Do Christians have faith because they know their belief really doesn't make sense?

Question

I'm an atheist and every time I debate with a Christian and they dont have a comeback, they just say "I have faith", It's like an escape route. If they didn't use the "faith" get away thing, the truth will began to surface about how stupid their belief really is. What's the point in have faith? To force yourself to believe in something that has no evidence or logic to back it up? Why else would you have faith? It's not like having confidence. I never heard a Christian say "I have confidence in god".

I also noticed that every time a christian dont understand something, they say "god did it", then they say "that made my faith stronger". In reality, something happened that you didn't understand. That's it. Just because YOU can't figure it out, that doesn't mean god did it

terraform, East Germany. The crime rat was extremely low and they were 90 percent atheist but in west germany where it was mostly christians, the crime rate was sky high

Answer 1

Faith was intended for the primitive folk in Christ's era because they were too primitive in their education, thinking and mindset to understand what was behind his message. This 'unquestioning belief' was designed to sustain the message of Christ over the centuries until the arrival of the Apocalypse (Revelation or 'to reveal') which would demystify the 'mystery of the ages'.

Answer 2

You should read the book, "The Case for Christ". It was written by Lee Strobel. He was the Law editor for the Chicago Tribune, and an athiest. He has a degree in Law (I think from Princeton, not sure though.) Anyway, he was going to prove that the claims made by Christianity, especially about Christ and His divinity, made no sense and could not hold water when under close scrutinty. Instead of proving Christianity to be false he went from being an athiest to be a believer and I believe he is now an ordained pastor. The more he investigated the claims of Christianity, the more he found out that it did make sense and there was plenty of evidence to support a faith in Jesus Chirst.

I challenge you to read that book, and then see if you would still ask such a question. Don't worry, the book is not some dry theological text. It reads more like a John Grisham court novel. It is very well written, and quick and easy to read. Just have your most discerning thinking cap on when you read it. It's more fun trying to poke holes in his evidence just to have him ask the same question that came to my mind on the next page.

Hope this helps. IT's not really an answer to your question, but maybe it could help you find your own answers.

Answer 3

I can see the athiest's point of view if everything has to 'make sense' in the physical/material world. If you study subatomics at all, there are some VERY nonsensical behaviors being observed there! We are also finding good reasons to believe in multiple, coexisting universes or realities. It seems the more science HONESTLY DISCOVERS, the less certain we are about basic laws of physics, and are seeing signs of 'proof' for metaphysical, or spiritual existence.

I feel that as soon as we 'prove' God exists, he will change the playing field, as THE POINT IS FAITH IS BELIEVING WITHOUT PROOF!

I do agree that many 'Christians' can only debate their 'faith' dogmatically. If they did have the inner peace that comes with KNOWING their God on a personal level, they would have no need to debate it, they would just live it.

I feel that when a TRUE athiest looks at this world without faith, hope, and some kinder, gentler, more honest way of 'getting along, Suicide would be their only logical choice.

It is easy to debate the seemingly inane dogmas and doctrines of all religions. It's hard to find a personal faith for yourself, that helps you be a better person, and see the better person in everyone around you, and do YOUR part in making this world a more enjoyable place to hang out in.

Answer 4

I have confidence in God...Complete and utter confidence…Part of the problem you are having in discussions with Christians is that they may not be that far in their faith...I have yet to find something that I get an instant and complete knowledge of. Just because they can't answer the question doesn't mean an answer doesn't exist, they just haven't gotten there yet. Nobody has a comeback for everything. Eventually even scientists say, “We just don't know"...the doctors say, "We just don't know"....Faith is believing even though you cannot use any of your senses to validate its existence...In evolution, the “missing link” has never been found, but that doesn’t stop them from believing that…I’ve yet to meet someone that knew everything about something….in fact, those who usually state that they do know everything about something, don’t….

Answer 5

Ok, Militant Athiest. I'll bite.

You base your query on many falsehoods. You say Christian belief has 'no evidence or logic to back it up.'

This shows a complete lack of knowledge on your part. Try reading some old books.

IF you believe in no creator, then what is 'existence'? If you tell me you do not exist, I will think you crazy. If you tell me I do not exist, then I will know you're crazy.

If you tell me you have no free will, I will think you crazy. If you tell me I do not have free will, then I will know you're crazy.

Establishing existence of free will allows for the basic question of 'why?' - as in 'why existence?'

By asking the question 'why', we have established that there exists a 'purpose', for the answer to any question beginning in 'why' must be in the form of a purpose... the 'because' statement.

So, we must fill in the statement that we both have the free will to ask, and that is ... 'why?'

The response, is therefore... 'because _________________ .'

The trick is filling in that statement.

However, to back up a step.. we have admitted existence, and free will.

How can these two things come to be?

Is there any way they can exist without first being created?

An aside:
================================================
One day, man achieves such a great level of technology that he feels he no longer needs God, since his accomplishments seem boundless. Man approaches God and says 'God, I don't need you any longer. Be gone.'

God looks at tMan and says 'tell you what... prove to me that your abilities equal mine, and I will leave.'

Man looked at his greatest achievements, after which, he said 'God, I will reproduce your greatest accomplishment- I will create a human from dirt!'

God responded 'Let it be.'

So, God gathered his pile of dirt to begin, as did Man. But then, God looked over at Man and said... 'wait- you have to get your own dirt.'

================================================

You see, if you admit your own existence, and your own free will, you must also admit that they (you) were created, and in admitting to a 'creation', you must also admit to a creator.

From this Creator comes your only purpose. From this Creator comes all purpose.

So, let's revisit the question:

"Why am I here, why do I exist, and why does anything exist?"

... "Because, God wants to love you, and you, Him."

Answer 6

I know where yer going when u die! What I'm tired of is God getting knocked off everywhere. I mean no more pledge of allegiance. If you haven't noticed since they started taking God out of schools, these kids are shooting up their own schools. Hello? Wake up! To be honest, if it weren't for the Christians this place would be burned up like Sodom and Gamorrah. Point blank. And does a Christian really need logic? God says he exists so we are supposed to believe. Read the Bible yo. It'll tell you everything you need to know.

Answer 7

Having faith is having confidence in God. Saved Christians who have given themselves over to Christ and accepted God's forgiveness through the Son know that what happens to them here in this life does not matter, so long as they keep their faith. They know that they are going to have eternal life in Jesus Christ. There is no forcing of oneself. A Christian who studies God's word and lives a godly life in Christ knows that he or she knows the truth and is living it. Once one has found Christ, it is very easy to believe. In fact, there is no good reason NOT to believe. The proof is in the word and the heart.

What if you are wrong? Are you willing to risk eternal damnation? Really? Search your heart and study God's word. You will find that the Bible is truth.

Answer 8

Because it's more than confidence, it's faith through experience. There have been many many times in the past where God came through for me, helped me when no one else would. So when you ask me why I believe in God, I say it's because I know He's there, I've talked to Him, and He's answered my prayer. In other words, I have faith.

And btw, we don't debate non-Christians, it's apples and oranges to us.

Answer 9

Saying "I have faith in God" is the same as saying "I have confidence in God."

From a utilitarian perspective, faith and religion makes sense. There have been no successful civilizations without religion. Evolutionarily, the meme survives, so obviously it has value.

Answer 10

Saying "I have faith" is absolutely fine. As long as you don't expect anyone else to go along with it.

EDIT:
Arewethereyet - I'm an agnostic, and one of my best friends is an Anglican minister. We debate Christianity incessantly. The thing is, he's smart enough and posesses enough confidence in his religion to stand up to my arguments. Any Christian who won't stand up for their belief is just sticking their head in the sand, in my opinion.