Asking questions Quote by Benjamin Alire Saenz
“I'm an ex-Catholic priest. I have such a complex relationship to Catholicism. On the one hand, if I called myself a Catholic it would have to be a very unorthodox one, as I just don't believe all of the teachings of the Church. But on the other hand, I'm an educated man because the Catholic Church educated me. It gave me something that is really important to me. So I always think about my faith. I always have it, and sometimes I can't talk about it, and sometimes I can. I am like an adolescent in that way. Teens are asking questions: who is God and what does it mean to have faith?”
About This Quote
A former priest grapples with his faith, feeling both educated by and critical of the Church.
In simple terms: Struggling with faith and education.
Key Takeaway
Embrace questioning while honoring learning.
Themes
faith
education
conflict
Mood
introspective
conflicted
Type
personal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- spiritual counseling
- academic study
- personal growth
Key Concepts
theology
identity
self‑reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- What does faith mean when teachings feel incomplete?
- How can one honor education while rejecting doctrine?
A Different Perspective
Faith can be both grounding and destabilizing.
