Why doubt is important to your faith.

Those questions you have? They're important.

Have you heard of Peter Abelard?

Up until yesterday I had no idea who he was. But from what I’ve come to know about Mr. Abelard, I have become a fan. And I think one of his core beliefs is something absolutely integral to our faith.

What is that? Questions. Hard ones. Maybe even doubts. Yes, doubts. Doubts are important. Let me explain.

Abelard was a brilliant man who lived from about 1079-1142. Just a few years ago. He is considered one of the fathers of the scholastic movement. His passion for learning paved the way for universities to sprout up all across the medieval world.

And the church hated him. I mean hated him.

Why? Because core to Abelard’s philosophy was that we need to ask hard questions. We need to deal with apparently contradictory ideas, especially when it comes to faith. Here’s how he put it:

“The first key to wisdom is assiduous and frequent questioning. . . . For by doubting we come to inquiry, and by inquiry we arrive at the truth.”¹

That did not make the church leade…