Taking a theology class has given me more to think about regarding my faith. While I would not go so far to say my faith has been weakened by the knowledge I have gained, I have given greater thought as to why I believe the things I do.
I had never given much thought to the nature of Catholicism before I took a theology class and my attitude could hardly be described as devout, but looking into the origins has revealed interesting aspects that had never occurred to me before. At times the knowledge imparted on me makes me feel skeptical about what I have read in the bible, an example being the discrepancies between the times the bible was written and when the events described actually occurred. How accurate could these stories be if they were simply passed from generation to generation through word of mouth? Would these stories not have been embellished during that time? While a firsthand account would be far more convincing, that is not an option for us so we must be content taking that which is given to us on good faith.
On the other hand, it is also interesting and quite reassuring to see artifacts from the past that corroborate with chapters from the bible. Seeing a piece of the true cross was a powerful moment, giving me something tangible to believe in. Here was something I could see for myself, lending credibility to that which I had been taught. When artifacts are found containing information of biblical figures, such as documents containing Pontius Pilate’s name, it strengthens the word of the bible and it becomes easier for more to believe in what is being presented for me. It no longer becomes as large of an issue that what I am being told is not firsthand information since there is physical evidence to back it up.
Theology class has shown these sides of religion to me, giving me equal parts doubt and reassurance, but most importantly I have learned to ask questions and look for answers regarding my faith. Ultimately, I have come to the conclusion that the specifics are not truly important anyways, but rather the message that is being conveyed through them and that is all the evidence I need to do my best to live as a good person.
