I believe in God. Is faith just the acceptance of the Christian doctrine? Are Jews faithful? Muslims? Buddist? I think they are, so why do Christians talk about faith, only when they are talking about Jesus? Are you trying to convince yourselves? Is faith a learned trait?
2006-10-19 03:19:58 · 14 answers · asked by ? 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Everybody does. Faith is just wishful thinking, and everybody has that from time to time. It's something we should try to minimize, though. Faith can be learned, in that people tend to want to think true what people tell them, especially children. However, it is also a human characteristic, in that we react emotionally to the world around us and tend to want it to be a certain way. We'd rather have a made up answer than just admitting, "I don't know".
Not everybody has faith in gods existing. I don't feel a need for such fables.
2006-10-19 03:21:20 · answer #1 · answered by nondescript 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hebrews 11 – What Is Faith?
April 12, 2002
by Wayne Jackson
Hebrews chapter 11 is a biblical record of faith. The examples listed there are our roadmap to understanding true faith.
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews has often been called the biblical “Hall of Faith.” Certainly it does present an informative discussion of what constitutes genuine belief. Note the following points.
Faith Is Rational
By faith we “understand” that the universe is not self-existent; rather, it was designed by the Creator (v. 3). The notion that one cannot be intelligent without being anti-religious is a myth propagated by those who hate God. Logic and faith are companions.
Faith Depends upon Revelation
God has, in history, “borne witness,” “warned,” “called,” etc. (v. 4,5,7,8). Man does not intuitively know how to serve God. The Lord has spoken (Heb. 1:1), and, in the final analysis, that revelation is embodied in the Holy Scriptures.
Faith Involves Trusting Our Maker
When Noah was warned of God, though he had never seen a flood, he prepared the ark (v. 7). Abraham left Chaldea “not knowing whether he went” (v. 8). Clearly, trusting the unseen God is a vital component of true faith.
Faith Is an Action Word
Whereas many seem to entertain the notion that faith is merely a mental conviction, this chapter reveals that faith, in order to be valid, must act. By faith Abel “offered” a sacrifice (v. 4), Noah “prepared” an ark (v. 7), and Abraham “obeyed” the Lord (v. 8). Faith, divorced from obedience, is dead (Jas. 2:26).
Faith Discriminates
It chooses the spiritual over the material, the eternal over the temporal. Moses chose heavenly riches over the treasures of Egypt (v. 26).
Thus, somewhere in your margin write: The nature of true faith. Then, under that, list the five components outlined (and italicized) above, and the verse numbers appropriate to each of them.
2006-10-19 10:24:45 · answer #2 · answered by proscunio 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Faith is what motivates people to act on their beliefs, especially when it's hard.
No, faith is a concept that can be applicable to all religions, and even daily life (I have faith the other drivers won't want to crash into me, so I can act and drive in my car).
Is faith learned? Yes, I think so. When I act on a belief, even though it seems hard, or I don't really get it, and then after a little while it becomes easy to do, and easy to understand, that builds my faith.
good question.
2006-10-19 10:25:40 · answer #3 · answered by daisyk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
accepting a higher power is in charge at the end of the day. Knowing you have personal responsibility to do your best though a safety net exists of spiritual power if you tap into it.
Nothing can happen without God's leave so excessive worrying, trying frantically to change it is just going to lead to frustration.
Just doing your best and leaving the rest.
Humility knowing its not all about you but service to to others. Also knowing its OK to take care of YOU.
2006-10-19 10:25:54 · answer #4 · answered by FoudaFaFa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Faith" means that you choose to believe something even though you have absolutely no proof of it.
It would be perfectly legitimate to speak of little kids as having "faith" in Santa Claus.
Adults with the same quality of mind and lack of critical capacity have "faith" in other totems, usually with an expectation of greater returns. Santa just brings you candy once a year. "Jesus" promises eternal life.
Nearly all religions insist upon "faith," exactly because their claims are utterly without rational warrant. "Blessed are ye who have not seen, and who believe."
Personally, I'm with St. Thomas. Let me stick my fingers in the nail-marks; then I might believe in the Resurrection. This is the scientific attitude applied to religion.
But even Paul said: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
People generally have the idea that it's "wicked" to expect proof from religion; the whole point is supposed to be that you "accept" various points of dogma purely out of a desire to be "righteous," without reference to actual facts. Obviously religious "authorities" have a vested interest in perpetuating this mentality, upon which their power depends; but it's become so ingrained in the thinking of the peasants that they automatically accept the most ridiculous assertions without question so long as they come from said "authority."
2006-10-19 10:23:25 · answer #5 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Even satan believes in God, but what he does not have is faith in Him, and in the shedding of the blood of Jesus, that paid for our sins, so we can be cleansed before God.
Faith- Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
It's knowing with all your heart that God will give you His very best, as long as you place His needs before your own, and give Him the glory He deserves. He is greater than we are.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
This is how powerful faith is for the true believer...
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
I have complete and total faith in God and in the power of the blood that Jesus shed for me, and I praise the both daity!!
2006-10-19 10:26:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Faith is essentially meaningless... pointless.
To have faith in something is to believe in it without reason / logic... or indeed in direct spite of such. Its completely unfounded belief, and as such, being devoid of reason or substance.... all it really has is the word itself.
Which is why I advocate having Plegdib instead. Its sorta like faith... equally meaningless.... but considerably more awesome (inherantly so, without justification) and comes with a free lollypop. ^_^
2006-10-19 10:23:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Faith is to Believe in the only one God, to believe in all His prophets, to believe in all His books, to believe in all His angels (I am talking about Islam) and to do everything He orders u to do.
2006-10-19 10:23:43 · answer #8 · answered by Nightingale 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1 "
"And without faith it is impossible to please God because one must believe that He exists and that He will reward those who earnestly seek Him" Hebrews 11:6
2006-10-19 10:24:00 · answer #9 · answered by ddead_alive 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
faith is taught and not necessarily during childhood. when bad things happen to people and they start going to church or hanging out with religious people, they think that because they didn't have faith, bad things happened to them. what they don't realize is that bad things are going to continue to happen no matte how long you live.
2006-10-19 10:23:11 · answer #10 · answered by peggy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋