The role of doubt in a life of faith

William Lane Craig on how some doubt is actually part of a life of committed faith.

close

Summary

William Lane Craig on how some doubt is actually part of a life of committed faith.

Simon Smart talks to William Lane Craig, a philosopher and Christian apologist who has authored more than thirty books, about the role of doubt in a life of faith.

This is a short segment from a longer interview. To watch the full interview, click here.

Transcript

SIMON SMART: To what extent does some doubt play a role in a life of committed faith?

WILLIAM LANE CRAIG: I think that traditionally Christians theologians and ordinary believers have understood that doubt actually is part of the life of faith. Very often great saints of God have gone through what they call ‘the dark valley’, in which God may not seem real to them and they trust in God to get them through that dark valley and bring them out on the other side. And this is not inimical to faith, or contrary to faith, this is a part of the life of faith. The trust in God just as Job in the Old Testament trusted in God as he went through terrible suffering and loss. And this isn’t a blind or irrational faith – on the contrary, in those moments where we go through the dark valley it can be helpful to remember all of the good reasons and evidence for God’s existence, that our faith is not based just on emotions, but it’s based upon the truth, and therefore we can trust God to help get us through those difficult times.