On Doubt & Skepticism

I'm a Christian or at least I fancy myself one. However, I've spent years as an atheist and more years as an agnostic. I wasn't brought up in the church, was never baptized, never went to confirmation, and never read the Bible until my late 20s or early 30s. I doubted. Doubt is uncomfortable.

As I eventually felt the pull toward faith (which I can't really explain, and there may actually be a scientific explanation for), my doubt became even more uncomfortable. It's difficult to come to terms with ideas that many people accept at face value, and part of that may be because of their history in the church. As I learned more and read more perspectives on the subject, I became even more conflicted.

Making a list of things that I've decided that I do or don't believe in would be pretty tedious to write and for you to read, so I'll spare you. What's more important is that I became comfortable in my unbelief of certain things and have found that many of the details of Christianity have become less crucial. Like it or not, many of the details in the Bible are unprovable or are in direct conflict with other details.

What's more important, in my opinion, are the concepts of love and community. By focusing on these truths, I've learned to sit with my doubt and skepticism.