This is a question for anyone who can answer regarding blind belief?

Question

I have seen so many people say that only stupid people believe things that other people tell them. Why does it make you stupid to believe other people?
When I was a child, my parents told me that I will burn myself if I touch a hot stove. I believed them and did not touch it. Does the logic given by non believers tell them that they need to touch the hot stove before they know that it is hot? I am not saying to blindly believe everything you hear but, to search it out for yourselves. It is a man of wisdom who shows the faith of a child.
I have a philosophy that I will believe what people tell me as the truth until they give me reason not to. At the same time, I am not ignorant and believe that because I have the Holy Ghost to guide me, I will not be led astray be the great deceiver that is Lucifer. To those who call me stupid because I believe in God please tell me what you base your opinion on or is it just pure hatred for anyone who doesn't think you're the smartest person around?

Funaholic, you forget that I also said that I can tell when someone is deliberately trying to mislead me.

Unpope - My words are not contradicting. I am referring to the fact that as children, we use faith when we listen to people we trust. We believe that they will not lead us to harm intentionally.
My second sentence refers to people like funaholic that will misdirect you intentionally.
It is simpler put. When you were young, people that you trusted told you if you jump off a cliff, you could die. Then a guy like funaholic (sorry to pick on you fun) tells you that you can jump off a cliff and slowly float down landing on your feet. You now have different people telling you exactly the opposite thing. In this situation, I would believe the people I trusted and would give no credence to others who told me the opposite and now I know that I can't necessarily trust funaholic or anything he tells me.
It is the same with religion. I knew nothing of God as a child. I lived on the faith of my parents. As I got older, I researched and learned the same for myself.

Toltec - There is nothing in between the lines of what I asked. Why can't you simply look at the question instead of trying to add your own spin to it.

To the others who seem to be thinking that I am calling atheists stupid, I am not. I have met some who were very intelligent however they are "misled".
I am not pointing a finger at any one person and if you are so sensitive that you feel I am singling you out, I am sorry but, I don't even know you and am definately not singling you out. I am not even calling anyone stupid. There is a big difference between being stupid and not being the smartest person in the world. I know I have a lot to learn and that is why I ask questions. Not to get bashed by angry people but, to find answers.

JDHS - by your comments, you sound a little confused. I know what an agnostic is and what an atheist is and they are very different. An agnostic doesn't know whether or not there is a god but wants to cover all their bases just in case. The ultimate in fence sitters. I don't think you're stupid. you need to re-read the question.
Curious - you are exactly what I am referring to as haters and I don't need terroristic threats so consider yourself blocked.
Pugwash - You only saw one word in the question and fixated on that. Truthfully, it really means the same thing. Even all the different names we give to God, Himself does not change who he is.

Answer 1

What I find interesting is that so many people actually believe that "Christians" have blind faith. Usually, if someone has a strong belief and is comfortable with their faith, it is because it is tried and true. IOW they have lived and tested their faith long enough and hard enough to rely upon it.

I honestly don't beleive that God wants blind faith. He wants us to come to Him so he can teach us. He takes what we know, and pushes it one step beyond...this requires faith for us to to take, but if we have a strong foundation...that faith is just a logical progression of what God has already taught us. Once we have tested this new step...God teaches us what it is all about. It is very personal. It is very intimate. It isn't done on a grand scale...but on small individual steps. It is when we figure we understand enough...or don't need Gods help any longer to understand whatever...that we tend to go the wrong direction.

God tells us He will teach us line upon line precept upon precept...here a little there a little. And seldem does He teach us as fast as we think he should. :)

Answer 2

Funny I just had this discussion in Psychology this week. I made the same point, that you are led to trust someone until they deceive you, which was to prove that trust is not something that is earned. As for the stove I can prove that it is hot and now my parents words are firmly set. They tried to tell me about god too. I still haven't seen that one.

I am not a believer in god and actually find it quite offensive that you would suggest that because of my disbelief I call you stupid or ignorant in yours. This is in fact a false statement and those that do believe that you are stupid are young and have an ego to feed. I do not believe in a great deceiver either no matter what name you give it. Your mind is your god, and your mother your creator. when you die you cycle back to the food chain to feed the lesser animals. (were at the top huh?) You are not tempted by Satan, you are tempted by life. There is no sin, and what is right and wrong is what man has made of it.

Check into a movie. Even if you are a firm believer in your ways this movie inspires thought that will cause you to pause and reflect. It is called "What the bleep Do We Know?" It is more of a documentary than anything, but it is on Quantum Physics and worth any ones time.

Answer 3

GREAT QUESTION!!!

I understand fully what you are saying. As a child, I was one of those kids who didn't believe everything I was told. I did have to touch the hot stove to know that it was hot. However, those of us who are like this can also find truth, because we tend to be extremely logical thinkers.

Logic tells me that evolution did not occur in apes to become man. This is because evolution is an ongoing process and a never ending process. Therefore, the "missing link" would still be walking around along with comagdon man. Apes would still be evolving into man. Or there would be no more apes. You know, like the cavemen on the Geico commercials. Evolution, however does occur within a species. This is evidenced with our own bodies. We have an appendix, but it's not used. However, science shows that it once was.

I do not have my faith through what some would call "blind faith". It is logical to me that God exists. His "touch" can be seen every day. Also, I have had the Holy Ghost come upon me and let me know what is true.

I give you a star for your thought provoking question.

Answer 4

My BA% is as a rule round 6-7 % . Some occasions i supply the fallacious reply however as a rule what i have found out is plenty of the questions i reply the character isn't short of the info or reality however what they wish to think and listen to. I additionally try to avert questions that aren't critical questions however both with a schedule or simply being insulting. I've mostly stopped answering assault questions approximately the Catholic Church as most commonly the only asking will prefer the reply that they think helps there query. So the questions i do reply i am being as trained as i understand how and Honest and that i don't have any obstacle seeing a few one with my skills or extra supply a bigger wording being selected over mine. So i am accepting my % however nonetheless attempt to upgrade on it.

Answer 5

Holy Ghost is incorrect. It should be Holy spirit. The word ghost implies a spiritual part left over from when someone dies. The bible says otherwise. Ecclesiastes 9; 5,6
In the Bible, the Holy Spirit is NEVER given a name. Why. Because it is God's POWER, a force that God dispenses, It is NOT a 'third person'.
It comes ' down like a dove'...It shows as a flame from the tops of heads, You can pray to God for it, But the Bible NEVER says IT did anything by itself. It is always DIRECTED.
(Jude 20) But YOU, beloved ones, by building up yourselves on YOUR most holy faith, and praying with holy spirit,
Are you ' alongside' this 'one"? Does not make sense.
It does if it is a power.
(2 Peter 1:21) For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit.
Carried along by a 'person', or given power to achieve something? It has to be the second option.
I could go on and on.

Answer 6

Ok, you are not a child. If I told you that I had a car for sale that ran great, would you want a test drive? If I told you that islam was the answer would you believe that just because I haven't given you any reason to doubt my truthfulness.

I can feel the heat from a stove before I touch it. I didn't need to be told. Truth is self obvious. A child doesn't need faith to believe that hot stuffs burns.

This argument is far to simplistic. Religion requires you to believe a lot more than "hot stuff burns."

Answer 7

You trusted your parents not to lie to you. Did your parents tell you the absolute truth 100% of the time? Probably not, but you still trusted that what they told you was infallibly correct.

You have your beliefs and you have, as you say, researched your beliefs, others don't. They take the words of people they trust, parents, teachers, clergy, cops, judges, congressmen, the President as gospel, not bothering to question any of them about anything; and it's these people that those people addressing "blind faith" are speaking to.

It has nothing to do with "hatred", it's similar to someone accosting another person on the street and telling them about Jesus and how "stupid" they are for not accepting Jesus. But, apparently, it's perfectly acceptable for these people to do this...if I read between the lines of your point of view.

It's a wonderful thing you have found your spiritual niche and the "truth" as you choose to believe. but truths are subjective and relative to each individual.

Answer 8

Hello and blind belief is not belief at all its presumption and that is satan's counterfeit, God gives us plenty of proof if we are really looking to it as to why to obey and trust Him, but just faith, just to say one believes is also not enough and will not get you into God's Kingdom either, in James 2:19 we read satan himself believes in God and trembles, in
John 14:15 IF i love Him [then] keep His commandments IF i say i believe or a better word is BE-LIVE then my belief if its real must lead me to do something if it does not then its not faith i have but presumption, and be careful about how smart you figure you are but go on a "it is written" without taking anything out of context instead because i assure you that no matter how smart anyone things they are satan "IS" smarter, and because of the fact we have a sinful nature we will do what satan wants IF Jesus is not placed first in the life, God bless free bible lessons www.amazingfacts.org

Answer 9

It is true. Sometimes the only evidence you have is your faith. People think that you are "brainwashed" or following someone blindly when you say that that is enough. You do not always need proof for everything and that is the basis of religion:
Believing what you cannot see that is true.

Answer 10

I've never called anyone "stupid" based on their own beliefs or lack thereof and if your philosophy suits you fine, I can respect that. But your philosophy doesn't necessarily apply to me. And yes, in my case, I have to touch the stove to find out it is hot, otherwise I wouldn't know what "hot" is or what it feels like.

And why do you complain about people calling other people "stupid" when you yourself made the assessment that we're "not the smartest people around"? Sounds like double standards.