A Young Doubter’s Simple Theological Perspective Examined Philosophically

Now, I am expectantly staring at this blank paper, as if wishing my pen would act on its own to do the job for me; however, the paper just stares back at me blankly. This time, I will meditate through exercising my thinking, doubting, and analyzing skills up to their limitations. I will exert full efforts in attempting Rene Descartes¹’ concept of doubting and philosophizing, and then I’ll endeavor to resolve the doubts and questions that had arisen. I will try to doubt every prejudice and preconceived belief I have in mind, leaving no trace of bias and impartiality behind. Honestly, a beginning “doubter”, I found most if not all of the Philo 10 readings quite confusing and to which I am totally unfamiliar to.

I grew up always being told and reminded by my elders of what is good and what is otherwise, of what act is right in God’s eyes and what is not. Since childhood, I have been attending worship services religiously that I could even count my absences in my fingers. One was when I was diagnosed of having an acute tonsillitis-pharyngitis, one when my grandfather died, one when Mama passed away, one when my youngest a-week-old sibling died, and the rest I have forgotten, an early sign of Alzheimer’s, as noticed by my Philo 10 professor. When I came to high school, I studied at a ministerial academy exclusive to our religion. Although the usual secondary education subjects are also taught to us, there are additional subjects like the ministerial lessons and a foreign language elective (which will be useful to us if we continue to college if ever we would be destined abroad after). However, I ended up here in UP. But I don’t have any feeling of regret, though I wonder if I feel the same way upon taking up Philo 10. Yet there’s no doubt that this subject helped broaden my critical thinking skills and stimulated my mind to be “freer” than ever before.

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