Is Christianity based on FAITH or PROOF?

Question

If you truly take God on FAITH, meaning that you accept the absence of proof, how on Earth do you choose?

If I choose to put my faith in a giant cheeseburger as God, and accept on faith that said cheeseburger exists WITHOUT proof, would you ask me to prove it? If so, then how would you reply if someone asked you to prove that the Christian concept of God truly exists?

If you think about it, just look at all of creation for the proof of my claim. How can you deny the fact that McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and so many other hamburger restaurants have prospered and continue to bring wealth to so many? Is this merely a big coincidence?

SO, if your religion is based on PROOF, how has it been proven in a way that this one hasn't?
If it is based on FAITH, why should I take your religion on faith and not this one?

Answer 1

I would say it's hard to proof religion. First, how are you going to proof it? By using scientific way of proofing? I don't think it will work. Besides, religion is not as simple as "there is god and there is religion". I believe religion (including christianity) can exist without god.

I would say Christianity (and other western religions) is based on faith. I personally take Christianity because it's the one religion that fits me. Looking for religion is like looking for a wife/husband/partner. it's not the best one, but you have faith in the person (that you're marrying or choose to spend your life with) and she/he is the best for you.

Answer 2

Proof.

You cannot have a religion on blind faith. That's just stupidity. That's how you get cults where everyone kills themselves.

The fact that burger chains prosper does not prove anything. They were merely people who saw an opportunity to make money off of a good thing. People liked burgers, so they ran with it, and that's how they made money. A hot dog place can make millions too, and have nothing to do with the great burger god the chains claim to appease. Rather, look at the people who provide the veggie burger. Is it better for you than the greasy hamburger covered in cholesterol-raising products? No. However, it doesn't get the attention. Why? Because the hamburger is more appetizing. So the burger chains give out this substitute which is tastier than the turkey burger, but is really dangerous. They say to the people "Forget what you need. You can get a burger here and still get the taste you want. We won't bother you."

Hence you get a bunch of major "Christian" religions that are raking in the money and gaining many people because they tell them that they can do what they want, and ignore what the Bible really says. Why? Because it gets more people and they get more money. "You can do whatever you want long as you give us money, come to church sometimes, and maybe say a prayer."

But I'm getting off subject. Faith is often compared to a sunrise. We have faith that the sun will rise tomorrow. We know this because the sun has risen over and over in the past. Likewise, we have a number of Bible prophecies that have come true throughout history. Therefore, we have faith that God will do the things he's said, but not yet fulfilled.

But those prophecies show us that there must be a God. There's also scientific facts stated in the Bible that were mentioned sometimes centuries or even millennia before they were even theorized. If you look at some of the commands in the Mosaic Law, they protected against diseases and illnesses that people didn't even know existed. Heck, back then they thought that illness was caused by evil spirits. Why do you think the Jews didn't eat pork? They didn't have the capabilities to cook pork satisfactory enough every time, and risked getting very sick from it. Later on, when technology advanced, this restriction was lifted. One can look at the fact that we can see color, appreciate beauty, love art, enjoy music, and other things we have that aren't necessary for survival, and likely would be sacrificed in favor of more efficient activities in the evolutionary process. There are a multitudes of reason to believe that there is a God, and I only hope that all these points weren't mentioned as I wrote this.

The Bible says to “test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God.” - 1 John 4:1 In other words, we are supposed to ask questions, and we should not be satisfied until we get them. You shouldn't be told to not ask questions, or that your demand for reason shows a lack of faith. That goes completely contrary to what the Bible teaches. We shouldn't rely on faith alone, but we should have faith, because we know that what we believe is the truth, based on proof.

Answer 3

dear Mr. special agent,
I know there are a whole lot of people saying 'you just gotta have faith' 'you just gotta believe'. Its a nice thought and it works for some of those personages. Thats cool, right? But in actuality there is proof...It happens everyday. And sometimes it rains. Not just any rain though...Rain at the drop of a hat or more literally speaking the drop of a foot...just when someone asks...perhaps we should say there is proof because some have faith and if there were no some there would be no need for proof. I think I am rambling now. Forgive me. But what I was saying is this: I think that many of those people that have faith have witnessed something great. They've felt and/or seen the proof. One of those ---God, if you just help my mom get better--- and she was sort of things.
So, for the proof I will submit the water of Fiji ...that is a little different then McDonalds I would think.
All the best....Sorry if I threw in too many rambles.

Answer 4

People believe that ancient books are proof enough. They figure that since they are still around, the stuff inside must be true. They don't understand that there are several old books and they can't all be true.

Christianity is based on faith; blind belief without proof. Christians believe that there doesn't need to be proof because they think they feel something inside of them telling them that there is a god. They say that it's a spiritual thing. This feeling can't be proved either. It's convenient that nothing about Christianity can be proved.

Answer 5

Christianity is based on faith and supported by proof that would carry the weight of conviction in a courtroom. People who think that there is no evidence to support the claims of Christianity just have not had access to the right material.

I could cite several historical examples of atheist legal scholars who went out of their way to investigate the claims of Christianity according to the rules of evidence used in a court of law and when they were all finished they became Christians. The latest person who did that was Lee Strobel. He was a legal scholar and he worked for a major newspaper. One day his wife came home and announced that she had become a Christian. He spent many months traveling around and asking tough questions of scholars and historians like a prosecutor would in an attempt to prove to his wife that her faith wasn't based upon facts. Lee became the Pastor of a church and has written many books like The Case for Christ where he details his investigations in an attempt to convice reasonable people like himself who have legitimate doubts about the truth behind Christianity like he did.

http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Authors/Author.htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan&BioID=StrobelL

Lee Strobel
Lee Strobel, educated at Yale Law School, was the award-winning legal editor of the Chicago Tribune and a spiritual skeptic until 1981. A former teaching pastor at two of America’s largest churches, he and his wife live in California.

Answer 6

Religions are based on faith. But when they want to convince you to be a believer, they use the rhetorics and discourse strategies you use when you want to prove something through reason. The problem is that when you want some proof, they tell you again that you have to take it on faith.

Answer 7

Faith. My own life is a testimony to God and what He can do. Miracles do happen ! To truly undestand about faith study the bible and you will see that many things He said have already happened and there are only a few things left then He will return. I look forward to this day.

Answer 8

based on today's society, i think it's more faith than proof. nobody can detemiine what really happened 2000 years ago. people may refer to the bible for answers, but truth is, it may have been written by people that had a biased point on a story told to them - the way they want to see it. just like your explanation with the burger companies.

Answer 9

Christianity is a Faith based Religion.
But, if you want proof, just look all around you. Who do you think created the wonders of the world?

Answer 10

each faith is in line with faith and perception. you have a series of ideals and the e book of that faith. the two you have confidence what that e book says or you grow to be an outcast. you need to be a democrat or a republican yet you are able to't be inbetween. you ought to have a reason to combat for or to oppose. you're no longer allowed to be independent. however the path to the certainty is a winding one that works via ideals and disbeliefs too.