Is there an element of risk in faith?

Question

When one says, “I have faith in X”. Is there the implication that one could be wrong?

Answer 1

Of course. But faith is about actively deciding to act with certainty even when the situation is uncertain. It's not just about religion - its about anything in life - starting a business, getting married, going to school, taking a job, deciding what movie to see on a Friday night, etc. If you cling to the actually reality that we live in a completely uncertian world (which is true) then you'd be completely paralysed - faith gets you beyond that. Faith lets you function in life by just trusting that you're right, even though you could be (and will be) wrong sometimes.
:-)

Answer 2

That's a really good question. Let's use an example. I have faith that the stoplight is going to work correctly... when it turns green I can go and the other cars will stop. Is there a possibility that something could go wrong... yes. The stoplight could stop working or someone might not obey and drive through and hit me. So yes, I believe there is an element of risk in faith. That's what makes it faith.. there is no exclusive, tangible proof.

Answer 3

Yes. There are chances of one going wrong on something they have absolute faith in, without questioning or having any logical reasons for their belief. Without the element of risk, or blindly believing in anything in a certain faith, which directs or sets certain rules, and going extremes to prove that this faith is infallable, I feel is being a fanatic.

Answer 4

Speaking as a fundamentalist - Yes. There is a risk. Having faith, by definition, means believing in the unknown and unproven. All intelligent people function on faith. We all go to bed assuming we'll get up in the morning, yet history bears out we're all gonna die someday. Ergo, it's faith that you'll get up alive after sleeping.

Answer 5

There is as much risk in faith as there is in taking a revolver and putting one live round in it. Does the possibility exist that I could die wrongly? Of course it does.

BUT those with real FAITH say they will be protected. My ONLY protection in that matter is NOT having a live round in the gun.

Yes I know it is a convoluted scenario but I am sure you get my drift.

TFTP

Answer 6

Then, there is no faith. Here is a good example:
A man is climbing a mounting and night falls while he is climbing. In the dark, he doesn't see and misses a step and falls down a cliff. By luck, he is tied up to the mountain and the rope stops him from falling. He is in pitch black darkness and he starts to pray for God to save him. In the darkness, he hears a voice that commands him to cut the rope and be saved. He listens and decides that its too risky and he remains tied up, hanging in the dark and eventually, he dies of the cold. The next morning, they find his dead body hanging about 2 ft. from a solid block of rock that has a cave for shelter.... I hope that explains what faith is.

Answer 7

The element of 'risk' in blind faith in old belief systems is that it stops human souls from growing by finding the truth.

Answer 8

yes faith is believing in what you cant see. so yes there is a chance it could be. But if in your faith you find your answers then faith will grow.

Answer 9

Yes there is. But it seems ingrained in our human nature to have faith. So keep the faith but let it not be blind faith.

Answer 10

Yes lets say that someone believed they had the True religion and they turned out to be wrong. they assume nothing happens. but, they did not assume that with other people that did not think as they do........so lets say there is a God but he/she/it doesn't like arrogance..........you know what happens to those self righteous creeps.