From what people say, having faith means choosing to believe something without any indication that it is true. Essentially, "Convince yourself this is true and you will end up believing it." Isn't that a complete tautology?
2006-09-10 11:20:16 · 16 answers · asked by Thomas C 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If faith is believing what you cannot see, why should I believe it?
2006-09-10 11:24:15 · update #1
If you have a better definition for Faith, please tell me what it is. Are you playing some kind of guessing game? I'm supposed to come up with a better definition?
2006-09-10 11:25:50 · update #2
When I cross a street, I don't do it based on faith. I do it based on my observations about the world. For example, I do it after looking both ways and seeing that there are no cars coming.
If I were one of those crazy people who cross the street in front of oncoming traffic, I suppose I would be doing it based on my observation that people tend to stop.
2006-09-10 11:29:28 · update #3
I get it that faith in the sense of "trust" is necessary. For example, I believe that community and family are based in many ways on a common trust. However, trust is something that should be earned and learned. It should not be conjured out of nothing. I have been told many times by religious people that all I have to do is "Try It". I.e. try believing in god. To me, that is an absurdity. If I were to decide to believe or convince myself that God exists, then of course I would believe. That's the tautology.
2006-09-10 11:35:45 · update #4
GreyLady, it is a tautology to say that: "If you convince yourself that something (anything) is true, you will believe it." -- according to both your and my definition of tautology.
2006-09-10 11:38:18 · update #5
AbbyGirl, We're actually talking about whether you believe in god here.... so the "without faith it's impossible to please god" line is rather vacuous.
2006-09-10 12:04:05 · update #6
Faith is the word that the foolish give to ignorance.
2006-09-10 11:24:03 · answer #1 · answered by stevewbcanada 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Faith gives you hope. Faith doesn't mean that you have to believe in a God. Faith could be a belief that the one you love will love you back. Faith could be that when you wake up in the morning and go off to work, that your job will be waiting for you. Faith is hoping that you will not die in an automobile accident on your way home and etc. and etc.
2006-09-10 18:30:54 · answer #2 · answered by Call Me Babs 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him." (Hebrews 11:6)
Our faith is a well-reasoned and not a blind faith. The testimony of the Gospel writers is faithful, and stands up to strict evidenciary rules required by courts of law.
Simon Greenleaf, the founder of the Harvard Law School, had actually set out to disprove the resurrection, so he could disprove Christianity. After examining the evidence, he was convinced that under the same legal scrutiny required in any other case, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ was a real event.
2006-09-10 18:34:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Tautology?
Thanks for introducing me to a new word.
I like it.
Most people think faith is first and foremost.
Wrong.
Romans 10:17 says faith .....follows.
what does it follow?
The thing heard.
In other words, one does research, studies, meditates, reasons and draws conclusions based on knowkedge and logic.
What does that lead to?
Faith ....the ASSURED expectation according to Hebrews 11:1
2006-09-10 18:26:38 · answer #4 · answered by Uncle Thesis 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not necessarily, tautology means needless repetition in speech or writing or a statement that is always true because it includes all logical possibilities. Faith is a belief in something, be it logical or illogical. To that person who has faith in something it is true. If they decide not to have faith in something, or someone, then it is not true.
2006-09-10 18:30:44 · answer #5 · answered by greylady 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try proving anything absolutely true beyond all shadow of a doubt when we can't even be sure that what we see and touch is real because our senses are not always accurate. If we didn't accept some things on faith, we wouldn't be able to believe anything accept that which is self-evident. "I think, therefore I am."
2006-09-10 18:29:57 · answer #6 · answered by Cardea 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Faith creates the space for endless possibilities to occur. Without believing in anything,you accomplish nothing.Faith with actions committed to it makes things happen.Peace.
2006-09-10 18:31:45 · answer #7 · answered by wildrover 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Is the definition of faith according to the Bible
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek.
It is impossible to please God if you dont have faith......sure you cant see God in the flesh but you have heard about Him from others that Do believe and have faith that God is real, sacrificed his son to die for us, faith to know that the one true God loves us and wishes to be close to each and every one of us.
It would be easy to believe and have faith in something that is right infront of you, but in believing without seeing....based upon what you hear from others who believe in God or from reading the written word of God....that is the true test ........and I have to tell you I would rather place my trust and faith on God anyday then any man on this earth.
I encourage you to read the written word of God in the book of hebrews the whole 11th chapter talks of many people in the bible from Able, Enoch, Noah Abraham, Sara, Isaac, jacob and esau, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gedeon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David and Samuel and all the prophets... these people through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought rightteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched t he violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made stronger, waxed vialant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens(armies from other territories)
It was by faith all these men and women believed in a God they could not see and By faith believe in what He said and promised them and it was by faith they recieved these things in which God said would be to come.
2006-09-10 19:05:59 · answer #8 · answered by wendyceline2001 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Only weak people need religious faith.
Crossing the street is another thing - you see what is coming and you make a decision based on that.
Sorry Mr WHY!
2006-09-10 18:29:09 · answer #9 · answered by Marc B 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Faith is believing what you cannot see.
2006-09-10 18:22:45 · answer #10 · answered by bettyboop 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋