Is having faith the same as positive thinking?

Answer 1

Some television preachers would have you think so. They're all about the power of positive thinking. You may have faith that things will work out well, so that's a form of positive thinking.

But if by "faith" you mean belief in a higher power, then that's another thing entirely.

Christian faith does not mean that everything will work out to your satisfaction in this earthly life. You may have an auto accident, your company may have layoffs, a hurricane may strike. Neither Christian faith nor positive thinking will prevent these. What Christian faith will do is give you the power to pick yourself up and move on with the knowledge that Christ is with you even in your darkest times, and that you will have eternal life once you leave this world.

Answer 2

I don't think so...

I think most of us would agree that "positive thinking" is more akin to "aiming towards a goal." There does have to be a certain amount of "belief" involved there, but only belief in yourself, more of a self-pep-talk ("I can do it!") than belief, really -- and if whatever you're trying to think positively about doesn't actually come to pass, the idea is not to be crushed or devastated, but to sit down and figure out (logically) what kept you from reaching your goal, and LEARN from the experience.

While "faith," on the other hand, is certainty without evidence. You see it here all the time -- "I KNOW god answers prayers!" is stated frequently, despite the fact that there is no evidence whatsoever to indicate that statement is true. There is also the little matter of falsifiability -- positive thinking about goals in the future will at some point be "tested" by the results, and can be evaluated for success and lessons learned. Faith, at least in supernatural beings, has no such falsifiability. I honestly believe that's built-in to religion -- it can never be proven false, at least not by anybody alive -- to perpetuate it. But as it can't be falsified, no lessons can be learned from its failure, no insight gained from learning the faith was false. In other words -- as a practical tool for living one's life and improving by learning lessons, faith is useless.

Peace.

Answer 3

Keep in mind this is my opinion and the way I view faith, I can not answer for all Chrsitians,

I pray about the state of the world, and by faith I do not worry for the world because I know God will fix it, and no matter how horrible things appear everything works out for the goodness of God.

When I was going through hard times taking care of 6 children on one income (my husband's) I did not let any situation or circumstance make me doubt God and his love for me based on what I saw, by faith (thinking positive) I knew that God may not come right when I need him but he is always right on time.


When doctors told me that because I had one fallopian tube and one ovary so therefore I would not conceive I kept believing God and the Bible story of Sarah, and by faith (positive thinking) I did not give up I kept praying anyway and I have two kids now.


My grandmother was diagnosed with intestinal cancer and doctors told us she had a month left to live, she held on to faith ( kept thinking positive) and believing God's word for he said he would never see the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread, and she is still here a year later with no radiation or treatment.


I could go on and on but to me faith and thinking positive are one in the same, because by faith I trust in the Lord which keeps me thinking positive in all situations because I know that no matter what I'm going through The Battle Is Not Mine It's The Lord's!


Praise The Lord Saints!

Answer 4

No. Faith is believing in something that you do not have tangible proof of. You have faith that the world is round, but that has nothing to do with positive thinking. Often, those who have faith in something that gives them hope also exhibit positive thinking, but it really depends on what you have faith in.

Answer 5

No...but having faith will help with positive thinking :o)

Answer 6

Dear yummy,

No. The Bible states, "So then, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." We also read in Revelation 19:11 that another name for the Lord Jesus Christ is "Faithful and True." So then, Christ cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. You see the word of God, the Bible, is what God used to call His sheep ie., the elect or saints. ALL of mankind is DEAD in sins and trespasses and headed for hell. God has chosen certain of these rebels to become His children. He first had to pay for ALL their sins. Then He had to give them a new resurrected soul. Just as God spoke and brought this complex universe into existence out of nothing, so through His word, He gives life to a DEAD sinner. That is why we use the term born again.

Answer 7

No.

Actually, they can be counter-productive. Faith can give you a Pollyanna attitude (an otherwise illogical belief that everything will be fine - usually taken care of by a supreme being) whereas positive thought is tempered by being much more personal.

Answer 8

No, but they can go together. Faith is believing in something that you don't have absolute proof for. Positive thinking is looking at life with the cup half full, rather than half empty.

Answer 9

Faith can cause one to get apathetic. Thinking God will take care of
everything. But like the saying goes. God helps those who help themselves.
We live in a material world, and opportuntiy doesn't come flying in the window.
I used to ask God to help me find some decent friends. And then used
the "hibernation method" to recovery. Hid in my house all the time. But I
realized we have to get out there and be visible. Make ourselves known to others, before God can help us meet the ones that will help.
But heed this, evil will also put a rude person in your path everywhere you go
to try and break you back down! Don't let it win!

Answer 10

Nope, I have faith but I'm horribly depressed at the state of the world.