Why do Christians and other theists always mistake the terms "believe" and "know"?

Question

Invariably when you ask a Christian, "Is it POSSIBLE that you're wrong about the existence of your God?", you'll almost never hear them admit that it's possible they're in error. They usually steadfastly deny the possibility that they're wrong.

Why is this? Do they not own a dictionary?

Are they too arrogant to admit what everyone else knows, that they're human?

Do they really think that their God would punish them simply for being honest rather than arrogant?

Why is it so hard for them to admit that they might be wrong?

I freely admit that you BELIEVE that you're right and that your God exists.

But you don't KNOW for certain.

Answer 1

Why is it hard for you to admit we are right. We experience God daily. How can you convince us that we are wrong.

Answer 2

No, not "always mistake the terms believe and know". I'm a Theist and I own a dictionary (surprising huh? figured you would be) I know the difference between the words and understand that one can believe in something without knowing for sure that it is True.

Not arrogant. Though I can certainly be that way when someone is being arrogant with me.

Nope, as a matter of fact, my personal belief of "God" is that it has more respect for honesty than for someone who won't admit being wrong simply because it might make their personal faith look less than what they want it to look.

It's not hard for me at all. But I would like to know... why is it so hard for so many people who don't believe in anything spiritual to understand that each person who does believe is different and you can't generalize us all into one group and claim "it's true"... seems rather arrogant to assume that much, don't you think?

Answer 3

I admit that I am often wrong about many things. I am not arrogant in the least and hope to never be.

Ah, I wish there was some way to explain it to you. . .to have experienced God is to know God. I have experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit. I can and will sit here today and tell you 100% that God does in fact exist. Now, you can start raging about my arrogance. . .and I can't help that. . .and that is really not the way I mean to come across that is just the way it is for me. And, I honestly feel I would be held accountable for not being completely honest with you.

Answer 4

Check Girl Wonder's recent question, if you haven't.

It shows up that fundamental divide very clearly.
I find it frightening.
Not least in the situation where two different beliefs, each holding the "faith equals no doubt " position, come into contact with each other with no possibility for mutual comprehension or respect.

Edit: To "Fish<><"
Experience itself should not be doubt-exempt. I've had utterly convincing experiences which I was utterly wrong to trust, or at least interpret as I did at the time. And if different people have contrary experiences, how are they both unshakably right?

Answer 5

In my experience there is a difference between the meanings of believing and knowing. I can know someone's name or address but that is not belief. Believing happens when one does not necessarily have definite proof of a theory but works toward that proof--if it exists. I think in the case of religious belief, there is in the believer a faith that needs no proof for her/him, not because they are arrogant or capable of making mistakes, but because they have faith. The people that bombed the planes on 9/11, the terrorists who blew up the train in Madrid, the London explosions were all performed by people who had faith in their actions--that not everyone believed as they did did not concern them in the least. Unfortunately, that is one of the downsides of life on this planet. It would be wonderful if everything was sure and secure--but life is not like that. Maybe some of us need faith.

Answer 6

Generalizations are hardly ever a good theory. yet, on the different hand, they're commonly in holding with some center of reality. operating example, interior u . s . a ., there are a decision of Christian agencies that are very aggressive in attempting to implement their version of morality, it really is amazingly restrictive and illiberal. Even oppressive. i do not imagine which will be reported as "liberal" with the help of any definition of the time period. because the actuality, it really is comprehensible why one would gererally evaluate non-Christians extra liberal than Christians.

Answer 7

If Christians thought they were better than humans, then how could they be a Christian? All true Christians understand that they are a human and God is better than them. And no, I don't think God would punish me for being honest... that question contradicts itself anyway. God is truth. Saying anything but the truth wouldn't be from God.

Answer 8

Knowledge *is* justified, true belief. In other words, to "know" something is to 1) believe it, 2) have reasons why it is believed, and 3) have it be true.

So, if you ask a physicist if she is possibly wrong about the nature of the hydrogen atom, you are likely to get a very, very qualified "yes." This is so despite the fact that physicists have been utterly wrong about such phenomena in the past. In fact, most physicists will say, "No." because in the community of physicists it is a settled issue. If you want to engage them in discussions about being wrong about the properties of hydrogen you are unlikely to get very far.

Why is it so hard for them to admit they might be wrong?

HTH

Charles

[Late Edit]
You need to reflect more closely on what knowledge is. Except for those things which are logically necessary, and the propositions which derive from them, *NO* knowledge is *certain.* Indeed, the very notion of "certain knowledge" is very hard to parse (IMHO it is, in fact, incoherent, like "square circles"). This includes the assertion that knowledge is not certain. There may in fact be assured knowledge, but it will be very difficult to say what it is. So, there is no self-referential contradiction.

HTH

Charles

Answer 9

Know is an impossiblity. Believe is all there is.

Do you KNOW for a fact there is a planet which can support live on a star 30 light years away. Ready to STAKE YOUR LIFE ON IT.

Know, you just BELIEVE IT.

Know there is no Area 51 and the US is hiding alien space ships.

STAKE YOUR LIFE ON IT. WE GET TO EXCUTE YOU if you are poven wrong.

Now

How strongly do you KNOW

KNOW implies an ABSOLUTE TRUTH, an UNBREAKABLE LAW of the universe. A CERTAINTY.

KNOW implies diviation and exception do not exist.

Answer 10

I for one, will say that I might be wrong. So please don't generalize because not everyone fits into this category. But I do see where you come from because many Christians do say there is no possiblity..but as a Christian, I know what they mean, but other people who arent Christians do not know what they mean and they should put it into more depth and explain it. Since they haven't I will. =] I believe in God.....I have never seen Him, I do not have proof that He is real, except for the Bible and the only other proof I have is the stars and the sky and myself and yourself. But you guys want the kinda proof where you see Him. Well God doesn't play that game, He requires for you to have faith and I do. I BELIEVE in Him, but physically....I truly do not know if He is real, but I believe He is. In my heart, I KNOW HE IS REAL. Because I feel Him there, and I have had my prayers answered before, and that brings me to the fact that He is real. Now do I KNOW if He is real? Yes i do, in my heart I do. as for the physical proof....no i do not know. So its kinda like a yes and no question. For physical proof...no i do not know if He is real but I believe He is....in my heart.....there is no possiblity that i am wrong, because I love Him.....and I know He's real....but my heart isn't proof for you guys.

I would also like to point out that in the Bible, it says that God has revealed Himself to EVERYONE through nature. Now let me explain this....some people can look at the stars.....andnever in their life have they ever heard of God. but when they look at the stars....and really look, that must be proof that there is a God. now some people worship the stars and the moon....OTHER PEOPLE who dont know who God is....worship whoever they think made the stars. I dont mean a statue...but for example someone looked at the stars and said, " Praise whoever made the stars." they are giving praise to God, without knowing it. They aren't going around giving someone else the credit....but they are praising God....except not in full revelation like us Christians who do know who God is. so everyone has the chance to believe in Him.....i know atheists say that the stars came from the big bang...or evolution....each atheist has there own theory....but how can they look in the sky....and see a sun set....and sit in my face and say, " There is no god." ? My point in saying all this was, that nature IS proof that there is a god somewhere.....now as for narrowing it down....as to WHICH god? well....its God. none of those false gods....only God. so this also gives Christians the thought that there is no possiblity that they can be wrong. and they take this as physical proof...MY physical prooof that God is real is nature...because you look at it....and you know someone just had to make it....but many people....do not wanna look at nature this way...they want to ACTUALLY SEE THE GOD. God doesn't roll that way. He wants us to trust Him.


soooo.....to put it simple, I CAN be wrong.....when you are talking if there is physical proof of GOD Himself. like seeing Him. I have never seen Him. But the reason why I believe there is no possiblity of me being wrong is because in my heart....i know God is real....and looking at nature and all the prophecies that come true...reveal to me....that God truly is real. many people will say that this is only an opinion of nature....but God says it is a fact......and i have no proof that it is a fact....but i believe it. i....can be wrong about it being a fact....but as a Christian....i believe God is never wrong. and i know it.


also you must understand where a Christian is coming from.....our religion says there are no errors in God....and we are taught this....so when you ask us this......we say no....there is no possibility of me being wrong....because i KNOW He is real. we are taught to have faith....other religions do not teach faith. so it is kinda hard to explain...and do not take it the wrong way when a Christian says that.