Dark Night of the Soul

Lately I’ve been hearing of struggles people have been having with their faith, many of them refer to the experience as a ‘dark night of the soul’.  Mostly the opinion is that this is a negative thing to be feared, though some who’ve come through it claim it’s strengthened their faith. 

So what is faith?  It’s defined in general as ‘complete trust or confidence in someone or something’ and more specifically as ‘strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof’.  I think the second half of the definition is more applicable to the most common understanding of the word.

Interesting choice of words…’based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof’.  The definition of apprehension is not a positive one: anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.  The definition says that it’s this apprehension, this fear of something bad happening, that’s the foundation of one’s belief…rather than proof or reason being the foundation.

This is wrong.  Just plain wrong.  We are reasoning, thinking beings, each of us capable of leadership and co-operation for common good. And for cultivating and drawing out great things from creation, ourselves and each other.  Yet on the whole, we don’t use our individual and community reasoning capacity to test and evaluate and choose the best way, with both short and long term vision in mind.   

We separate, divide, bicker, follow, ignore…and fear.  Instead of facing our fear, both individually and together in community, we retreat into ‘faith’, holding it up like a shield against reason.  Yet in doing so, we remain in a prison of our own making.  A prison of apprehension. 

Of course, we are reasoning beings, and every so often the need to reason things out becomes a driving force within us.  And we look at our faith with open eyes.  It’s at that time that we face a crossroads within ourselves.

For most, they struggle through this dark time of doubt, and reaffirm their ‘faith’ even more strongly.  But for some…there’s light on the other side.  It’s hard to lay down the shield of this kind of faith, and instead pick up the two edged sword of reason and trust.  It involves looking honestly and without motive at what truth really is.  And isn’t.

If you’re facing such a dark night, or want to be prepared for one…start by looking around you in creation.  The evidence of the Creator’s character is there.  Stop just taking people’s word for things, do your own honest investigating.  Examine yourself for motives…especially hidden ones.  When you hear something, or read something about the Creator…examine and test it against what is already evidenced in creation.  Hold your beliefs loosely…truth doesn’t need you to hold on to it or defend it.  It’s outside of you.  Your beliefs, on the other hand, are a human invention that can be damaged or lost.  Or given up for something better.