Do you think a good definition of faith is believing in something common sense tells you not to?

Answer 1

"Faith is believing what you know ain't so." - Mark Twain

Answer 2

The Bible gives a better definition of faith in Hebrew 1:1
"Now faith is the evidence of things not seen, the substance of things hoped for."

When you have faith in anything, be it God, your spouse, the latest scientific theory, the math tables, etc., it will color or filter the way you understand things. For example, if a child is convinced that his mother hates him, he will find a way to twist anything she says or does into an act of hate. If the child has faith that is mother loves him, he will find a way to interprete her every word and deed as an act of love. Like they kids who are convinced that their parents beat them because they love them. Their "faith" affects how they see all the evidence around them.

The same with faith in God. Those who believe are able to see the evidence of him everywhere. Those who do not believe will never be convinced by any evidence. They reject it all. It is the "evidence" of things not seen.

Those have faith in something, someone or themselves, will act on that faith. (Otherwise is it just mental assent). They are convinced that they can go to college, so they do it. They are convinced they can get a job, so they do it. They are convinced they will be a millionaire by the time they are 25, so they do it. Their faith gives substance to the things they hope for.

Answer 3

No. What is the difference between faith and belief? My definition of faith: You believe in what You rely on, in what you absolutely trust. Doubts are part of life: Take a deep breath out, then doubt there is any air to breath in. Your vital essence will rely on there is, no matter if you believe or not. That is how faith shall animate me:
not only to believe *in* G-d, but to believe G-d.

Answer 4

Defination of faith... Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Answer 5

That's certainly one definition. Faith is, in my opinion, the most overrated "virtue" in our society. I would define it as belief without evidence. For a belief to even exist as a belief, one must agree that it accurately represents some state of the world. When one is talking about an invisible, omnipotent, deity, there's about as much evidence as for an invisible flying spaghetti monster.

Answer 6

I think it means to believe in something bigger than yourself, sight unseen, deity/creator etc... and realize that there is something bigger than yourself, read the bible and find out what it is, having "faith" to pray to God for the understanding of it .... to do something like pray, and not know what is going to happen, then when the prayer is answered, it is known and it is fact to you.... and you keep on keeping on, learning more, praying more... and getting more of the answers that you seek each time..... growing spiritually.

Answer 7

No faith is acepting God at his word and common sense is based on knowledge and knowledge comes through the word of God.

Answer 8

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Answer 9

Faith is believing although you haven't seen with your own eyes, but your heart tells you it's true.

Answer 10

Just an ounce of faith can work wonders

Answer 11

I would say it's believeing in something that you have no evidence for.

That's different from common sense telling you NOT to believ in it.