Is there something profound to belief beyond the component of faith?

Question

Let's say, I wrote a book. In that book, there was only one sentence. That one sentence reads "This is the greatest book ever written." I let my Dad read the book. He turns to me and says to me "That is not the greatest book ever written." All I do back is say "But, Dad, it says so write here!"

The question is, then, if someone calls into question your faith, your religion, your texts, and everything some man on a podium ever told you, what do you have left to defend your beliefs, since an object can not be used in its own defense?

Put another way, what makes you know that there's something else out there, a god or whatever else you believe in, ignoring faith and being told so by someone else?

Love, birth, happenstance, coincidence, luck, beauty?

I'm really tired of people justifying hate (the main target seems to be gays right now) with religious texts and speeches and think that there surely are other people out there who base their beliefs upon something more profound than being told to think that way from birth.

I should clarify. I believe in something! I was rescued from death a few times, that's how I know. Some people say beauty in the universe. I'm looking for if there are other people who base their beliefs upon something other than texts and parents and preachers, something profound, an experience.

Answer 1

nothingness or infinity

Answer 2

how i see it is on a train you cant see the driver yet you know your not driving
same on a plane ,or perhaps it becomes clearer by seeing your computer
you know you didnt make it but someone says bill gates did ,well we know bill makes programs for computers and even if he made some computers someone else made the one your using

now say that a man came and stood beside you and told you he made it
he just threw some dust into the air and presto thats how he made it ,you know the guy is crazy ,yet other men in lab coats can tell you random chance made not only your computer but every thing ,so you can believe the world made itself or the father made it
cooincidence i believe not
pure blind luck perhaps what do i choose that fluke of chance ; god
so you have faith or not that that which created the dust is forever and eternal or not
billgates couldnt care one way or the other
i say god made it and heres the outline ,the blue print now show me how you rekin it happend by chance
proove it
there are a lot of people that will claim they did it
get them to make a new one for you
using thier own dust
you didnt write the bible ,its not your words you are defending or offending ,but till science creates its own life from its own dust im going with the word
man is unique ammong all creation to be able to read the words of long dead men ,thinkers of men ,most have concluded in favour of the word
happin-stance perhaps
co-in-cidence i think not.

Answer 3

Wow - you pack a lot of question into a question.
What I have left to defend my beliefs consist, as does yours, of a personal experience, the God tests identified in the Bible which does not rule out their validity any more than a letter rules out your book.
Most objects are used in their own defense. Scientifically, a chemical element would be hard press to defend its identity w/o itself ditto Einstein, math, etc.
Of your litany at the end, only 1 matches one of the God tests - which is sticking around through the thick and the thin.
Your struggling which is great. Struggle, if I may be so bold, forward, not against.

Answer 4

Faith in love and God is a li'l different than what you are talking about. You are talking about church and sermons and preachers. Jesus taught love. Love God, love each other. When u do these all else falls into place. I know because I have faith, always have, always will. But just for the record, noone forced me into God or faith. There was a bus that came to pick us up & if I wanted to go, I'd go & write a note for my sleeping parents. I loved God since I can remember. He is my center, my place of safety. He is my God and I am trusting Him:o]

Answer 5

I feel that if I believe in something, and that belief provides me with comfort and happiness, I don't have to prove it to anyone. Faith is just that..

I wish this question was irrelevant for all people, then there wouldn't be so many problems that come with challenging someone else's way of life.

Answer 6

I'm trying to follow you...I believe in God because I have experienced His presence since I was a child. It was actually only about ten years ago, when I came to a bible teaching church, that I got into bible study. That is where I recognized the one that has been with me all my life.

I don't mean to be patronizing, or talk down to you...but I feel such deep sorrow for a person if they have never had this experience. I can't imagine not knowing Him.

Answer 7

God, Faith and religion are different. Through faith we communicate personally with God. Religion : rites, texts organizations etc. is human invention to facilitate communication with God. Some people fee ll that they need it but being human creations religions cannot be perfect and it would be a blasphemy to claim so. Faith is personal.

Answer 8

personal experiences-pretty flimsy huh?
but I do irrationally believe in God-religious beliefs are by their very nature irrational.
the existence of god cannot be proved nor can it be disproved.
but that doesn't stop some people from elevating themselves with their personal irrational beliefs and it also makes intolerance much more palatable to good people who just recite what other PEOPLE think-AKA religious texts or scientific theory.
I try to be a bit more openminded.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/aboutus.htm
http://www.deism.com/deism_defined.htm
http://www.godisimaginary.com/i21.htm

Answer 9

You asked "what do you have left to defend your beliefs"

I see God everyday, he walks with me. He is at work in my life. He have me my son after I gave into him. If you want details please email me.