Overall, I agree with all of this -- in case it gets lost.
BINGO!!! They've been brainwashed to think that if they "Pretend" to have "faith" long enough, and consistently enough And always keep their "professions positive", then the DOUBT they feel, doesn't matter.
See, I don't think "pretend" is a good way of phrasing it. When you get into "revelatory" below, you got it!
That's the difference between "Belief" (Mental assent - which has to be held onto and defended), and Biblical FAITH (God's WORD to you, which holds onto YOU against all attacks).
"FAITH" is always revelatory - i.e. God communicating to YOU what He's going to do. OLD Testament examples are plentiful, an are New Testament cases - "FAITH" is listed as one of the Gifts, after all.
So, for those reading, check out Hebrews 11:1 (which Bob C keeps stickin' in there). And I hope we're on the same tracks here, Bob.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Two words very, very important here: substance and evidence (other translations may use confidence and conviction).
Substance - the thing is here, you can touch it. That's what faith delivers.
Evidence - the thing is evident, although you can't see it, because God has revealed it to you by giving you the faith in it.
You can't take Mark 11:24 and say "what am I going to apply this to today?" It don't work that way. God's got to give it to you through revelation of faith. All faith comes from God. God measures out faith to you (Rom 12:3). You don't muster faith. God reveals to you what you may have, and he gives you faith to believe for it, even when you cannot see it or think it could happen. But YOU cannot start the process because YOU want or think you need something.
If Bob C doesn't fully agree with this, then remember, I'm right. ? ?
Yup, removed from both legs, and stitched on. (yes my legs swell).
Well, compression socks and laser boots and whatever the snake oil salesman says tomorrow -- am I right?
What was Abram's "SPiritual Indication", or David's, or Samson's, or Peter at the temple gate when he said "Such AS I HAVE".
No. You can't point to those for whom it worked and make a theology out of what you THINK happened.
God used Abram. And Abram followed nicely.
God used David. And David, although a bad boy at times, fell in line when necessary.
God used Samson. And Delilah cut his hair. Again, God's use.
God used Peter. And Peter was a mess. He didn't follow. God put a leash on him and pulled him along.