People of all beliefs and nonbeliefs: what is "FAITH"?

Answer 1

Good question.

I can answer specifically from a Christian viewpoint...

Christian Faith is not blind faith. It is a faith that is based upon Evidence, and that is consistent with Rationality.. In other words, Christian Faith is a Rational Evidence-based Faith.

The Bible presents Christian Faith as Trust (based on history and relationship) in the Christian God (not as blind faith).

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Speaking of Evidence ...

For scientific and intellectual evidence for the existence of God, see http://www.godsci.org/gs/godsci/evidence.htm

For evidence for the historicity and truth of Jesus Christ, see http://www.godsci.org/gs/chri/jesus.htm

I used to be an atheist. Over a period of time however, I grew convinced of the existence of the Christian God, and ultimately committed my life to Christ (e.g., see http://www.godsci.org/gs/chri/testimony/seek.html ).

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And to understand what Christian Faith is, it is necessary to understand what the object of Christian Faith is (i.e., the Christian God, and the gospel of Salvation).

For a brief explanation of the gospel (of salvation through Jesus Christ), see http://www.godsci.org/gs/new/essence.html

Cordially,
John

Answer 2

Put simply faith is trust.
we exercises faith every day when we go to the doctor or go and eat in a restaurant or many other things we do. we have faith that the doctor knows what he is doing, and that the cooks are serving good (fresh) food
so don't let anybody fool you into thinking that people who have faith are fools because we all exercise faith in some way or another
Faith is only as good as the object that you are putting your trust in. If you have faith that thin ice will hold your weight and you go walking out and fall though then your faith is worthless
Just as a very small amount of faith in something that is truly trustworthy is of great value. If you had very little faith in that ice but it was quite thick and could hold your weight then your faith would be worth while although it would not be your faith that held you but the strength of the ice
It is not nessesarily trust in some thing that can not be proven or without evidence. Those who put their trust in Jesus the Christ because of what they have read in His word have very compelling evidence to believe it is true and to put their faith in Him
Now faith in Jesus the Christ means that you trust Him to do what He said He would do, and deliver you from your sins.
I can think of nothing or no one who is more trustworthy and reliable than He

Answer 3

there are two types of faith:

1- evidential faith (also known as trust) is exactly what it sounds like. it's faith based on evidence, whereas knowledge is based on proof. the thing about evidential truth is that it always comes with small amounts of doubt. if you have evidential faith in something, then you should always recognize the possibility that you might be wrong because you only have evidence and not proof.

for example, if you sit down on a chair without first checking to make sure the legs are bolted on correctly, then you have faith (or trust) that the chair won't break. (and you're basing it on evidence that you've gathered about chairs you've come across in the past or whatever.)

2- unconditional faith (also known as blind faith) is when you believe in something unconditionally no matter how little evidence you have (if any at all) or even if you have counter-evidence. unconditional faith also requires that you be 100% sure of yourself despite the lack of evidence.

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DON'T let christians like JOHN and DAVID V tell you that the sort of faith they have in god is evidential faith. if they truly do have this sort of faith, then that means they have to admit the possibility that they might be wrong. no one should ever be 100% sure of anything based on evidence. the only way they can justify being 100% confident is if they have PROOF in god. evidence just won't cut it.

it is clear that the sort of faith they have is unconditional. ask them if there is any condition under which they might stop believing in jesus. they will say no. this is how you know that their belief is unconditional (aka blind).

Answer 4

The Bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is seeing with God's perception, instead of with our own. This enables us to walk in peace, even when things don't look like they are going to work out. It is trust.

Also, it is action. The Bible also says that faith without works is dead. If we say we have faith, in other words, but do not help the poor, etc....we just speak empty words.

Answer 5

Faith is accepting a statement or proposition as true in the absence of specific confirmatory evidence. This should be distinguished from doing so in the presence of specific contradictory evidence; that's called 'willful ignorance' or more commonly 'stupidity.'

Faith should also be distinguished from trust, which is belief based on past observations.

Answer 6

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Answer 7

To me as a Muslim, word Faith means the way I live my life, the standards of morals I have, things I do to help others.
I am responsible for my own sins (bad acts/deeds) and no innocent man or part has to die for it.

Answer 8

Faith is just a trust that something is true, without verification. It's like a bite of intuition.

Answer 9

When it comes to religion, the definition of faith is believing in something you know isn't true.

Answer 10

faith is the substance of things hope for the evidence of the things not seen