A news editorial I read this morning regarding protests/banning of the books Golden Compass from the His Dark Materials trilogy (soon to also be a movie) got me thinking about testing faith. These books are apparently an answer to C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, presenting an athiest perspective to Lewis's "overtly Christian" one.
As a JW I used to like the scripture about the Boreans who daily tested their faith by "carefully examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" Acts 17:11. In retrospect now, of course, I wonder how it is possible to take that attitude and still remain a blind follower, although apparently my Borean-like approach freed me!
The editorial writer noted that while some parents may want to shield thier children from non- or anti-Christian society, the Gospel does not call on the faithful to hide or retreat into a cloister. Asking questions is healthy no matter what your theological beliefs are, and we shouldn't just read what reinforces our own beliefs and try to censor the other.
One paragraph in particular resounded with me. He says, "It's often said that converts are the most passionate believers because they understand why they believe. They were born to one way of thinking ... but through a process of doubting and inquiry chose another. As a result, they often comprehend the new one better than those who have known only that view all their lives."
I think that is true of so many of us on this board.