Have a listen and then I’d love to hear your take on this episode. (Link for Thomas Edison quote: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/greatest-inventor-thomas-alva-edisons-vision-failures-narayanan/)
Hey there and welcome to episode 6 of the “Beyond the Shadow of Doubt” podcast.
I am Meagan Skidmore, I’m a Life transitions coach certified through the life coach school & I work w/ parents of lgtbq+ kiddos of a conservative faith background. My goal w/ this podcast is to bring the traditionally somewhat taboo topic of doubt and questioning out of the shadows of shame and into the sunlight.
Recently in my congregation was held what we call a “fast and testimony meeting. This is where members who feel so moved are able to come forward and bear witness of their faith in Jesus Christ and his gospel. One individual stood up and shared something to the effect that it was basically encouraging us to doubt our doubts. I do not recall the specific sentences. But I do remember how I felt. Confused. Unsettled. It didn’t sit well with me. I put pen to paper and this is what I came up with….
….. “to say you should doubt your doubts is like saying you shouldn’t change your mind or that its not ok to (ie reconsider beliefs you have made)
where is free will in this scenario?
where is the growth in this
(brett’s testimony)
.to say you should doubt your doubts…..well isn’t that doubting? It’s kinda contradictory isn’t it? It spins you in a circle…The phrase doesn’t make sense to me.
Doubts are a natural human process. I genuinely do not understand this belief system or thought train that is widely out there of not encouraging doubts and shutting them down really. Why not allow it? This is a sincere ask.
It is unhealthy not to allow the natural course of when something does not make sense, or there is a gap or a blank to be filled in…. To be human is to be curious, creative and to explore.
I find it interesting that
Thomas Edison’s teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything.”
He was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive.”
As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb.
When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?”
Edison replied,
“I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”
From: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/greatest-inventor-thomas-alva-edisons-vision-failures-narayanan/
Over the recent few years I’ve accumulated quite a few new books about the human brain one of which is called Neurosculpting: A Whole Brain Approach to Heal Trauma, Rewrite Limiting Beliefs, and Find Wholeness by Lisa Wimberger — the following passage is found on pp 35-36
Then add:
Here’s the thing….how many times have you graduated from “primary” or basic beliefs in your understanding of faith/the gospel of Jesus Christ? Let me explain…..
We all have to start somewhere…just like in school. It makes sense that we start in pre-K with the basics—letters, numbers, colors. Then in Kinder, first and second we move on to more advanced reading, writing and maths and with each grade we up level — at least that is the idea. We are each individuals so of course we will progress at our own pace. The same is true in our learning of our faith no matter what our faith background may be, or when it started. We begin with the basic or primary principles. And then we build on that. Sometimes in youthful innocence we may misinterpret or misunderstand something but perhaps it doesn’t register until years later. Good thing God, the Universe, the Divine or the however you refer to a Greater Power in your life created our minds such that we can adjust our view points and change our thought processes as we learn, our understanding increases and wisdom grows.
I know I am called to this work. I know there is a specific place for our LGBTQ+ siblings and family in the gospel of Jesus Christ,…. in the plan of our Heavenly Parents.
It is my belief it is a place so special we haven’t quite found it, or it hasn’t fully been revealed quite yet.
I suppose you could say like Edison did it is a process with 1,000 steps. It is my sincere hope to contribute to some of those steps. I hope you will contribute some of those steps, too.
If you know of someone who could benefit from this message please feel free to share it with them. I would appreciate it if you leave a rating and review as it bumps my podcast on the algorithm which increases visibility. To schedule your coaching session go to my website https://meaganskidmorecoaching.com. The first is always complimentary. As always, I will leave all sources referenced in the show notes.
Sending love to each of you. Until next time.