When questioned about their beliefs, religious folks just end the discussion with, "You just have to have faith." Is that defined as guilibility? Are those people telling me that I should just accept something that is easily questioned and the only reason they won't answer is that they don't know themselves? Is that faith? Do people really live their entire lives with "faith" as being the only answer to thier endless amount of questions? People seem to think that it should end all questioning, but really it doesn't, for me anyway. Define faith.
2006-09-13 18:24:38 · 34 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Am I supposed to have faith in a quote from an old book? An old book written by humans?
2006-09-13 18:31:06 · update #1
Faith is the safe way out for people who can't handle uncertainty. Faith is for people who can't stand the thought that they will cease to exist when they die.
Faith is for people who aren't mature enough to live this life knowing that it is our only life and that is our responsibility to leave this world a better place for the generations that follow us.
2006-09-13 18:36:03 · answer #1 · answered by Jim L 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
U believe that world will not end today do u ?. Its ur faith and we all believe that world may end up with 3rd world war or even world is endless. We don’t really know the future, but we are still living with some faith that our life will be good.
That’s the faith. It’s the mind game.
People of all walks of life have faith in something. A robber, business people, sports people, the bottom line is everyone on this dam earth is living with some hope and faith.
As far a god is concerned, it really depends on ur experience. We cannot see the god. But there is something very important that our history says. We cannot just discard our ancient knowledge, information, sacred books like bible, gita , quran.
U just ask ur self how these things have took place. How, how, how???? There is some sort of power behind all these happenings. And that power or the energy is the god. Just think why and how wind blows?
And with meditation and concentration u can reach god and even talk to him.
cheers
2006-09-13 18:51:18 · answer #2 · answered by gudlava 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
faith (according to dictionary) has several meanings.
meaning 1. Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
meaning 2. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.
meaning 3. Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance ( keeping faith with one's supporters.)
meaning 4. The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will. (Christianity)
meaning 5. The body of dogma of a religion: (the Muslim faith.)
meaning 6. A set of principles or beliefs.
Perhaps your 'religious folks' have taken the 'meaning 2'? These people may seem to think that it should end all questioning. So what? God has given you the common sense.
He has revealed in the holy scriptures through his Prophets all that is required for us to know. The only Book that has been preserved till today in its original form is the Qur'an. It is the Word of Allah revealed to us through (the last in the chain) Prophet Mohammed p.b.u.h.
2006-09-13 19:19:55 · answer #3 · answered by aboosait 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Elphaba,
It is a very important word to understand; Faith.
Most people are familliar with the noun usage of the word. As in,
"I have faith."
"You don't have faith."
"You've got to have Faith."
"Where is your faith?"
It's possessive. Typically singular. And it doesn't go beyond mentioning in most cases when it's brought up. Most people will leave it at that.
What I aim to do, is show you the verb; to Faith. There is something more than just belief to this word. You can use it in a sentence like this,
I am faithing towards one of God's promises. The pronunication differs slightly from the noun usage. The noun form ends with a 'th' sound like you are going to say 'that.'
The verb form of the word uses the 'th' sound, but more like you are truncating the word 'the.' So without the 'uh' sound, 'cause that would sound dorky, (lol) but more like you are dragging out the 'th' longer.
The verb of course describes and action. Like swimming, running, jumping; so faithing.
We all know what those other verbs mean, but how to apply 'faithing' to our typical language use?
So faith is an action, based upon belief, sustained by confidence.
That relates to belief, but as you can see, it ain't all it is. There is confidence, and it is sustained.
Faith can be out into use in everyday life. You cannot function properly without it. To have a lack of faith, you would wake up in the morning and wonder if your every move would happen the same way it happened the mornings before. We typically don't wonder before we get out of bed, if our feet weren't going to touch the floor. If gravity would somehow fail us, and we would be lifted above the ground. The get dressed and go to our cars without wondering if the car would start. We don't wonder if the streets would still have the same names when we got to them.
That's the confidence part of faith. We merely go about our lives expecting things as they have been. Even though today, we haven't tested them yet. We don't even have to wonder. everyday nothing changes, so our faith in the things of everyday life are sustained.
That's faith. And I could get into the Biblical Greek on this subject and further describe what the concept of faith was to them. But that's not what you asked for. I merely gave you the description of faith in English.
2006-09-13 19:07:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Faith is belief, trust or confidence often based on a transpersonal relationship with God, a higher power, elements of nature and/or a perception of the human race as a whole. Faith can be placed in a person, inanimate object, state of affairs, proposition or body of propositions such as a religious credo.
Faith is distinct from hope in that faith is typically general, rather than specific to an aspect, and in contrast to a "false hope" in a fantasy, the object of faith typically transcends what can be proven scientifically and sometimes exceeds what can be objectively defined. Faith can mean believing unconditionally. It can be acceptance of something that one has been told by one who is considered trustworthy. Faith, by its very nature, requires belief outside of known fact. Faith is formed through instinct, intuition, meditation, communing with nature, prayer, or perceived usefulness of a belief system.
A delusion is commonly defined as a fixed false belief and is used in everyday language to describe a belief that is either false, fanciful or derived from deception. In psychiatry, the definition is necessarily more precise and implies that the belief is pathological (the result of an illness or illness process).
2006-09-13 18:31:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Trust or belief in something that you cannot see - such as the wind blowing - you can only know the results of it once it has affected you. I'm not gullible - there are many questions that do have answers and I search them out. But when an answer is not to be had, but there is evidence of its affect, then I have to trust or believe or have faith that it is. I cannot see that the earth goes round, but I trust that science has proven itself capably to trust that it is. Now, it would no longer be faith on my part if I could travel above the earth and actually see it rotate for my self. So, there are all kinds of questions and issues that I have to either accept as having been proved and therefore truth or accept on faith that it is truth.
2006-09-13 18:33:32 · answer #6 · answered by dph_40 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
FAITH = RELIANCE
Faith is relying on God and nothing else. Not men, women, politicians, wealth, beauty, intelligence or possessions.
You say that you don't have faith...I believe you. Why??? because you've been honest. It might greatly surprise you how many people that say they have faith, really don't.
You say you don't have faith. I say you don't have it yet....Why do I say yet??? because you're honest... I didn't always have faith; but, I was honest. If you're really sincere in wanting faith, ask the Lord, you might be as surprised as I was.
Grace (God's mercy) is a gift....what many don't realize is that faith is also a gift, not free will.
Even the Apostles had no faith at first:
Mar 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
But later when they had seen and understood the evidence they had faith...
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
I never end a discussion with you just have to have faith. The Lord reveals His truth only to those He has chosen to receive it (at that time or possibly ever)
(Joh 6:60) Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it?
(Joh 6:61) When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
(Joh 6:62) What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
(Joh 6:63) It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
(Joh 6:64) But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
(Joh 6:65) And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Does that make a True Christian that has received the truth better than everybody else??? NO, just VERY rich (not wealthy, rich)
FAITH = RELIANCE ON GOD ALONE for SALVATION
HOPE = TRUSTING GOD'S PROMISES
HOLY SPIRIT = SPIRIT of TRUTH
the BEGINNING of UNDERSTANDING = FEAR OF THE LORD
WISDOM = OBEYING the COMMANDMENTS
2006-09-13 18:53:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I too find it annoying that people can't give a basis for their beliefs.
I have seen lawyers who excel at arguing and proving hide their religious views because they cannot explain them.
Foolish really.
Faith is more than a belief.
It is a conviction of something unseen based upon things that are evident.
There is substance to what is believed, and this is what separates it from credulity or gullibility as you discribe it.
Example:
The title deed to a parcel of land is evidence of it's existance and who owns it. There is a basis for believing that parcel of land exisits although you may never have seen it.
Faith can also be a discription of ones actions:
We are told to exercise faith.
Few would be willing to change their behavior based upon what they think might be true. But if one is convinced that conviction changes their behavior.
Example:
If you knew the plane was going to crash or the ship was going to sink, you avoid boarding it. But will you never fly or sail because it could crash / sink?
One reason why some find it hard to explain their belief is because despite what they claim they lack the faith sufficient to be fully convinced themselves.
Apostle Paul said it better:
2006-09-13 18:38:31 · answer #8 · answered by icyuryy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, for me, faith is a blind belief in something that cannot be proven scientifically. It is a comfortable, spiritual feeling from deep within. I have felt it since childhood, and has nothing to do with other people, or whether they can prove or disprove anything. The part of faith I love is that it's mine alone...I am not trying to get anyone else to believe in it....it's just a personal thing.
2006-09-13 18:36:13 · answer #9 · answered by oldtrash06 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As a christian my faith is not blind faith but a faith based on facts. If you are willing to objectively test the claims of christianity they stand on their own. Theres is plenty of evidence to support the authenticity of the bible (ie the Dead Sea Scrolls) and if you are willing to put in the time and effort to seek the truth faith is the place that you arrive at when you believe in Christ because your mind has been satisfied and your spirit has been awakened to the truth. A great website to get links to christian apologetics, creation etc is www.christiananswers.net
I guess it takes faith to believe in anything. Personally I would need more faith to believe that the world evolved from nothing and by accident and this would be blind faith because the theory of evolution is just that - a theory! Look at the incredible creation around us - it didn't happen by accident.
2006-09-13 18:31:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋