In A History of Doubt, Jennifer Michael Hecht describes doubt as a natural human impulse as a way to question what has been known across the ages. When associating the word doubt with religion and faith, people immediately think that it is nothing but a hindrance and obstacle. Jennifer Michael Hecht suggests that doubt not only renews, but also renergizes religion. In other words, doubt is the spark that keeps religion interesting and so unpredictable.
Doubt is not only associated during the 20th century but can be related all the way back to the days of the Romans and Greeks . Jennifer Michael Hecht recalls three philosophies of the ancient Greeks which all relate to doubt. These three philosophies include Cynicism, Skepticism, and Epicureanism. The belief of Cynicism is to simply live how you want to live and not set your standards too high. It claims that you should not question, rather just sit back and relax. Through the studies and ideas of Socrates came the philosophy of Skepticism . This was the belief that it is impossible for us to know everything and in order to come to a better understanding of what we do not know we should ask questions. The final philosophy arose from the ideas of Epicurus and is most commonly known as Epicureanism . This is the belief that we should love everything within our possession and exposes the harsch reality that often times we allow fear to run our lives. In order to be happy, we must learn to accept a natural part of the human condition: death.
In today's world and society, many people think that doubters are opposed to religion and are unable to truly follow their beliefs. Jennifer Michael Hecht says often the doubters are the greatest religious thinkers. Because religion offers many unclear answers, it is natural to have second thoughts. Since the beginning of Christianity, there have been many doubters. Some subjects that may cause doubt to spring up are the Trinity, we are made in the image and likeness of God, and Jesus was both fully divine and human. Even St. Augustine, the greatest church theologian, said "if he doubts he knows he does not know." I think that St. Augustine is saying that doubt is a part of everyone's faith and can often be a sign that maybe your faith is stronger than you think.
When Jennifer Michael Hecht was asked the question whether she was an Atheist, Theist, or Agnostic , she said that she is none of them because she believes these labels wrongfully but people into groups, ultimately exposing them to hurtful judgements. Doubt is a driving force behind religion and a positive philosophy. By questioning our beliefs, we are shaping the world. Even to this day, doubt continues to shape the world and influence us in our everyday decisions. Although many answers still remain unknown to us today, there is always the hope that they will become available.
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