How could one conclude God existed without appealing to faith?
2007-05-04 07:55:05 · 17 answers · asked by Eleventy 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Phyllis: I'm not sure where you read that in my question.
2007-05-04 08:03:04 · update #1
SpaceLord: Interesting, can you elaborate on the similarities??
2007-05-04 08:04:18 · update #2
The key word in your question is "BELIEVE."
Belief is impossible without faith.
BUT
Knowing God IS possible without belief!
In addition to the Protestant method of "water and the word" one can also come to know God through direct experience.
This is what Mysticism, many of the Saints & Prophets and Pentecostalism are all about -- a DIRECT PERSONAL ENCOUNTER with The Absolute.
Those who follow the Mystic or Pentecostal path of enlightenment don't "Believe in God"... they either:
"Know God" or
"Have experienced God."
If one has a "personal encounter" belief in things unseen is no longer necessary/applicable. As a matter of fact, it is a step backwards!
.
2007-05-04 08:08:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it depends on what you mean. I, for instance, am a deist. I believe that there is a creator. Whether or not that creator is rightly called God or not or even if the God referenced in the Bible is the actual Creator is not for me to say. If you believe that God of the Bible is the Creator that is an expression of faith. That a creator of some kind exists is more a matter of accepting what is most likely.
In other words, you have to believe one of two things: either all matter in the universe has always existed with no beginning and no end or you have to believe that someone who always was and always will be created it. I suppose both would have to be considered acts of faith but I don't think that is the way you are using the word "faith".
Whenever one accepts as possible that which is not knowable, there is a degree of faith. But I would not compare what I have to the acceptance that religious people have of their own beliefs. I don't presume that I am correct or superior either.
.
2007-05-04 08:14:00 · answer #2 · answered by Jacob W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By simply thinking of how the Earth is designed, especially considering a little closer to the Sun and we're burning up or a little further away and we are an ice cube. There is a very marginal space the Earth can occupy for it to be inhabitable. Just look around you. Each and every creature has a purpose, who put them there? Take as an example the paramecium. Single cell organism and it gets around by its flagellum. Evolution says that this creature developed over time. Really? Okay, so it gets around by the flagellum. There are multiple parts that make this work. So if it evolved, then at some point these were separate items, right? How did it get put together? If it can't move without the flagellum, how does it eat, if it doesn't eat how does it reproduce? No, this was specifically designed by God. Evolution cannot explain the Cambrian explosion. This was the hand of God.
2007-05-04 08:07:45 · answer #3 · answered by Mark S 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hebrew 11:1 says it in these words: "Faith is the evidence of things not seen". Or in my own words, "what you believe determines what you will see".
If a person is convinced that his mother hates him, he will be able to find a way to turn any action she does into some kind of an act of hate. If a person is convinced that his mother loves him, he will be able to find a way to turn the exact same actions into an act of love. You hear about people all the time who believe that they are being beat by someone because that person loves the.
What you believe is a filter that colors an evidence on any subject - not just God. A person who believes in God will be able to see the evidence of him everywhere. A person who does not could have God stand before him wearing a red hat and feathers and the person would not see him.
So can a person believe in God without faith? Nope. No more than they can believe in science, math, money, their parents, or anything else without faith.
Fortunately for the Christian, there is all kinds of evidence to help a person believe in God. All they have to do is take that first step of faith to see it.
2007-05-04 08:08:17 · answer #4 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can believe in God, but not belong to a certain faith, which can also mean religion. Faith is another word for Religion. So, you can believe in God without having a religion.
2007-05-04 08:05:40 · answer #5 · answered by Lina 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't. Some people say that the world and it's elements exhibit intelligent design. But who's intelligent design was it? Maybe the person we call "God" really is not; and he/she/it is simply a being with vastly superior technology. Either way, the idea of a "God" requires a form of faith.
2007-05-04 08:02:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can't, faith is what holds the believer to believe in God.
2007-05-04 08:18:06 · answer #7 · answered by Mizunushi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's ALL about faith, eleventy. I know we see people day in and day out conflate "faith" with "enlightenment to absolute truth", but always keep in mind: those two are NOT synonymous.
2007-05-04 08:04:17 · answer #8 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Experience.
2007-05-04 07:59:39 · answer #9 · answered by Paien 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I needed faith in the beginning, but I know he lives. I talk to Him, and He talks to me.
2007-05-04 08:08:35 · answer #10 · answered by RB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋