Why do people put down doubters? Doubting has gotten a bad name. Poor Doubting Thomas, the one disciple (according to the gospel writers) who actually admitted that unless he saw Jesus himself, he would not believe in the resurrection. I think he's more like humanity than most people want to admit.
It's interesting to me that the writers don't note or emphasize that the others don't really believe until they see him, yet the scriptures do say that. Yet, poor Thomas is the one with that nickname for all time.
I think most of us would have a hard time believing someone we knew who had died had returned to life. We would probably suggest serious counseling for those friends who told us that they had seen him/her. We would wonder what they had been smoking or drinking. Yet, Thomas gets heat for voicing these thoughts.
On the flip side, Jesus doesn't entirely chide and chastise him for this unbelief, saying that those who believe without seeing are even more blessed. So, maybe since none of us can hope to have seen him immediately post-resurrection, we are those who are even more blessed. Not sure.
I wish people would realize that doubt is a normal part of faith. Not questioning anything leads to not growing. It's kind of a disabling, because it is through questioning that a person's faith grows stronger and deeper, as that person realizes the true wonders of God. I encourage everybody I know to have some moments of doubt.
Self-doubt isn't bad, either, as long as one doesn't get mired in it. It's good not to be so cocky that you believe you can't ever fail. Self-doubt and humility are closely related. The problem comes when self-doubt controls a person to the extend that he/she can't go any further. Then there is a problem. Until then, it is a helpful quirk.
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