doubt

Great Faith.
Great Doubt.
Great Effort.
        -The three qualities
           necessary for training.

	(Zen poem)

Doubt, in a religious sense, has always been seen as the dark and negative twin of faith. Thomas was scorned for wanting to investigate Jesus's wounds. Doubting scripture is seen as a sin of pride. And doubting God's word was what led to the original sin.

Why is doubt so badly cast? Because churches want strong, faithful followers who will forge ahead for their cause, not hesitant doubters worrying about what lies in ambush to the sides.

But ours is pretty much a post-religious society... so have things changed? Well, a little. But too many teachers would rather read out Newton's laws or the Theory of evolution from a textbook than answer the 'smart-alecky' question-askers' doubts.

What you won't hear in a classroom is that for every scientific theory that is now high-school gospel, somebody had to first doubt the theories that came before. Doubt is always the first step towards knowledge. (In Adam and Eve's case, the knowledge of good and evil.)

So, I now proclaim: doubt! Doubt everything you are told! (And give your teachers a nervous breakdown.) 8^) After all, the most interesting parts of all theories are often reached only through asking those little nagging questions:

• how can light always be the same speed if the earth is changing speed all the time? (as we go round the sun)
• if evolution is gradual, how did we get eyes?
• if I swung a long pole fast enough, couldn't I move it faster than the speed of light?
• if I jumped up high enough, would the earth rotate under me so that I land in a different place?

Doubt (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Douted; p. pr. & vb. n. Doubting.] [OE. duten, douten, OF. duter, doter, douter, F. douter, fr. L. dubitare; akin to dubius doubtful. See Dubious.]

1.

To waver in opinion or judgment; to be in uncertainty as to belief respecting anything; to hesitate in belief; to be undecided as to the truth of the negative or the affirmative proposition; to b e undetermined.

Even in matters divine, concerning some things, we may lawfully doubt, and suspend our judgment. Hooker.

To try your love and make you doubt of mine. Dryden.

2.

To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive.

Syn. -- To waver; vacillate; fluctuate; hesitate; demur; scruple; question.

© Webster 1913.

Doubt, v. t.

1.

To question or hold questionable; to withhold assent to; to hesitate to believe, or to be inclined not to believe; to withhold confidence from; to distrust; as, I have heard the story, but I doubt the truth of it.

To admire superior sense, and doubt their own! Pope.

I doubt not that however changed, you keep So much of what is graceful. Tennyson.

To doubt not but.

I do not doubt but I have been to blame. Dryden.

We doubt not now But every rub is smoothed on our way. Shak.

That is, we have no doubt to prevent us from believing, etc. (or notwithstanding all that may be said to the contrary) -- but having a preventive sense, after verbs of "doubting" and "denying" that convey a notion of hindrance. E. A. Abbott.

2.

To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive of.

Edmond [was a] good man and doubted God. R. of Gloucester.

I doubt some foul play. Shak.

That I of doubted danger had no fear. Spenser.

3.

To fill with fear; to affright.

The virtues of the valiant Caratach More doubt me than all Britain. Beau. & Fl.

© Webster 1913.

Doubt, n. [OE. dute, doute, F. doute, fr. douter to doubt. See Doubt, v. i.]

1.

A fluctuation of mind arising from defect of knowledge or evidence; uncertainty of judgment or mind; unsettled state of opinion concerning the reality of an event, or the truth of an assertion, etc.; hesitation.

Doubt is the beginning and the end of our efforts to know. Sir W. Hamilton.

Doubt, in order to be operative in requiring an acquittal, is not the want of perfect certainty (which can never exist in any question of fact) but a defect of proof preventing a reasonable assurance of quilt. Wharton.

2.

Uncertainty of condition.

Thy life shall hang in doubt before thee. Deut. xxviii. 66.

3.

Suspicion; fear; apprehension; dread.

I stand in doubt of you. Gal. iv. 20.

Nor slack her threatful hand for danger's doubt. Spenser.

4.

Difficulty expressed or urged for solution; point unsettled; objection.

To every doubt your answer is the same. Blackmore.

No doubt, undoubtedly; without doubt. -- Out of doubt, beyond doubt. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Syn. -- Uncertainty; hesitation; suspense; indecision; irresolution; distrust; suspicion; scruple; perplexity; ambiguity; skepticism.

© Webster 1913.