Would you still practice your faith if you were alone?

Question

What if you were the only person that believed it?

I know it makes it easier when you can go to a place of worship and other people believe the same thing, but would you doubt what you believed if you were alone in your faith?

How would you practice it differently, other than the fact that you would be alone?

I don't mean alone, like no one else exists, I just meant in your beliefs.

Answer 1

When I began, I thought I *was* the only person in the world who believed what I believed and viewed the world as I view it.

If you want to know more about that, you can read about it here:

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-Tz8tGkw6erK9EM5EmVJgYeNshj30?p=55

Answer 2

I practice my faith alone all the time. I'm a Jehovah's Witness and my other family members aren't.

I do go to the Kingdom Hall regularly and hang out with other Witnesses but for the most part, I'm at home and by myself in my beliefs. I don't change who I am, even for my family members. I still respect their beliefs and, for the most part, they respect mine.

It's difficult; imagine that you're on a doctor's prescribed diet while everyone else is eating whatever they want. That's pretty much how it is at home.

There are some Witnesses that are really alone; I've read of a sister that lives on an island and she's the only one on the whole island that's a Witness. She goes out in the ministry, has meetings and things on her own. Once a year, she'd get a visit from an overseer but for the most part, she's alone; she's a source of encouragement to many Witnesses worldwide.

Answer 3

Very interesting question.

I'm an atheist, I grew up in Holland, which means I grew up in an environment where gods weren't even mentioned.

At the age of 16, for the first time we had a Christian in our class, and she was treated like some sort of outcast. She was truly alone in her beliefs. At that time I didn't pay much attention to her, but now I realise how much strength she must have had in her faith.

If I were the only atheist on this planet, and assuming that the entire rest of the planet would believe in the same God...they'd probably lock me up in an institution for being the weird one.

But I dunno. If I were alone in my beliefs, I'd probably doubt them more than I do now.

Answer 4

Yes. I do go to church, but live in an area in which mine is definitely a minority denomination. It's good to congregate with others of my faith, but if there were no others, I would be religious just the same. However, there would be the problem of taking Holy Eucharist, which by its very nature, requires group participation. If alone, I'd have to take Communion when I was able to find others of my faith, but in the meantime, there are prayers and many other devotions that can be practiced by oneself.

Answer 5

In some ways we do, very few people share all beliefs and beliefs on the same principle can be understood in different ways. But to answer your question Yes I would still practice my faith because that is what I think is my path to G-d.

Answer 6

I would hope to say yes, but I will concede that isolation is one of the tactics of the devil. He is compared to a lion, stalking its prey, waiting for someone to devour. A lion will stalk a herd and usually kill the weaker animals that fall behind. They become isolated from their herd and they are defenseless. An isolated Christian becomes easy prey. That is why there are all the analogies in the Bible about the "body" or the "vine and branches" Christianity is a community thing.

If I was the only one, I would be relying solely on my relationship with God, and if I worked hard at sustaining that, I would survive, but any faltering on my part would put me in grave danger.

Answer 7

most people are alone in their practice of faith. Going to a place of worship means absolutely nothing. Just society following the norms.

Answer 8

Yes, I would. It would be more difficult, no doubt. Mind you, not impossible. But difficult. Humans were never meant to be in isolation.

But I would practice it no differently. If I have come to know that my faith is proper; if it is grounded solidly in the truth revealed by God, how could I possibly doubt it? I think of Job. At Job 1:8, God himself describes Job as having no equal in the land - no one upright and turning aside from bad the way Job did. For all intents and purposes, Job was alone. Not for a moment did he waiver.

Enoch walked with the true God in an ungodly world, and surrounded by ungodly people. Not for a moment did he waiver.

If one has come to learn that one's faith is grounded solidly in truth - God's truth - based wholly on accurate knowledge; if one has learned how to worship the true God in the way that is pleasing to him, and if one leans on Him at all times, there is no reason to doubt. Truth is not dependent upon numbers. If I am alone in my faith, as long as my faith is proper, I am never alone.

Psalm 27:10: “In case my own father and my own mother did leave me, even Jehovah himself would take me up.”

When a strong military force from Syria surrounded the Israelite city of Dothan, with every intention of seizing the prophet Elisha, his attendant was terrified and exclaimed: “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” “Do not be afraid,” was Elisha’s reply, “for there are more who are with us than those who are with them.” Then “Elisha began to pray and say: ‘O Jehovah, open his eyes, please, that he may see.’ Immediately Jehovah opened the attendant’s eyes, so that he saw; and, look! the mountainous region was full of horses and war chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:15-17.

As for all who worship the true God, they may say too: There are more with us than those who are with them.


Hannah J Paul

Answer 9

I'm all alone in my faith, for I see the cross different. Romans 3:11-18. Says it all. The path to great wisdom, and understanding. The path to being perfect(or good in Gods eyes) The path to being useful. or profitable Its called seeking his face, and making a life out of it, or as Jesus said a life of prayer.

Answer 10

Well, I guess I do, since I have never met anyone who shares my odd mix of opinions and beliefs except here on Y!A.

But since the way I try to follow is mostly about being true to your 'inner nature' and listening to your instincts, it doesn't actually require company to practise.

And in the end, I wonder if we aren't all alone really, since we rarely have our 'fellow believers' around when we go to the mall or work, do we?
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