Faith vs. Proof?

Question

I have seen a number of questions back and forth between Christians and Atheists that are often rhetorical or "loaded" (not intended in good faith as an opportunity to learn, but used instead to belittle or mock those views contrary to one's own).

Why is it that we often demand that OTHERS question, compromise and even betray THEIR values and convictions while we stubbornly (and ignorantly) cling to our own? Is one particular point of view that much superior to that of another?

Answer 1

Very good question and well put...I often find myself as an odd duck at times because I have a very strong, regular tendency to be open minded and accepting of others viewpoints.

I don't feel that any one viewpoint is superior to another and well it shouldn't be. We are individuals, we seek this and expect to be treated as such therefore, our viewpoints should have the opportunity to be just as individualistic. There is far too much in the way of "do as I say and not as I do" attitudes today and if one doesn't conform, then they are treated as tho they have seven heads and are dismissed as being abnormal and not worthy of carrying an opinion.

If some people could find the ability to respect other peoples viewpoints on the same level that they expect people to respect theirs, perhaps we'd make some headway in the extinction of "my way or the highway" attitudes.

Answer 2

You are right. It is all a matter of opinion. Religion Vs Science - it will never end.

My argument to that is that some science cannot be explained. We assume that the people that come up with scientifical ideas are always gonna be correct but in reality - some science is based on theory.

Our anscestors that went before us, documented what the world was like in the past and this was indeed carried forward to us through books such as the Bible, Quoran etc... The aborigines would pass their "dreamtime" stories through speech over the generations. These people lived closer to the beginning of time than anyone on the planet right now so I think the opinion of people in the past does deserve some credit as to how the world was created.

However, if someone does not want to take the information we have on board and decides to believe one thing or the other that's fine.

But we all should accept that unless we create a time machine and go back in time until the beginning of the universe (which is obviously never goin to happen) than NO ONE (not even the smartest scientist with a higher IQ than them all) could know 100% for sure whether or not there is a God or whether any of the theories of evolution are correct.

Answer 3

Finally! Someone with an open mind and a sense of justice!
I must admit I have noticed those types of questions etc, but I either avoid them or answer them in the most non-biased way I can. Unless those asking/answering the questions are ascendant masters it's unlikely their view point is any more valid than anyone elses.
Afterall, Faith is the belief in something we have no proof for, and you can only believe in what feels right for you. Any comment made on the subject comes from that person's experience and may or may not have any bearing on how that subject affects an individual.
As to asking others to question, compromise or even betray their beliefs, well, everyone who is 'alive' in their spirituality should constantly question their beliefs, however no-one has the right to ask another to compromise or betray their faith.

Answer 4

It's not a question of superiority. Take this opportunity to learn. There is a God, there is no God; only one or the other is true. Atheist practice their unbelief and ungodliness on here, trying to keep people away who want and need to know more about religion and God. This is what the wickedness that is in their hearts makes them inclined to do. Those of faith are concerned about those people, and the atheist who to them are foolish and hell bound. They are motivated out of love and concern. To them it is not even a question of faith vs. proof. They have the proof within them by the power of the living God. They simply know and trust God.

Answer 5

Yes... there absolutely is a superior view and it is that view which is supportive of the truth.

Faithful belief in God is based on nothing at all while the absence of God is obvious. Any reasonable test of the power of God will fail flatly. There is no reasonable justification to assume that God exists when simple evidence is so inexplicably impossible to bring forward.

In addition: there are very good reasons to undermine the established God-based religions and attempt to corrode the irrational bond that followers of such beliefs blindly accept - ideological divisions between cultures are largely the work of the religious organizations and frequently they lead to contributions of violence.

It is time to recognize the hazardous institution that religion has become in the setting of the modern world. It is time to dismember and disband the God-based belief systems - Islam, Christianity and Judaism - belief systems which are divisively troublesome to the peacekeeping of our world and have no foundation in truth and no reason to be given public support nor recognition nor even safe harbor.

The sooner the people of the world are freed from the irrational teachings of their religious leaders, the better.

[][][] r u randy? [][][]
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Answer 6

I believe that to be so. I am a Christian with much tolerance to even the rudest believers of other things, what ever those beliefs may be. I am secure in what I know & have seen with my own two eyes, or even not seen.

Someone said that my choice to believe was proof that God is a choice & therefore does not exist. I can't see the wind, but I can feel it. I can see what it does to me & the things around me. That is how I experience God. But first I had to believe/know it was the wind, before I could even start to explain why it is & does what it does.

You may or may not believe in something but that does not prove or disprove its existence.

I cannot ever give anyone who chooses not to believe enough evidence to believe.

If atheists really were sure of their decision it wouldn't matter what any Christian or otherwise thought. Those people that choose to belittle others & their spiritual choices are doing so out of insecurity of their own beliefs. I care about ALL people equally, despite their beliefs, I am to love as Christ did, all of his friends were sinners some worse than others, in human eyes, but in Gods eyes all sin is equal. I personally take no offence when someone speaks ill of Christians. I feel compelled to at least share my beliefs, in the face of unbelievers because that is what the Lord asks of me. They choose to take it or leave it, but I am not hurt by their choice. I did what God asked of me, & they chose to deny Him.

Answer 7

Christians often fail to effectively communicate that the true source of their assurance is based on a spiritual revelation, a disclosure from God to the human heart, of things that cannot be understood or perceived by the natural mind. True Christianity is supernatural. It transcends what can be known or understood by those who only gather their information within the context of a physical state of existence and exclude the spiritual.
No one can come to a proper conclusion unless he has all the necessary information.
True Christians, those who have been born again by the Spirit of God, are taken into a new realm of existence, and made aware of spiritual realities, that cannot be discovered by reason or physical observation.

Answer 8

All in the search for the truth too! A lot of people on here are mean, I've noticed. Arguing who's right and who's wrong. It sux but every rose has it's thorn(isn't that a song?hahaha). People will never stop fighting about their belief's. Not until the end.

Answer 9

If a view is superior at all it is "that much" superior. Fideism is compatible with any terrible deed (just look at 9/11/2001). Justification, especially through reason and evidence, tends to prevent such things.

Answer 10

we are all humans here... and the thing for most is that we all want a little or even a lot of proof, even before we have faith... and even if we did have the proof, we would not have faith.

jesus and the bible says, in order to be saved, all we need is faith and belief... he also teaches that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we could move mountains...

i guess it depends on what you believe and how much, as a christian i believe the bible and its all faith for me, but i myself prove to god that im true to him.

atheists dont believe in any sort of faith... and to be honest they cant hang on to proof...

they really cant prove evoltuion, so they are clinging on to blind faith... that there is no god and they dont have proof for why they are alive.