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Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) made the following very astute observation: "There lives more faith in honest doubt, believe me, than in half the creeds." Creeds that have been fabricated by men quite often result in little more than repetitious recitation and rigid application devoid of reflection. Although they may have been intended to clarify theological thought, too frequently they simply result in the termination of it. Once a theological position has been "officially" pronounced, many of those who embrace it perceive no need to ever again revisit that creed spiritually and intellectually. It has been carefully carved in stone and stands inviolate, inflexible and immovable. Indeed, to challenge, question or doubt such creeds in any way may well be perceived by the party powers as heresy. And yet, were it not for such "heretics," one has to wonder where we would be today with respect to the advance of God's kingdom on earth and our understanding of His divine design for our lives. Were it not for those few who dared to doubt, and who sought to scrutinize their church confessions in light of Scripture, how paltry our professions of faith would be today. As C. C. Colton (1780-1832) so insightfully observed, one rarely enters the temple of wisdom save through the vestibule of the personal doubts of honest, seeking minds.
http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx375.htm
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