What gives you your faith?

Question

Although I am an atheist, please do not try to twist this into something offensive. Furthermore, I am not looking for convincing, only opinions on what gives individual theists their faith, as surely everyone has some specific reason. If you don't have a specific reason mention that as well.

Please, don't be afraid to be completely honest. This isn't to build ammo or anything. I am doing research for a series of non-threatening (and hopefully interesting) articles and videos for my blog.

Just to clarify I'm not looking for an answer along the lines of "God gives me my faith". If you believe God himself has talked to you, and that is why you believe, then please mention that. However, faith can not by definition be "given" directly from that which you have faith in.

Oh and by the way, I am giving thumbs down to those that are offensive to those that wish to share their feelings here. Also, thumbs up for answering the question properly. And of course "I just feel/know it in my heart" or something along those lines can hardly be argued and is therefore a valid response.

ONE LAST DETAIL
For anyone that is interested, my site is http://subone.org/ There is an RSS feed on the page if you want to be updated when there is a new story. I am currently working out the particulars of editing the videos on Linux, but will also be posting transcripts of the videos and articles.

Answer 1

Faith on God or faith to your beliefs.

If you mean faith to God, it is the bible who teaches us about God and that makes our heart to be faithful to God.

But if it is a faith to your teachings, no way.
jtm

Answer 2

Although I do not consider myself a Christian, I do believe in God. I believe in God for the reasons one answerer said, the afterlife. When my loved one passes away, I take comfort in the idea that I will be with them in the afterlife. I also feel as if I need a back up plan. That is where God comes into to play. When I become aware that circumstances could have been harmful to me, I know that God was looking out for me. When did I first get my faith? I was raised in the Presbyterian, Methodists, and Disciples of Christ Churches (Long story and a big family). I have gone through periods of being mad at God and of having doubts but it has never lasted long.
I am probably not the best one to be answering this question because I don't subscribe to any one faith but my own which is a combination of many faiths. I always flabbergast Christians because I tell them that I don't believe in the concept of hell and I don't believe in the holy trinity. I pick and choose those things that make sense to me. And I believe God is okay with that. After all, if we believe in monotheism, then we all worship the same God, we just worship differently.

Not sure that I answered your question right but thanks for letting me share.

Answer 3

Ok - well.

Firstly there is the need for it. If i didnt i really dont know where i would be. I would lose purpose. Life would seem very shallow and empty.

Secondly - i have had experiences that really indicate that there is something more out there - something that really does care for me. Many would call them concidences but they seem to happen a lot.

Thirdly - its just the feeling that you get inside (sorry if that is a really bad explanation - it is just hard to describe)

Fourthly - logic dictates that there has to be something bigger. I am a mech engineer and have studies lots of physics. According to the laws of thermodynamics and the proven equation E=MC^2 then it is impossible for matter or energy to be created or destroyed. Thus all this 'stuff' must have gotten here somehow and this is a logical explanation that fits with the points above. Existence itself is a miracle. And why is everything the way it is and so perfectly in balance (well - you could argue that it is not but the rules of nature just flow so smoothly together to create this seamless world)? Also the human form and the fact that "life" exists does indicate supernatural. After all - why would matter exhibit behaviour that indicates the want for self preservation when the laws of nature say that this should not be so. Where there is not life matter behaves in a very very predictable fashion as dictated by the laws of nature. Look at your body. It goes against gravity, it goes against friction and viscosity - it goes against nature in general. All this indicates design to me. Why would matter arrange itself in such a manner against what it wants to do? My theory is that god designed it. It is the only thing that 'fits' for me.

Well - all these things indicate god to me. But i guess that is not the real question you asked - what gives you faith? Nothing gives me faiths. The points above assist in my faith but in essence my faith is a choice. My choice to believe in god and Jesus.

Hope that helped! And could you please make your study non-biased? That would be cool. And if i get in there refer to me as "Mr. Anderson" =) Lol :-)

Answer 4

I would write it in here but it would take up too much space.
If you would like to know my testimony of where God took me from and what He has done since then that solidifies my faith in Him, please email me at [e-mail] and put "Yahoo Answers Question" in the subject line. I can certainly help you because I have much to share that i believe you would find interesting. I have experienced unbelievable things that the natural mind will find difficult to believe, but I am not lying because I am certain beyond any doubt that God expects me to be totally honest in everything I do, say and think.

I asked for the subject line info because if I don't recognize an
email I delete it to avoid spam and viruses.

I don't like using the little box that pops up in the email thing from Yahoo Answers because it is too limited in space. I am also having trouble with my yahoo mail and it won't process replies to Yahoo Answers.

Answer 5

I feel Jesus in my life daily. There have been several key moments that proved that my God is alive and all powerful. When a woman is told that she can never have children, yet she has three. Science can't explain it, but my God can. When someone is diagonsed with cancer and months later tested again, and there is no cancer to be found. That is my God again. How else can you explain these miracles? How can you deny Jesus Christ when He loves you no matter what? He is waiting for you...God Bless all of you, (even the ones that give me a thumbs down)

Answer 6

I have my faith because I just know God is here (and everywhere else, too.) I don't know how or why I know, I just do. Everything about my faith (Roman Catholicism) makes sense to me. I don't think I could live without God in my life. I don't know how you atheists do it (I did NOT mean that offensively, or admiringly. It was a neutral statement.)

Answer 7

The Bible tells Believers that faith is a gift of God.
From our perspective, it is similar to salvation:
It is offered to all.
Some will accept God's gifts, and other will refuse them.

Answer 8

What gives me my faith ?
Logic.
Knowledge with evidence
Observation with open mind
and last but not the least; My daily life experiences, and the testimony of my heart and mind

I think this http://al-islam.org/inquiries/4.html or http://al-islam.org/inquiries/2.html could help you with your research about my faith.

Answer 9

What gives me faith is the word of God for it is always true...and knowing that it doesn't take much it says the size of a mustard seed that is tiny tiny tiny...

Answer 10

Being an Atheist as well, I assume it is the need for a life after death or tradition.