the definition("blind belief") is false and mainly used by atheist to try and justify the idea that they dont have and dont use faith.
By the Biblical definition:Hebrews11:6-Faith is the substance of things hoped for,and the evidence of things not yet seen.
Everybody would technically fit into the first half of that definition;becuase even atheist are hoping for something.The only difference being theist hope and believe for God,while atheist hope and believe for God not to be real.So everybody technically fit in that definition of faith.
Where thiest and atheist part ways is the second half "and the evidence of things not yet seen.".This would apply to people with faith,since we are willing to trust God for something though we havnt yet seen it;while atheist refuse to believe and accept without scientific physical proof;which is where the error is made in understandng faith.
So everybody does have faith(first half of Heb 11:6);difference is where we put or dont put that faith
2007-08-01 07:32:54 · 19 answers · asked by Maurice H 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
And which definition do you think is more acurate in the description of faith?
The Atheist definition for it ("blind belief") or Hebrews 11:6?
2007-08-01 07:33:39 · update #1
Hebresw 11:6 thanks love it
2007-08-01 07:39:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Lets study a little more first in the Bible the scripture is Hebrew 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence fo things not seen.
Verse 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
2007-08-01 14:48:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are quoting Hebrews 11:1, not 6, and it is incredibly unhelpful in the debate about faith, given the different ways it can be interpreted.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." NIV
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." NASB
" Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." KJV.
Note that "evidence " in the KJV has changed its meaning, and doesn't connect to our current usage of the word.
Which comes first? The assurance that leads to faith, or the faith that generates assurance?
If the first, what is that assurance based on...?
If the second, what is the faith based on, besides itself?
Sorry, Hebrews 11:1, often quoted, does not easily or conveniently settle things.
2007-08-01 14:51:55 · answer #3 · answered by Pedestal 42 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not an athiest, so just my opinion here: Real faith is the Hebrews 11 thing.
Blind faith is something different. It is telling yourself you believe in something just because you're afraid if you don't believe it, something bad will happen.
Blind faith is being afraid to think about what it is you're having faith in because you're afraid it can't stand up to thought: if you think about it too much, you'll realize it's all baloney, and that's scary.
Blind faith is weak faith.
I question God all the time. I figure he gave me a brain and expects me to use it. I don't always get answers, but I get satisfaction a LOT.
2007-08-01 14:40:57 · answer #4 · answered by Acorn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Faith is not blind. Those that love and seek the truth receive a gift from God called faith and through faith comes revelation and a personal relationship with God.
2007-08-01 14:40:56 · answer #5 · answered by djmantx 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's a difference though, Faith isn't hoping for things, it's putting belief in things that have absolutely no grounding in fact or even logic.
Consider the circular logic of "I believe in the bible because it is the word of god; I believe in god because the bible says to" has no grounding, period. And therefore is a faith-based assumption.
Lots of people have difficulty in suspecting critical thinking for that kind of faith.
2007-08-01 14:39:09 · answer #6 · answered by Zee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I see it as BLIND faith but I don't deny my "substance of things hoped for...".
The reason I see it as BLIND faith is because of our freedom of choice and our everyday contact with those things in which we have faith in that may or may not have been tainted, disrupted, and/or tampered with by nonbelievers or those of ill will... simply put, evil/negativity.
The only resolution that I can think of to that is to have faith and ASK God to guide you and give you wisdom as you journey through the path of life. Hence, have faith in God...and the not yet seen or proven.
2007-08-01 15:10:04 · answer #7 · answered by astryd13 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Faith not based on Fact is fantacy... for those of The True Christian Faith our Faith is based on our personal knowledge of what God had done for us. Because we have that personal knowledge of God...we know The Truth of God for Fact... we have Faith that what He tells us, and promises us, will come to be.... God is The Evidence of thiings not yet seen.
2007-08-01 14:40:15 · answer #8 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So you hope for a heaven though there is no evidence it exists... keep hoping 'cause it ain't' happening!
Proverbs 14:15
The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
Atheists don't hope God isn't real! You really don't have a clue do you?
Blind faith is needed in order to believe the Bible - the Bible is absurdly ridiculous!
Jeremiah 4:10
Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people.
2007-08-01 14:37:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Both are true. In how christians view their faith, atheists nailed it.
It's the difference between "this is true" (blind faith) and "I hope this is true" (your example of how we all use faith). Instead, I just use the word "hope" for what to call the second.
2007-08-01 14:38:03 · answer #10 · answered by Armless Joe, Bipedal Foe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How can one have faith if they have not heard and how can they hear if they have stopped up their ears? Reading/studying God's Word brings about faith
2007-08-01 14:40:58 · answer #11 · answered by I-o-d-tiger 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋