Bec and Asa were joined by Brian Harris from the Avenir Leadership Institute to explore why belief in God comes naturally to some but feels like an uphill climb for others. From childhood experiences to personality traits and the role of doubt, Brian unpacks the factors shaping faith.
Childhood Shapes Belief
“Sometimes it’s about your early childhood experiences,” Brian explains. If life feels safe and predictable, trust in the world and God can follow naturally.
For others, challenging childhood experiences can make belief harder. “They haven’t seen anything that promotes trust or faith for me,” he says.
Personality and Perspective
Faith isn’t only shaped by upbringing. Brian notes that some minds need everything laid out clearly. “Unless everything’s a little key is crossed, they find it too hard to believe,” he says.
Similarly, interactions with believers can help or hinder. Friends who express faith unclearly may inadvertently push seekers away.
Faith as a Quest
Brian encourages sensitivity to those with what he calls “quest forms of faith.” These individuals approach belief as a journey rather than an instant certainty.
“Faith is a long search,” he says. “It doesn’t come easily. Sometimes churches don’t respond well to that curiosity.”
Acting ‘As If’ You Believe
Not everyone needs 100% certainty. Brian emphasises that belief can grow gradually:
“Some people are willing to act as though they believe, and hope belief comes along the way,” he says. Faith often starts with small steps, not total certainty.
Practical Steps Toward Faith
Brian suggests starting with simple, practical actions:
“I can accept that the Christian faith teaches we should be kind to others. Let me practice kindness as a virtue and see what happens in my life.”
Testing small truths can open the door to deeper belief without needing to resolve every doubt at once.
A Gentle Invitation
Faith doesn’t have to be instant. For some, it’s a quest, a curiosity, a journey of small steps. Whether confident or struggling, there are ways to move from doubt toward trust.
“You don’t have to accept everything in all its nuance. Start with one thing and see if there’s truth behind it,” Brian concludes.
Listen to the full conversation below.