whereas true knowlege of self (God) is higher thinking
2006-12-02 03:54:16 · 21 answers · asked by gasp 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
the meaning of self is not that of the individual rather the supreme self that reality is projected upon
2006-12-02 04:01:00 · update #1
Faith and believing in god is wishful thinking. Almost every human believe that there is a part of them that is something more.
2006-12-02 03:57:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, that is called an imaginary play mate.
Thinking and knowledge relate to the physical universe. Faith relates to the unseen -- it is sense and sight beyond human self knowledge, true knowledge or higher critical thinking.
Faith calls things which are not as though they were. In other words it is that human sense and ability which calls things into existence.
Faith, at least to this point in history, cannot be explained, only experienced. It is a rare thing in the era 2000 where most people think that faith is a belief system; just as many years ago people believed that the earth was flat.
2006-12-02 12:09:40 · answer #2 · answered by Tommy 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Thank God, the answer to your question is no. Doubts may cause one to think such a thing. Perhaps ask yourself though how you made yourself? How did you come to be? God made us, not the other way around.
Faith is a gift from God. Like revelation, it is something given by God to us. The thing about a gift is though, we need to be open to receive it. As Matthew Kelly puts it, what is the difference between St. Francis of Assissi and Adolf Hitler - both walked the same earth. Matthew Kelly's answer - receptivity.
2006-12-02 12:06:28 · answer #3 · answered by ChrisM_68 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's a philosophical way of examining it. The philosophy of God and religion is one of the most debated areas of philosophy. It addresses not only the perennial question Is there a God?, but also the questions If there is, then what is he like? and, most important of all, What does that mean for us? These are questions that everyone should ask at some point.
2006-12-02 12:01:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm, that is a good question....
Personally, I think that faith may be a prerequisite to true knowledge, so to speak...just a belief or confidence that one will be able to seek out that truth and find it...
I am just remember now something I heard in watching Sen. Obama's keynote address (sorry if this is kind of out of nowhere! <3):
"...it was out of this intimate knowledge of hardship -- the grounding of faith in struggle -- that the church offered me a second insight, one that I think is important to emphasize today.
Faith doesn't mean that you don't have doubts.
It was because of these newfound understandings that I was finally able to...affirm my Christian faith. It came about as a choice, and not an epiphany. I didn't fall out in church. The questions I had didn't magically disappear. But kneeling beneath that cross on the South Side, I felt that I heard God's spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His truth."
^The reason I remember this is that it really moved me and changed my view of faith as something unquestioning to something more seeing. :)
2006-12-02 12:03:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
True knowlege of self? That sinful, ungodly, self-seeking self. If you want higher thinking stand on a ladder. If you want righteous thinking try God.
2006-12-02 11:56:45 · answer #6 · answered by Fish <>< 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Let me try to explain faith in simple terms using real examples instead of giving you some high-sounding abstract terms.
To me faith in God is higher thinking, contrary to what you just said. Faith in myself is lower thinking because as a human being I am limited in many ways.
When I pray for something in faith, I am not just wishing and hoping for something to happen. I am appealing to a 'Higher Being" to do what I as a human cannot do.
I have witnessed personally instantaneous healing take place , like blind eyes being opened, deaf ears healed instantly and the person hears for the first time, the crippled walk after prayer etc.
Are these 'wishful thinking" or more than that ? We apply 'faith' by expecting God to do that which we cannot do by ourselves.
Of course you will then ask me, how do I know that God exist since we can't 'prove' that He exist ? Isn't prayer then just 'psycho-ing yourself' ?
This is where faith comes in again. I exercised 'faith' when I believe in God.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for , the conviction of things not seen.
For by it the men of old gained approval.
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible .
..And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder fo those who seek Him. " Heb 11:1-3, 6.
I just believe that God exist because Jesus said so. It's that simple. I cannot try to 'prove' God to you.
We are always stuck in our three dimensional world and think in this 3-dimensional paradigm. God is beyond our 3-dimensional world and we cannot try to conceive of God in a human way.
To you this is 'wishful thinking' of course, but to me it works perfectly well.
God answers my prayers, the Bible works when I put it into practice. What more 'proof' do I need. It works ! That's enough for me.
How many of us really understand fully how the car works before we use it ? Do you study the manual from cover to cover , do deep research on how the combustion engine works before you turn the ignition key ? You just drive it (by faith) and find that it works fine for you!
How many fully understand how the computer works before enjoying its benefits ? "By faith" , you use it and find it works for you.
When you are sick and the doctor prescribes some tablets and mixture for you, do you go and research on what the tablets are made of or how the mixture functions before you swallow ?
Surely not. You take it as instructed (by faith) and find it works !
2006-12-02 12:37:17 · answer #7 · answered by Toshihiro 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why would reverence of self equate with higher thinking? i would say that would equate to vanity. And no faith is not wishful thinking, it is Godly thinking. I have seen what I do to my own life and I do not like the mess I made of it by following my higher thinking. I am much healthier and happy by following my faith, and following God's guidance.
2006-12-02 11:58:08 · answer #8 · answered by mortgagegirl101 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Maybe, for some people it is. I think that faith probably has many different meanings to many different people.
Me, I only put my faith in myself. God does not get involved. Most people could not care less.
2006-12-02 11:59:11 · answer #9 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Faith is the evidence of things unseen.
2006-12-02 11:56:47 · answer #10 · answered by light_pierces_darkness 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋