Doubt vs. Belief

I have read much on the power of doubt to inspire change. While doubt has its place, I think it is all too often incorrectly celebrated and eulogized as a motivator for change. We seem to be building up a cultural reverence for those who "doubt" as the wise ones of our society.

Doubt may spark us to question, but it is only the belief that we can find an answer, or the belief that something needs to change, that will motivate us to move past the question. Belief motivates change.

Throughout history, people have created and shaped societies, searched for truths and solutions to problems, and made discoveries because they were motivated by a belief that they should or could do so. Humans are creatures of belief. It is belief that inspires us to find a new way to do something, belief that inspires the pioneers in every field of science, and belief that moves us to make social and political changes.

The Founding Fathers of the United States said, "I believe..."
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "I believe..."
Mahatma Ghandi said, "I believe..."
Nelson Mandela said, "I believe..."
Even Adolf Hitler said, "I believe..."

Whether it concerns social, scientific, political or religious matters, belief is what motivates us to work for something we believe is better--even if we're wrong. Belief is what encourages us to effect the change that we want to see in the world. Believers act, move, change and motivate others to change. A person can be full of doubts, yet never move toward finding answers; thus they make no changes and accomplish nothing.

Belief that we can find an answer encourages us to search. Belief that we have found an answer inspires us to move, to change, and to persuade. Whether to do good or evil, we are motivated by our beliefs.

Doubt is but a question; belief is an action.