Hope and doubt

First published 1st April 2015

Doing this helps me ask some of the questions that Ive had in my own mind for a long time.

 

Faith has always been part of the landscape. I was brought up in a family of faith, went to church, Sunday school, wed quite often have clergymen round for breakfast before Sunday services. Then I went to a secondary Catholic school and it was an international school so we learned about other faiths as well through that.

I was very much a part of the school choir and the local parish choir as well. There was quite a bit of confusion at times trying to work out what the difference was between Catholics and Anglicans which led to a lot of discussion with our RE teacher Miss Peel.

I went on to university in Northern Ireland towards the end of the Troubles there. There was a bomb in the town I lived in during my first term. At Christmas time youd have the local band playing in the town centre next to servicemen with guns. It was always really strange to see that people singing about peace next to people trying to keep peace.

I remember once in my second year suddenly deciding to take myself to church at Easter time but other than that I didnt show any interest at that point at all, like a lot of people Ive interviewed.

I started doing the Sunday morning programme on BBC Bristol two years ago. I was fascinated by the subject, talking to people about ethical issues, moral issues, faith issues. Its been a huge privilege ever since.

The main thing that Ive got from doing this is that it helps me ask some of the questions that Ive had in my own mind for a long time. I now know that lots of people in various positions of faith, whatever faith they are, they have their own doubts, their own questions about things, its not just black and white all of the time.

My favourite hymn is

Lord of All Hopefulness.

It has a very simple message for me. I think everybody wants to hope to believe that you are protected, guided, watched over. Thats something that I hold dear.

Lucy Tegg presents

Sunday Breakfast

on BBC Radio Bristol

This was adapted froma live BBC interview at Bristol Cathedral, which can be heard

online here

(47 minutes in).

 

/ Contemplate now

Is doubt something you can accept - in yourself or other people?

Has believing in God's protection helped you step out into the unknown, the dangerous or the uncomfortable?

Does hope cancel doubt or is it beyond doubt and certainty?

 

/ Meditate through the day

When Lucy interviewed the Archbishop of Canterbury, during his visit to the Diocese in September, he talked to her about his own doubt. Look for doubt and despair in and around you, and bless it with hope.

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