Let's try to have a real philisophical Q and A here.. Let's put aside the Christian bashing, the Athiest hating.. Be as long winded in your answer as you would like. But lets hear some theories...
Over the history of humankind we have had gods. These gods have been in many forms and types. They have served their believers and their believers have served them. These gods have performed all kinds of miracles.
The Roman or Greek gods, for instance have now moved to myth status, when only a few thousand years ago they healed the sick, struck fear into the hearts of their enemies, and did things that "proved" their existence to their believers.
But as time passed these gods no longer perform miracles. They no longer give their blessings, or do the things that made them gods. Also there are not many people who believe in the Roman or Greek gods like they used to.
Does faith give power to gods, or do gods give power to faith?
2007-06-04 03:53:47 · 8 answers · asked by ? 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In my experience, YES for a good reason. The spiritual essence of the universe, whether one wants to deify it or not, has a "power" to direct changes in the material world, dependent on the qualities of our interactions with 'it', and each other.
The problem seems to be that we want to make God a "being", or something of a physically knowable form, and as such give our power, (responsibility), away. Thus when there is failure, or increased unpredictability in our perceptions of "God's" responses to us, we shift, and complicate our beliefs with dogma, rather than expanding them to accept a 'non-answer', as a response from the infinite, and unknowable.
As we explore, study, and learn more about our physical universe, we can be getting closer to realizing just how vast and unknowable the essence of "God" is in physical or material terms.
Quantum physics is blowing the lid off of our limited beliefs in the predictability of physical matter, seemingly implying an influence of what may be called consciousness or intention.
In the early Judeo-Christian history, the name of God was at first unpronounceable, and later, forbidden to be uttered. An attempt I believe to keep us from minimizing the spiritual with physical/material constraints.
The 'mysterious ways' analogy is means of accepting a "God connection", through faith in some Higher "Power".
Peace be with you, and Love with Laughter in your being.
2007-06-04 04:19:05 · answer #1 · answered by sunnyjay 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it can. A person with any basis for optimism is going to have a statistically better chance of weathering an affliction or surviving a dangerous disease. While a deep faith alone does not mean a person will benefit in any way from it, there are some cases where the patient's attitude and morale are relevant to recovery. Personally, I think having Playboy bunnies give me a massage every day would be more therapeutic than faith in God. But that's just me. Edit: Godsuncledave, I think, is referring to tests involving prayer, where the patient did not know about the prayer.
2016-05-21 01:01:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh good question! I like this!
I personally believe that it goes both ways. After all you can't have one with out the other. If no one ever believes in the God, does it exist? People will say yes, but I suppose its a personal thing. I think faith and Gods and people all feed off eachother and yes I believe they all exist. I believe they are all ASPECTS of the same thing.
I like your question!
2007-06-04 03:58:10 · answer #3 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Faith gives power to the churches... the churches get more power from the money you give them for your faith... and you just believe your doing what's right.... but how can anyone live not having faith in something... whether it be a God another person or even themselves...?
2007-06-04 03:57:18 · answer #4 · answered by Highlander 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Faith is a powerful tool.
It matters not which religion you partake in,
because having faith in something, anything,
gives you the strength to continue, or even to believe in miracles.
We may give the gods the strength to help us,
but it is us who must believe in them first.
Miracles occur all around us, but for our lack of faith,
we no longer feel them.
Hope this helps.
2007-06-04 03:59:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Faith is the evidence of things not yet seen. The KJV says that if you have faith, even as a grain of mustard seed, you can move mountains--well a mustard seed is tiny--but think again--it grows to become one of the largest strong--branches are very strong--trees. Faith gives power to us. God does not need faith--he already knows--he has seen.
2007-06-04 04:00:38 · answer #6 · answered by Deborah G 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You ask for a real philosophical Q and A then start spouting mythology.
Faith gives power to man or rather certain men,that is why man invented religion and gods in the first place
2007-06-04 03:58:09 · answer #7 · answered by rosbif 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Faith is a gift from God. You cannot have it without His gifting of it. That about sums it up.
2007-06-04 03:57:40 · answer #8 · answered by Soundtrack to a Nightmare 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋