Why do some christians use faith as a barrier to thinking?

Question

My sister is a good example of this. She is head of the maths department at the school where she teaches. Maths being based on logic, you would expect its easy to have a logically based discussion with her. However, as soon as religion comes into it and she's faced with a question about contradictions or silly dogmas in her religion, she instantly pulls out the response of "But I have faith" and refuses to pursue a logical argument saying that sometimes faith is more important than logic.

Isn't this just avoiding the need to examine faith.

New Catholic............I was brought up in the catholic church and was an altar boy who attended a catholic school. I don't think I need your book to understand your religion. In year10, my religion teacher used to send me from the class for presenting him with questions he couldn't answer.

Answer 1

Regrettably this is an answer that is often used by religious people -- not just Christians -- to stop a discussion. As if saying "I have faith" is an answer to anything. I completely agree that using this as a conversation stopper is avoiding the issue.

However, it is very hard to get people to examine their own faith because most of the beliefs that religious people take on faith just don't stand up to any form of rational examination. I usually ask what is the basis of that faith -- it must come from somewhere or someone, such as a book (Bible, Koran) or a person such as a priest or a parent.

Answer 2

I've never understood why some people are hell bent on demanding faith be questioned. If you've ever had to watch anyone die, you'd see what a tremendous gift of grace faith really can be. Faith is acceptance, grace, and wisdom in such a situation; though sad, it is truly a beautiful thing in that context. Why do some people feel compelled to deprive others of this?

Because I came from an agnostic background, I question all the time. Always have, always will, though I remain in my faith.

But the simple and serene peace I remember my grandmother having - what a tremendous gift. I just don't understand why so many people feel this compulsive need to demand that people like her throw it in the fire of uncertainty, to see if it holds up. Why should she, if it works for her?

One might equally wonder why some are so hellbent on using thinking as a barrier to faith.

Oh... and just because your teacher did not understand your questions, does not necessarily mean you understood the religion she was teaching. You have to acknowledge the possibility the confusion could have been mutual. Just something to think about.

Answer 3

The truth is that your teacher would have been brought up just as you have, without faith and asked to take in things that he didn't understand and not question them. You have a Bible, you need not to ask any questions since most are all will be answered in there you don't have to ask a teacher because most claim they're ones when they personally have no knowledge.

As for your question, rethinking lives a room to doubt which lets the devil take advantage of your mind and challenge your believe but a true believer can spot that and take heed with faith this very same faith is what makes us who we are and gives us the way of our thinking, hopefully most of us are following the true Christianity and not just professing it or following the majority!

To God be the power and Glory, praise Him. God bless

Answer 4

Most people are very comfortable with their beliefs and wouldn't dream of examining it in any rational way. For some, I think it's a fear of being "thrown in hell" for daring to even question their religion... others just don't care. Most people have the idea that they can't possibly be wrong and I believe it has something to do with being "Chosen" that drives these people to hold on to their beliefs even more.

Honestly though, I don't know how someone can cling to beliefs without ever testing them and just assume that because they believe in them, the beliefs must be right.

You can't talk those people into looking at what they believe in a rational light... they will turn the lights out real quick if they feel their beliefs are threatened and by threatened I mean questioned.

Answer 5

Is it a risk it may desire to even persist with to non-theists? not something prevents me from questioning my faith. I do it each and all of the time. the concern is that the examples you checklist do not possibly pose a lot of a undertaking to me. Christianity has coherent solutions to all of those. the subject concerns I attempt against with are plenty deeper, and greater own. The benefit, if I dare call it that, I even have is that i've got been heavily incorrect earlier. issues i became into somewhat particular of became out to be untrue. it somewhat is taught me somewhat bit humility. The older i'm getting, the greater useful i admire the words of the in call for divine: "1000 problems does not a single doubt make."

Answer 6

Instead of bashing what your conceptions are about Christians over and over and over, if you are interested in how and why our opinions are formed and why we believe in God and what we base this faith on, there is a book, in print, that explains it all for all Catholics.

Non Catholics are free to read it as well, it is no secret, please take 10% of the time you spend bashing Christians and do something so that you can understand Christians, READ the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

At least then we can debate with an intelligent person who does not use their lack of Faith as a barrier to thinking.

Works both ways!

Peace!

Answer 7

ALOT of Christians are like this. Most I get in conversations with just say "I just believe what I've been taught my whole life" how ignorant is that? If I believed all the superstitions my Mexican Mom told me when I was kid I wouldn't be able to do anything! The Christian mind is void of all logic. Faith isn't answer, we can't examine it because it doesn't exist. Faith doesn't fuel machines, Faith doesn't feed stomaches, Faith doesn't make the sun rise. They just need to get over it.

Answer 8

Faith is what Christianity is all about. Without faith there is no point. Faith is a part of our lives so everything we do is based on faith. Perhaps your "logical" arguments are just you trying to weaken her faith...which obviously isn't happening. Give up the argument, sounds like her faith is getting to you.

Answer 9

Faith should, indeed, be examined!
The religious organization with which your sister is associated has failed her greatly.
It is their responsibility to provide her with answers.
Mind you, if it is filled with "contadictions and silly dogmas", it is small wonder they cannot provide weighty answers to their own parishoners.
He statement "I have faith" is a face-saving way of saying "I am lost."
Faith is built on knowledge, information, learning.
The more one studies the Bible, the more one's faith can grow.
Note that Romans 10:17 says "faith FOLLOWS the thing heard...."
Faith doesn't come first, it follows the taking in of reasonable and logical information.
Show your sister 2 Corinthians 13:5
"Keep testing whether YOU are in the faith, keep proving what YOU yourselves are."

Answer 10

She believes what she chooses to believe, just like you do. She can't give you a logical argument for faith anymore than you can produce the missing link.