Why do Christians insist on lying to themselves and calling it Faith?

Answer 1

Lies are sweeter than reality.

Answer 2

Normally I just click a "thumbs down" for this kind of question and move on.

But, here goes. I am not a Christian. I have been solidly entrenched among the Athiest enclave for many years. But I have survived. And I do it with the respect, (and, sometimes admiration) of many friends of several different faiths. I survive, openly (not from the anonymous sniper's nest of Yahoo Answers) by treating my friends, and acquaintences with the respect their opinions and beliefs deserve.

Having said that, I will attempt to answer the question by analogy.

I believe that we did land a series of manned vehicles on the moon. I firmly believe those crews came back safely and brought back rocks and other expensive souveniers.

I was not among those crew. I did not stand on the moon's surface. I wasn't even there, on the cape, watching the men in silver suits go up the elevator and get sealed into the big rockets.

But I have no doubt that they rode those rockets all the way to the moon ... and back. I accept it as an act of faith, with no more evidence than a few yards of video tape, broadcast and shown on my television set.

It's almost that simple. There are people who are willing to challenge my beliefs and show evidence of my "self delusion." I have seen even more compelling evidence that they are, themselves quite wrong. But I have my faith

They have theirs.

Christians and others have theirs.

Do you have faith that, if your heart stops, that a defibrillator may restart it? How do you know that?

Do you have faith that if you board an airplane going overseas that the pilot will be able to find his way and safely land at the proper destination? How can you KNOW that?

Answer 3

Well, first lets just assume your referring only to the real actual things Christians believe about politics, science and whatever else that doesn't make sense with what the faith teaches or just with reality, as in, the things that really just are not true and it only takes some questioning of ones own beliefs, reflection, consideration and research to see it. Well then it seems to me like they need to do some more questioning, reflecting, considering and researching on that exact question "What could I, as a christian, be blinding myself from do to my faith?" Of course everyone lies to themselves even if they don't know it but some people do more then others because blind faith is about not doubting without trying to verify which seems to only lead to poor questioning, reflecting, considering and researching habits.

Answer 4

Well let me ask you, do you look at the weather channel? When the meteorologist says there will be winds inbetween 50-60 mph, normally you would believe it, no prob. right? or if you go outside and something you can't see knocks you over and its raining and the trees are swaying from side to side, you know its wind, you can't see it, you can feel it but you can't touch it, so naturally you BELIEVE its the wind. Or if someone is pregnant if there are no complications, then naturally you expect and belive that in 9 months she will be giving birth to a baby. You may not be in the room when it happened or even in the same state but you know it did, other people saw it, and so you have faith that she had the baby. People can't see God or feel god, but they see his works, evidence that he exists and for many his influence or lack of in their life! I have firm faith, and i believe deeply, but it wasn't something that you can just have you have to be persuaded and most cases you have to experience it to truly understand.

Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realites though not beheld. - from the New Testament

My definition: Faith- the deep belief, and unwavering assurety of things that will happen, deep belief in something that is not seen.

Hope this helped Coco

p.s. I am a Jehovah's Witness- next time they come to your door, ask them some of the questions that you might have, and see if they can bring you some comfort- you don't have to invite them in, just ask them honest questions that are on your mind.

Answer 5

You don't know what faith is. Christianity, buddhism, taoism, the bon religion, hinduism, and theosophy, and esoteric martial arts all say faith is the same thing. Most of it is dismissed by the followers of said religions as fantastic myths or parables. Believing in something intangible is to faith as the first step is to climbing Mount Everest. There is much more to learn but you are too busy fighting the Jesusbots (who also have no idea what faith is...) to learn. You have no idea what you are missing. Most of this info is hidden and distorted, sometimes purposely. I don't think anyone has to worry about you finding the truth.

Answer 6

Delusion can bring comfort to some people. People with psychiatric illnesses do this every day, so what is the difference?

Christians are weak-willed people who need a crutch to support them. They are cowards and won't fight anyone. Faith is their excuse for their behaviour, but they are in reality weak.

Christians exercise their faith because it reveals and relies on their trust in Jesus. True Christians are strong in their faith, which carries them through wars and troubles. I have known Christians to be in African war zones helping all in need to the danger of their lives, where non-Christians are running away. Who is showing faith here?

I've known Christians beaten to death, frozen to death, starved to death, just because of their faith.

If this faith is a lie, then why do they die for it? If this faith is a lie then why do others who are not Christians attack 'the faith'? What are they afraid of? They never claim they are trying to help the deluded come to their senses!

If people don't want to be Christians then that is their choice, but this section of Answers always seems to be about attacking Christianity. Why is this? Possibly because Christians tend not to defend themselves, whereas other religions are more zealous about defending themselves, such as Islam.

So, if this lie offends you, then what is it that really bothers you. What are your views on a church marriage, a infant baptism, or even a church funeral? Why do non-Christians want these when they do not attend church any other time? Is that not hypocrisy?

Answer 7

I'm a Christian and I've never met you so how would you know whether or not I have ever lied to myself about anything?

Anyways if you are referring to Christianity being a lie as a whole then what I say to you is this Is that A life without Christ is a life that is never fixed.

He's there sweetheart just call out to him he is watching you type every letter of every word.
He loves you so much as do I.

O what love what endless compassion that compelled Him to go all the way to the cross.

Answer 8

Until you can positively and 100% show to the world that what you believe in is the real truth, I wll keep the lies you are saying as my faith. Both of us have no definite proof, everything is still speculative but my faith is 100% making me a better man to myself if not to others because in this faith I still find a reason why I live to die and not just exist then die.

Answer 9

Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.

2 For by this, the elders obtained testimony.

3 By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

Faith is the victory that overcomes the world!

Answer 10

Realizing how to become a Christian is the most important discovery of your life! Becoming a Christian is more than joining a church or saying a prayer. It is a personal relationship that will last for eternity. Do you know what will happen to you the moment you die? Where will you find yourself? Where is your destination?
There are only two destinations - and both are eternal: You will either find yourself living for eternity in heaven or existing for eternity in hell. Where will you be?

Answer 11

How are we (Christians) lying to ourselves?
We believe in the Bible and God. There are prophecies that have been fulfilled in it. Faith is believing in things not seen. I believe in God, I can't see Him, but I see his work here on earth. If I were not to believe in Him than I would be an ingnorant fool, for there is proof (ex. weather, animal life, people) that a God exists and that the Bible is true.