Is faith an accidental vice? Or did you have to really work on convincing yourself?

Question

This question is not meant to offend, but Im sure the jackanapes in here will start gasping. How long and by what manner or method were you convinced. Please dont say I was touched by the Holy Ghost, what makes you so special

Answer 1

It is the default setting in human beings, just as science and mathematics are not natural neither is scepticism, you have to work at it.

Answer 2

Not accidental, it was intentional. It is simply believing in something as true. People do this all the time. For example, some believe in an afterlife, and some do not believe that there is an afterlife. Some in the existence of God, others in the non-existence of God. Some believe that Jesus is the Christ, while others believe He was just a man or a prophet. These are decisions and choices we have made based on our thoughts. What we think and believe to be true is shaped by our experiences and social mores.

Sometimes we simply accept a preconceived perspective or concept as true because it aligns with other thoughts we have had on a subject. In this sense, truth is relative to the individual. We also seek to go beyond the self acknowledge truths to universal and absolute ones. Science is an extension of this search... for example, the "Law of Gravity"... if you throw something up, it will come down... a absolute truth. Of social mores, it is universally accepted as true that it is wrong to kill. Lying and stealing are not acceptable options for personal behavior. We believe these truths to be self evident.... not much work involved here, just thought and belief.

How long and by what manner or method does one convince themselves to have faith? By the same means just stated. You learn what you can about a subject and then make a choice, a decision about what you believe it to be true. You may accept what others have to say about it, but you must make the final decision for yourself.

In becoming a Christian, I read and learned from others what being a Christian was about. I had some idea from previous experiences. Ultimately, I had to decide to either accept and believe that Jesus is who He said He was, and that He did what He said that He did, or to let the truth about Him and Chrisitianity continue to be untried and unknown questions within my life. Like other things I had checked out before, I figured that if I did not like what I found, I could always go back to what I had believed beforehand. At that time, I was agnostic.

What I found from that little bit of belief about Him, was more than I could ever have imagined. Notice that I did not have much "faith". I just took Him at His word. It was almost like saying.. "OK God, Here I am... hit me with your best shot!" The faith came later. The Bible says that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

You asked that we don't say that we were touched by the Holy Ghost. Sorry... that is exactly what it was. I found a living God... and He touched my heart... and I was forever changed. What makes me so special? Not a thing.. nothing. He accepted me just the way I was, sin and all. His Spirit has given me the faith to believe and proven to me to know, fully convinced, that God is alive. That He is real. That He can and wants to be a powerful and dynamic influence in our lives. That the only way... sorry.. it is the only way God has made for us.. is through Jesus Christ.

I don't want to go back, I have no desire to go back. Brainwashed?.. mindless?.. Foolishness? Think what you like. I fully agree with the scripture in which Jesus says " I am the way, the truth, and the life...." I wouldn't want to trade one minute with the way I used to live my life. He is an awesome God, and He wants all to come to the knowledge of His great love, mercy , and grace that He has for us. I hope that He touches you too!

Answer 3

apelles60 - You don't have to read what other people believe to figure out what you believe. That's like wiping someone elses butt in order to get the sh*t off of your own.

Faith comes easily, but faith in a diety to help you fix things doesn't make life any easier. Reason being: You put all this faith in something else to fix something that you've messed up.

I grew up in church and my faith was very important to me. I went to church every sunday because I WANTED to. I prayed every day, many times a day. I had a devout acceptance and love for my religion. But then I grew up and stopped believing in santa clause and took charge of my own life. What I've learned from being religious will never leave me. I learned patience, understanding of others, and how to truly love an idea. I've learned more about myself and the world by losing my religion. What I've learned the most is that people are very willing to lie to themselves. Our minds are so powerful that we actually create the world around us through our perceptions.

Faith in ANYTHING can become a vice, but you usually have to work on it for it to become so.

Answer 4

The Bible defines faith thus..."Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen." I'm not sure exactly how most would define that, but I'd say it's what cements our HOPE and OUR belief together, though we cannot see with mortal eyes any physical evidence of God other than through nature (children, our ecology, His creation and etc.). It's what we HOPE to see come to pass because our BELIEF in it's occurrence is so strongly evidenced by the move of God in our lives/society.

Answer 5

Faith is not accidental. According to scripture we are all promised a measure of faith. What you do with the measure is own you. You have to work out your own plan of salvation. Even if you don't professs God as your higher power, you have faith in something. I'd rather believe and it not be so at death than to not beliee and go to hell after living in so much hell on earth. Thank God for faith.

Answer 6

I'd rather ask you how much effort you've put into answering your questions. Ever read the Bible, really? Ever read Francis Collins, CS Lewis, Zacharias, Hugh Ross.... etc? I'd wager you nefver read Darwin, either, but you want to present yourself as someone who has really "worked hard" on what he believes. I may be wrong, but I think you're lying to yourself... "not meaning to offend" you, of course.

Answer 7

The Holy Ghost will convince you too if you open your heart to Jesus. You and everyone else is special to God.

Answer 8

When some things are beyond your control, that is the only thing left. That is my explanation of faith. That's the way I came to know faith, and it wasn't and still isn't easy.

Answer 9

faith is just something that comes by naturally. you have faith that you will wake up the next day, you have faith that you will have food to eat and a roof over your head. who do you think made those things and made them possible for you? it was God almighty. no one had to convince me of faith.

Answer 10

If you have faith first, God will convince you. Ask the other 2.1 billion Christians.

When a person is truly saved, he/she knows it. You MEET Jesus. He comes into your life. Everything is different. Your point of view is flipped around.