How to Question Your Faith Well

Summary

Father Mike Schmitz discusses the importance of questioning in faith, emphasizing that having questions is not an obstacle but a sign of a mature faith. He differentiates between 'difficulties', which are questions seeking understanding, and 'doubts', which are rejections of faith. Schmitz encourages engaging with these difficulties as a way to deepen one's relationship with God and strengthen faith, even in the face of challenges.

Takeaways

• 🧐 Asking questions about faith is normal and not discouraged by the Catholic Church.
• 🙋‍♂️ There are different ways to ask questions: sincerely seeking answers or just trying to challenge others.
• 🤔 Some people, like grandparents, may say that true faith means not asking questions, but this is not the official stance of the Catholic Church.
• 📚 The Church values questions, as demonstrated by saints like St. Thomas Aquinas, who engaged deeply with complex questions.
• 🛐 There are different levels of questions: what the Church teaches, why it teaches that, and how to live according to those teachings.
• 💡 Many misunderstandings about the Church stem from misconceptions about what it actually teaches.
• 🧠 Our understanding of faith often lags behind our intellectual growth, leading to more complex questions as we mature.
• 🙏 The Church distinguishes between having difficulties (e.g., understanding teachings) and having doubts (rejecting teachings).
• 💪 Difficulties in faith, like not knowing how to live according to Church teachings, are not sins but opportunities to grow in faith.
• 🌱 Engaging with questions and seeking answers through study, prayer, and community can strengthen faith, even amidst challenges.

Q & A

What is Father Mike Schmitz's perspective on asking questions in faith?

Father Mike Schmitz believes that asking questions is not only acceptable but encouraged in faith. He distinguishes between asking questions to be a 'smart aleck' and asking questions out of genuine curiosity and desire for understanding.

Why might some people raised in religious environments feel they were not supposed to ask questions?

Some people might have been told not to ask questions as a way to discourage them from being disruptive or challenging authority. However, Father Mike clarifies that this is not the perspective of the Catholic Church, which values and encourages questions.

Who is Saint Thomas Aquinas and what is his significance in relation to asking questions in the Catholic Church?

Saint Thomas Aquinas is one of the greatest saints of the Catholic Church, known for both asking and answering the hardest questions. He is the author of 'Summa Theologica,' where he not only answers but also formulates and strengthens questions to seek deeper understanding.

What is the difference between a 'difficulty' and a 'doubt' according to the Catholic Church's catechism?

A 'difficulty' is a question or confusion about what the Church teaches or why, whereas a 'doubt' is a rejection of what the Church teaches despite understanding it. Difficulties are part of the faith journey and are not sins, while doubts are considered obstacles to faith.

How does Father Mike Schmitz describe the process of engaging with difficulties in faith?

Father Mike Schmitz suggests that engaging with difficulties involves asking questions, seeking answers, and wrestling with the challenges. This process is an exercise of faith and can lead to a more mature and solid understanding of faith.

What does Father Mike Schmitz suggest as a response to not knowing how to live up to the Church's teachings?

He suggests that one should not give up but instead lean into God's grace, continue in prayer, and seek the strength to live up to the teachings through confession and faith.

Why might someone feel discouraged when they know what the Church teaches but struggle to live by it?

Feeling discouraged is a natural response to the gap between understanding and living out one's faith. It is a difficulty, not a doubt, and should be met with persistence, prayer, and seeking guidance rather than giving in to doubt.

What role does the concept of 'ten thousand difficulties' play in Father Mike Schmitz's discussion about faith?

The phrase 'ten thousand difficulties' is used by St. John Henry Newman to emphasize that many questions and struggles do not equate to doubt. It encourages believers to persevere through difficulties without losing faith.

How does Father Mike Schmitz view the role of education in deepening one's faith?

Father Mike Schmitz highlights the importance of education in faith, noting that many people's understanding of faith may be at a basic level despite their intellectual capacity. He encourages seeking deeper knowledge and understanding to strengthen faith.

What is the significance of the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) in the context of the discussion?

The RCIA is a process for adults interested in becoming Catholic, where they learn about the teachings of the Church. Father Mike Schmitz uses it as an example of a setting where questions about faith are asked and addressed.