What do you believe in regards to faith?

Question

I myself am a Christian, but I love hearing about the beliefs, values and faiths of others. I'm not looking for someone to try and convince me of their beliefs, nor to persuade me. I know that God is real and that He exists, I'm just curious as to what everyone else believes.

Answer 1

I believe no matter what religion one is or is not, it is God that matters now and in the end. I "respect" all faiths and beliefs.
God Bless

Answer 2

I don't believe.

I don't feel that there is a higher power, a god, a heaven, or a hell. I feel that when I die, that's it. This is my one and only shot at life, and I should live it to the fullest.

While I respect everyone's right to believe what they want to believe, I feel that living my life by a set of "rules" from an ancient book is wasting what little time I have left.

I think that all religions, and non-religions, though, should respect each other. Here in the U.S.A., we were given the freedom of religion. Our country was founded on the basis of freedom from religious persecution. Unfortunately, society seems to be forgetting that as of recently. With the internet and television being so prevalent, people are communicating to millions of other people, and realizing that there are different views out there.

Unfortunately, there are the few that take this as a threat and attempt to force THEIR beliefs on me.

SO there ya go. That's my non-belief as an Atheist. Everyone has their own life, and should live it how they want. Just don't push your ideals onto me of my family, and we are good to go! Also, LOVE EVERYONE, especially those that are different.

Answer 3

Dan Barker put it best for me.

"When you use the word 'faith', you're admitting that the assertions you are accepting by faith cannot be accepted on their own merits. You need something extra. You need something above and beyond the evidence to make it true. Anytime someone uses the word 'faith', it's a cop-out."

You're making a positive claim here... when you say you KNOW that God is real and that you KNOW he exists, then you're going to get demand for proof... proof that we know you cannot provide.

As for me... well, Sam Harris put it best.
The entirety of atheism is contained in this response. Atheism is not a philosophy; it is not even a view of the world; it is simply a refusal to deny the obvious. In fact, "atheism" is a term that should not even exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a "non-astrologer" or a "non-alchemist." We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens have traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make in the presence of unjustified religious beliefs. An atheist is simply a person who believes that the 260 million Americans (87 percent of the population) claiming to "never doubt the existence of God" should be obliged to present evidence of his existence—and, indeed, for his benevolence, given the relentless destruction of innocent human beings we witness in the world each day. An atheist is a person who believes that the murder of a single little girl—even once in a million years—casts doubt upon the idea of a benevolent God.
-- Sam Harris, "Letter to a Christian Nation"

Answer 4

I follow a Celtic Reconstructionist (neo-pagan) path.
I worship some of the deities that were once worshiped in Celtic-speaking areas during the Iron Age. I am a polytheist and some of my deities are Taranis, Lugh and Epona. Two important tenets of my religion are honor and hospitality (there are more). My religion is offeratory in nature and it provides the structure and methods for me to deepen my relationships with my deities. I believe that deities have both positive and negative traits just like anyone else. I do not believe that any deity is all-knowing or all-powerful. I also believe in land and water spirits/deities. I believe in reincarnation and give daily offerings of incense, food and drink at my family altar. I honor my ancestors. I believe in the symbology of a world tree representing the lower (sea), middle (land), and upper (sky) realms. After death, I believe that I will go to the Otherworld to feast before reincarnating again to learn more. I celebrate four agricultural holidays a year---Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtainne, and Lughnasadh. Although I recognize the solstices and equinoxes, I do not celebrate them as religious holidays.

Answer 5

I too am a Christian, although not everyone sees me as such. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. That's the prefered name, but most people call us Mormons. We usually call ourselves LDS or latter-day Saints. I see myself as a Christian because I believe in Christ as my Savior. But because I'm not a Catholic or a Protestant, members of those faiths tend to exclude me.
I and we value, very highly, family and the ability to choose. We have what is called the Articles of Faith, which I will link to. They are 13 statements that give a brief overview of what we believe.

Answer 6

I call myself "Pagan, with strong Wiccan influence."

I believe there is a Higher Power that transcends gender and consciousness as we know it - I usually refer to it as "Deity", "The Higher Power", "God/dess" or "Universal Energy". I feel that it is an energy that permeates the universe and everything in it, as opposed to a sentient, omniscient, omnipotent Being that is sitting somewhere watching us all.

The similarities between various world pantheons in the types of Gods and Goddesses (Love, War, Fertility, Home, Death, etc.) leads me to believe that the various Gods and Goddesses of the various religions are all aspects of the same Higher Power that has been "broken down" by man into something that we can relate to, and to help deal with whatever needs dealing with at that point.

I also believe in the idea of "Harm None" ("An it harm none, do as ye will" - the Wiccan Rede), and the thought that what energy you put out will come back to you threefold. In this way, my Path is similar to Wicca.

Answer 7

I'm Catholic. I'm quite content with my faith and Catholism is the best religion for me to express my faith. I think there are several interesting religions, and honestly, I don't know if I believe that there is one "right" religion, although it's contrary to Catholic views. I think that the religion is insignificant compared to the faith of a person. What they believe. What's in their soul (assuming they believe they have one)... It's all very interesting. I like reading about reincarnation and trying to explore new views on it.

Answer 8

I believe that Jehovah (Yahweh or YHWH) is the one true God. I believe that his kingdom is the only hope for mankind, just as Jesus preached and taught us to preach. I believe that Jesus is his son, the firstborn of all creation and that Jehovah sent him to the earth to die for our sins and it was only Jesus' human life that could atone for all that Adam lost on our behalf. I believe that the only way to Jehovah is through his son Jesus and that we cannot have salvation unless we exercise faith in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus our Lord. I believe that Jehovah's original purpose for the earth was for humans to live everlastingly on earth (where would Adam and Eve be today if they hadn't sinned?) and that his purpose for the earth has not changed.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray that God's will be done on earth, as it is in heaven and it will be by means of God's kingdom. We can all hope to live in a peaceful, paradise earth with righteous, loving neighbors. No more war, sickness, crime or death.

That's my belief and the basis of my faith. Thanks for asking. Some very interesting and thought provoking answers here.

Answer 9

"Faith" is a mechanism that allows someone to believe whatever they want, without ever having to question or examine their belief, and regardless of any evidence proving them wrong. Faith and thought are diametrically opposed.

Answer 10

I am Christian girl too!! And i believe in God and that Jesus died for our sins so we can be forgiven and go 2 heaven when we die. I think Jesus had lot of rilly good things to say too and i try to think about that some of the time but its hard too because you live u life and get catched up in other things so i wear WWJD bracelet to try and remind me.