I you have faith and believe, then by default don't you not really know?

Question

if you believe something, then you don't know it right? You think it with strong prejudice towards any contrary thoughts. So how can people be so certain about that which they do not know. And how can they be certain of things such as the fate of non-believers?

I contend that beliefs are in a way the opposite of facts because of their nature of requiring faith. Ofcourse truth is dictated by words and words are extremely fallible. So there are no facts really one can be certain of accept perhaps ideas like constant change and chaos.

facts require no faith. It may be debateable wether there can be any proven facts though.

Answer 1

I am not understanding something here.

Answer 2

Faith and 'truth' and/or 'fact' are not exactly opposite on the evidence spectrum. One might say that belief is really a 'theory' that one starts off with, much like a scientist, that is therefore proven or disproven by experience.

Where faith differs from scientific principals is that although faith begins with a simple premise, it assumes the answer will correspond with the belief one already holds. Scientific principal says that however much one likes one's opening theory, it must change and/or be discarded if the evidence proves otherwise.

This is not to say that 'faith' in and of itself is entirely different from science. Even people who have 'faith' that an answer is true have to have their faith 'proven' by the application of the laws of science (having faith that 'god will provide' does not mean that the $200 you received didn't come through economic and/or scientific channels, or cannot be understood by such).

And not every act of 'faith' is actually rewarded or promoting the spirit of the religion. If a person has 'faith' in the ill-will of his brother, or the glorification of themselves, this does not mean that they are necessarily a 'riteous' person. Faith also contains an element of piety or goodness within its core definition.

Answer 3

i believe in God through personal experiences i have had that is more suggestive of a God than not
so although i have faith in a God , this faith is built on my own factual experiences
this does not mean the Faith that i have is fact ... but the surrounding evidence is
a belief in something does not make it false by your logic .... although it does not make it true
however i do not believe that anyone can know for sure Gods thoughts as suggested in certain books and writings

Answer 4

truth requires evidence

evidence provides a theory, sometimes a very strong theory

having faith is a different concept from believing with evidence to back up those beliefs

Answer 5

If a person is seeking to know God, to know of the existence (or non-existence) of God, I believe He will reveal Himself to them.

You are not born with faith. You can not practice faith to develop it. You can not get faith by osmosis, sitting in a crowd of people who have it. Faith is a gift which is given by God Himself. So ask Him to help you. Ask Him as if you are assuming for the moment that he MIGHT be real, and say, if you are real, God, then show me. Sincerely ask that every day. And until He shows Himself to you, just pray that prayer every day and continue believing whatever you currently believe.

He will answer you because He is real. When He does answer, then begin asking Him to direct you to what HE wants you to see of the truth. Don't just trust what some man gives you on the street. Ask the Living God. Words are fallible, but those words which God speaks to you directly, are infallible.

Ask Him every day, to speak to you, to reveal Himself to you, and to direct you to truth. You will know it when He sends truth, because it will be crystal clear, even if it is truth you heard a hundred times before and it was all muddled back then. God reveals His truth clearly to you once you begin asking Him for it instead of just depending on "holy men" or your own understanding.

I know personally, that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life... no one can come to God except through Jesus. But you do not have to take my word for it. Seek God's word yourself. He will prove it to you. And then you will believe it, like I did.

I believed in nothing for awhile. Then later I searched every Holy book of every culture and religion I could find before I came to know Jesus. The difference in everything else as opposed to Jesus, is that Jesus is alive today, and through Him you will enter into a real relationship with God that will change your own life. This is the greatest proof of His existence to me, is the work He has performed in my own life, that filled voids I never knew were there, and that healed me in ways I never expected could happen.

I had been trying to "work my way" to knowing God. But it was Jesus who did all the work, so that I don't have to do anything except believe in Him, and by that faith/belief, I have the promise of an eternal relationship and home with God, the creator of the universe. But as I said... seek the truth for yourself. You don't have to believe my words... but try talking to God yourself. He will answer you. And Jesus will not fail you.

All God's best to you.

Answer 6

how would it pertain to (for example) the belief in oneself? the self that one not know? do you believe that humans try to "see" the good in others, would that be considered a "contrary thought? how would they be opposite? here's one: you have a very close best friend..you are in a predicament, you tell yourself "i know my friend will help me", are you positively sure they will come to help you?or, is it that what you believe of your true friend to be? even if you know that to be sure? you answer yes! my friend will be there for me..how do you really know, what , in side of you 'knew' ? what, kept you going, waiting for your friend?

Answer 7

we have faith first and then we Can see God it becomes Fact I Know God is with me I no linger need faith as I feel him and see his work in my life.

Answer 8

???? The point?