How do you know your faith is correct ?

Question

Serious Question -

If evidence and proof are not part of "having faith" then how do you know that your faith is on the right track? I understand that it might feel correct to you in a very deep way and I respect that. But what about other people who believe in "weird or dangerous stuff" that are also as sincerely faithful as you are?

Abraham was told by God to sacrifice his son. If someone did that today, with the best of faith based intentions, would anybody believe that they were really doing what God told them to do?

Answer 1

Well. I never said it was correct, per se. Correct's not a good word. Let's use "true".

I believe my faith is "true" for me, and that most of the time other people's faiths are "true" for them.

Whatever works for the individuals.

- 16 yo Pagan

Answer 2

It is a good question, I have wondered myself what I would do in such a case. Of course, you have to recognize that Abraham had a very very close personal relationship with God.

If you said to me, here drink this bottle marked poison, it is okay, I would not do it. Why, because I do not know you.

If my father asked me to do it, I would ask him about the marking of poison, and if he had a good explanation for it, I might maybe take a small sip.

Imagine a relationship even closer than that, where for many years God had spoken with you and you knew Him to be completely real. Would I drink that bottle then. I do not know, but I can see how the more trust I have the more probable it gets.

I and many others find our faith is logical, read some Christian apologetics on this topic if you like. But I also find that it is more than logical, not illogical but beyond logic. I love my wife. That is not logical to someone who doesn't know her as I do, but to me loving her seems the most logical thing in the wrold, or rather it seems to be true even though logic cannot totally explain it. A personal relationship with God is like that.

I find my faith must always be open to change, and that change may come from logic or experience. But I seem to think about the world more clearly, I seem to grasp the truth of things better when seen through the eyes of faith. I know I am happier in my relationships and life.

So at the end of the day, I enjoy science and logic, but I find they don't go far enough to answer life's great questions: why am I here? I try to have a faith that lies on top of a logical base, allowing me to get to understandings that logic alone could not.

Answer 3

Because we are the only faith that show love to others by sharing the hope of God's heavenly government with all people on earth. We do not take up arms against anyone for we have a deep love and respect for life, just as God does. We look to God's Kingdom as the only hope for the earth and the meek ones who inherit it. We obey the laws of governments as long as they do not conflict with God's laws. We are the only faith fulfilling the Biblical prophecy found at Matthew 24:14. Our life-saving work is being conducted in more than 235 lands. We have over 6.5 million faithful ministers worldwide. We are not divided by racism or hatred. We are united in our worship and are peace-loving towards all people. We are "no part of the world" just as Jesus commanded his followers to be. Therefore we do not become involved in politics or civil riots or protests of any kind. We follow the example of Jesus, his apostles and the faithful 1st century Christians.
I am convinced that this is the "one faith" spoken of at Ephesians 4:5. I am one of Jehovah's Christian Witnesses.

Answer 4

I believe that my faith is 'the right track'. Simply because Christ did institute a Church, with Apostles, with it's succession for last 2,000 years (which is the Bishops) as well as the Last Supper (the Mass). And the Catholic church is the only Christian church that can trace its origins directly to Christ himself. In fact, it is the Catholic church that is the custodian of the Cross that Christ was crucified on, the lance that pierced his side and of course more widely known; the Shroud of Turin. No one else dares claim that. Hmmm.

As far as Abraham and God asking for him to sacrifice his son would anyone believe him now? Today, as you can well see in Yahoo! Answers R & S there is cynicism, doubt, wild theories. Whereas during Abrahams time there was no such diversity in Faith. There was the Hebrew faith, and those were devout in following their One God. Nowadays; you'd be labelled a fruitcake, or schizophrenic most likely.

Answer 5

First of all, God gives us the evidence of His existence. Creation exists because of the Creator. God never intended His followers to have "blind" faith. It takes more faith to believe that the order and perfect synchronization of the earth and stars and all of creation just happened by pure chance.

Abraham was told to sacrifice his son but God stopped him before it happened. God tested his faith and Abraham was found faithful.

If the Bible was not "God breathed" as it claims to be, then the "hard" things in it would have never been put there by plain human intellect. That God chose Israel instead of the other nations, that God hardened Pharoah's heart, that God would come in the form of man and take on the curse of sin to save us, that the promised Messiah would be beaten and destroyed then hung naked on a cross, that you and I deserve hell but by the grace of God we get heaven, that we receive eternal life through faith alone and not by any meritous work, would never have been devised by human will. We would have made a plan of salvation that would have been much easier.

IF....any writing would be truly Divinely inspired then it would be error free historically, geographically, culturally, and most important- prophetically. The Bible is just that. Written over some 1500 years by 40 different writers most of whom did not know each other. It tells us of Christ from Genesis to Revelation and it does not contradict itself. Pretty good reason to put your faith in Jesus in my opinion.

Answer 6

As man has lost their Faith in God, God has lost his faith on them, although God has never lost Faith in Humanity!!!!!, I Know my Faith is correct, I know a little about every mayor religion, I 'm not saying perfect, as well that I know a little bit about everything, though most all the time I don't know nothing of everything I know. For God its, the self what count, and our own little contribution to our way of improving Humanity and Humanism, not necessarily, by giving but also by receiving.<<< practice makes perfect??>>>

Answer 7

It's hard for a non-believer to understand. I know my faith is correct for me. I have FAITH that it is and there's also a little something called the Catholic Church which has backed up my faith for about two thousand years. If there's any actual proof of correctness, I'd say that should cover it.

Interesting question.

Answer 8

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

[82:1] When the Sky is cleft asunder;

[82:2] When the Stars are scattered;

[82:3] When the Oceans are suffered to burst forth;

[82:4] And when the Graves are turned upside down;

[82:5] (Then) shall each soul know what it hath sent forward and (what it hath) kept back.

[82:6] O man! what has seduced thee from thy Lord Most Beneficent?

[82:7] Him Who created thee, fashioned thee in due proportion, and gave thee a just bias;

[82:8] In whatever form He wills, does He put thee together.

[82:9] Nay! But ye do reject Right and Judgment!

[82:10] But verily over you (are appointed angels) to protect you,

[82:11] Kind and honourable; writing down (your deeds):

[82:12] They know (and understand) all that ye do.

[82:13] As for the Righteous, they will be in Bliss;

[82:14] And the Wicked; they will be in the Fire,

[82:15] Which they will enter on the Day of Judgment,

[82:16] And they will not be able to keep away therefrom.

[82:17] And what will explain to thee what the Day of Judgment is?

[82:18] Again, what will explain to thee what the Day of Judgment is?
[82:19] (It will be) the Day when no soul shall have power (to do) aught for another: for the Command, that Day, will be (wholly) with Allah.

ALSO SAYS:

[22:5] O mankind! if ye have a doubt about the Resurrection, (consider) that We created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then out of a leech-like clot, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed, in order that We may manifest (Our Power) to you; and We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term, then do We bring you out as babes, then (foster you) that ye may reach your age of full strength; and some of you are called to die, and some are sent back to the feeblest old age, so that they know nothing after having known (much). And (further), thou seest the earth barren and lifeless, but when We pour down rain on it, it is stirred (to life), it swells, and it puts forth every kind of beautiful growth in pairs.
[22:6] This is so, because Allah is the Reality: it is He Who gives life to the dead, and it is He Who has power over all things.

[22:7] And verily the Hour will come: there can be no doubt about it, or about (the fact) that Allah will raise up all who are in the graves.

[22:8] Yet there is among men such a one as disputes about Allah, without knowledge, without guidance, and without a Book of Enlightenment,

Answer 9

A faith without evidence, logic or proof is simply STUPIDNESS.

Answer 10

First question, I know mine's right because everyone else is wrong. This is what happens when you demand proof and reason from religion, you get atheism.

Next question, we can already confirm with court cases:

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/LAW/04/01/laney/
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/LAW/05/12/slain.children/

... and apprently, she's ruled as 'criminally insane' - isn't that an interesting outcome? ;)