Doubting Toward Faith: The Journey to Confident Christianity

by Bobby Conway, Sean McDowell (Foreword)

Contrary to popular belief, doubt is not the opposite of faith. Rather, doubts call for an important decision—will you give in to unbelief, or will you continue the journey toward faith? Doubt can lead to confusion, hopelessness, and despair. But as this eye-opening book demonstrates, doubts can also deepen your dependence on God, develop your sense of empathy for others, and motivate you to find satisfying answers to life's biggest questions. Here you'll find practical ways to use your doubts to build your faith, such as... No one can eliminate all doubt this side of heaven. So for now, discover how to use your doubts to keep you headed in the right direction—toward faith.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Christianity, Religion

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

Reviews

[ReneeC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book almost in a state of awe. I so wish this had been available to me much earlier in my life. Doubting is something many churches ignore or treat so drastically that no one dare admit it.
We have been conditioned to feel that we are wrong for our doubts... that doubting makes one an immature Christian, or worst of all not really a true believer. When we treat doubts this way we are practically asking our young people to eventually discredit God and faith and turn away from it all.

The author believes that those with overly analytical or obsessive personalities are especially prone to doubts partly because they question everything in their lives! This was so cathartic to hear someone explaining my own thoughts and fears and thereby validating them.

If you are an analyzer like I am, please GO READ this book. We all have 2 choices... doubting toward faith or doubting toward unbelief. Jesus can handle our doubts.

[Terry Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

It really helped me during this season of emotional doubt I was dealing with, how to navigate it.

[Brooke Fradd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book if you need reassurance that doubt is okay.

[Rachel Mahouti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really insightful book. Love it really.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm 45 years old, and I've been a Christian for 40 years. Grew up through the mega-church movement and all that. Went through a few crises of faith regarding the evil of child-trafficking and how God could allow it, etc, etc... Christians can sometimes be tricky to talk to; you have to find out if they think for themselves first, or if they're even honest with themselves, before you can start talking about doubts (*gasp* the horror!!!)...

I've often viewed my doubts as weak faith. Through some good Christian counseling and through this book, I've come to the conclusion that not only will I be 'doubting towards faith' for a good long while; I'll probably be 'doubting towards eternity' until I die, and can ask God a few questions for myself. It's a perfectly normal place to be; and in some cases, a more truthful relationship with God than if you've never had any at all.

Thank you for this frank look into the doubts of Christians. They're very real and we all have them.

[Zafir Ivanov · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is not often that I disagree with almost everything in a book. Bobby seems to think that doubts are a dangerous mental strain.
I think what he is referring to is cognitive dissonance, rather than uncertainty. His entire model seems to be; work to increase your faith and your doubts will melt away.
While this is true, it is terrible model for learning and adjusting our positions to better match available evidence.
About the only thing I agree with Bobby on is found in the appendix on pages 205 & 206- it is the importance of looking after your physical and mental health.
He could have title this book "Don't Think, Just Believe".
If you have doubts avoid this book. Reframe your doubts as things that you are uncertain about, then you can choose to look at available evidence or not depending on your need for cognition. This is a much healthier way to think than Bobby's model.

[M Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book giving many useful insights into doubt and it's various paths it can take. Very encouraging read and made me feel not only much better about the doubts or questions I may have but also what strength we can find in them.

[Bria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was life giving during this season of my life. I hits on so many different doubts believers face and gives direction in the scriptures to overcome them. I just wish the last chapter was a little longer to provide a better conclusion.

[Phillip V · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern classic, I love Rob’s writing style, easy to follow and a pleasure to read. He leads the reader in a way that informs, but lets the reader draw their on conclusions. I found this book uplifting and a regard it, as a personal treasure.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! So much great stuff in this book.

[Matthew J. Winbow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book with loads of good information. One to read through again!

[Brittany Putzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really opened my 👀

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second time I have read this book. It continues to be very helpful.

[Alexa Riddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accessible and encouraging, this book helps the average doubter feel less isolated in their faith and equipped to move forward past debilitating doubts. In its laid back and conversationally written style, Conway offers practical tools for dismantling spiritual doubts and categorizing them so readers can move forward in further research. Despite its hopeful message, however, this book only manages to scratch the surface on this deep a topic. I found myself desperately wanting more scholarly explication, but due to its length, this books functions more as a helpful, condensed manual on this subject. While DOUBTING TOWARD FAITH will serve as just the right stepping stone for some, it might not be the knowledge-filled exegesis needed or wanted by other readers interested in this topic and how it pertains to the Bible/their faith. Still, I intend on reading many of the scholars Conway does quote/cite as part of the research needed for this life long faith journey, and thanks to this book, I am equipped to know where to look next.

[Eli Driskill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bobby Conway presents the issue of doubt in Christianity without the loss of his passionate nature, not allowing the topic to bog down the reader or the author as it is an issue all to prevalent in Christianity today. He has presented a tool box to the Christian who is dealing with doubt, and the phone number to the local hardware store to boot, The Bible.

[Joshua Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing book. Read this book at a time of my life where I really struggled with doubt. I’ve struggled with it growing up. This book has really helped me out in what to do with these doubts and how to fight it. Also I liked it because it’s also practical.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, full of insight to make sense of a complex topic.