One who claims, "I believe" or one who claims, "I know"?
Example: "I believe in heaven / reincarnation / there is no afterlife, etc" or "I know heaven / reincarnation / no afterlife is real, etc"
Would either answer be considered weak or ignorant?
2006-08-04 10:08:03 · 19 answers · asked by DougDoug_ 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think the second one would be more ignorant because how can they truly KNOW that, or be able to prove it? I can say I KNOW God, but I can't prove that. I believe I have a personal relationship with God, but I have no way of proving it, and I don't care if I do or not. I am happy that I have a relationship with God, and leave it at that.
Saying I believe is giving an opinion. Saying I know is stating a fact, whether what you say is fact or not.
2006-08-04 10:12:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Those that have faith should understand that because what they may consider truth cannot be proven (thus the "faith"), they should always use "believe". I do not believe in anything specifically, but I am able to "know" things, because what I accept as truth can be proven. I would consider any theist who says "know" to be ignorant and a poor portrayal of what faith actually means.
2006-08-04 17:19:14 · answer #2 · answered by reverenceofme 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Intimate knowledge of something or someone is much more reliable than belief. I may believe that a person is kind based on limited experience or observation. I will have intimate knowledge of their character as I spend time with them and am more deeply involved with them over a period of time.
If there are two witnesses of a person's character, one is a spouse and the other is an acquaintance. I would trust the knowledge of the spouse over the beliefs of the acquaintance.
2006-08-04 17:15:23 · answer #3 · answered by po3try 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
faith is the weak one
it was with faith in Hitler that the German people caused WWII
it is with faith in their teachers that Muslims can sacrifice their lives to harm others.
it was with faith that the Crusaders followed the Pope to war.
faith is when someone stops thinking and puts all his trust into another leaving his G-d given common since behind
Knowledge is different, Knowledge changes depending on what one learns. A person that knows G-d is willing to accept other views if they prove to be logical and rational. He is not willing to follow blindly one course with out giving it rational thought.
G-d gave us a brain to use it what a travesty that so many preach that we should shut it off.
2006-08-04 17:16:12 · answer #4 · answered by Gamla Joe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Either way represents faith. Jesus said you only need faith the size of a mustard seed. So it is a mute point, both answers will get you in to heaven.
2006-08-04 17:17:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think if you speak with "i believe" as long as you are speaking for yourself and your own experience it is fine. if you speak of "i know" it is ok if you are speaking of your own experience and how it relates to your life. you can know something, but only if you experience it for yourself and you can only know it for yourself.
the place where i think one needs to be cautious is when it comes to telling another person that what you think they should know or believe--"i know there is an afterlife so you should believe that too", "i believe that you are going to hell", "there is no such thing as reincarnation [because that is what i believe]" : these blank and difinitive statements directed outside of one's own experience do demonstrate weakness and ignorance. it doesn't respect individual learning and free will to explore what is true for them and can be harmful.
2006-08-04 17:43:41 · answer #6 · answered by curious1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One who says "I believe in heaven" is engaging in wishful thinking.
One who says "I know there is a heaven" is not engaged in thinking at all.
I may respect the first person better, but I don't respect either belief.
2006-08-04 17:11:40 · answer #7 · answered by Minh 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe is a better answer.because saying I believe respects the other persons beliefs.Such an answer keeps the channel of comunication open
2006-08-04 17:16:15 · answer #8 · answered by Saeed 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a belief is simple i can believa that muse rock the world even if they dont but with the bible what you believe is backed up by promises and miracles happening even today and belief through a faith backed up by such strong biblical truths surely leaves a knowledges and certainty like i know i am saved through christs blood is better than i know i am saved
2006-08-04 17:14:42 · answer #9 · answered by reecreeks 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even the devil believes in God. The devil was created by God. But I know that I am saved by Grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
If you believe in God----then you have some level of intellectual concept that God exists in some form or another.
Jesus said, "If you know me, then you know the one who sent me." I know Jesus as my savior, and I know God, my heavenly Father.
2006-08-04 17:13:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋