Faith by its definition is not an obvious, provible or easy. At least it is an existential challenge. I had a preacher once say to me that having faith is like figuratively stepping off the edge of a cliff. In other words, moving ahead with something very difficult or dangerious without knowing the outcome in advance.
The literal meaning of the written word is more or less considered solid ground. But it is anything but solid. Literal meaning is testimony without proof, unless you believe it to be the word of God, which seems to me to be a leap of faith or act of faith.
So, how is it that traditionalists or fundamentalists are so sure of themselves as to proclaim certainty or absolute truth?
2006-07-04 10:13:02 · 4 answers · asked by zclifton2 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
SCARY huh?
But as a devout believer it's just a fact of strong Christian life.
2006-07-04 10:21:46 · answer #1 · answered by Celtic Tejas 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As in most cases, faith is a belief without any solid evidence unless one chooses to accept testimony. Many fundamentalists choose to accept certain parts of the written word, but reject other, less clear passages. They are not sure which interpretation of the more obscure passages is correct. In general, most of them do capture the spirit of what is written, but do not have solid, logical reasons. Why are you asking? Faith is a belief system that works relatively well for the believer. Nonbelievers have some logic, some science, and a lot of unanswered questions which may give them little or no peace of mind. All people are capable of believing, but some choose not to. Some choose to believe we need oxygen, but have never seen it, never investigated it, just took someone's word that it exists. That's faith.
2006-07-04 17:34:52 · answer #2 · answered by jelesais2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I might be considered a traditionalist.
I take the Bible as wthe word of God, because it is the best philosophy I have encounered. It takes faith, sure. No one has ever given me anything like adequate cause to doubt my beliefs.
People talk about he US system of government as "flawed but the best we have," I feel the ame way about Christianity. There are some elements that are hard to understand, but on the whole it makes more sense to me than any other system of belief.
I am just doing my best; each one has to do what makes sense to them. But do something; question life. Socrates said that "the unexamined life is not worth living." to go through life without having attempted to make sense of things means you really didn't live at all.
When you do come up with some answers, hopefully at the end of your life, it will have proved a worthwhile commitment.
2006-07-04 17:24:40 · answer #3 · answered by Wisdom63 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
faith there were times I didn't think of it I just had it didn't know why couldn't explain it didn't understand the word just felt the power around me my whole life on January 20Th 2004 something happened I finally after 48 years got my answers Iv try ed to explain it to others since then Iv learn more everyday try the Shepherd chapel there on at least one or more stations in your area satellite and cable and basic usually in the morning.
2006-07-04 17:35:18 · answer #4 · answered by Jimmy B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋