It seems to me that having 'faith' means believing in something when there is neither valid reason nor evidence to justify that belief... so do religious folks just accept that faith is irrational, and have it anyway, or do they feel that faith is justified in some way... and if so, how?
2007-08-07 12:33:43 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Faith is perfectly rational.
It is based upon a knowledge of spiritual truth revealed directly to the heart by the Holy Spirit of God, according to His own will.
Evidently, this knowledge has not yet been disclosed to you, or you refused to believe it.
"For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said..."
Hebrews 4:2-3
2007-08-07 12:39:54 · answer #1 · answered by wefmeister 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Depends on what your faith is. Faith is more of a trust. Pretend you have a good friend. Everytime she has said something, you were able to check the accuracy of her statement, and it was true. Then she says something you cannot check and see if it was true. If you have faith, or trust, in this friend, you will believe her in that things you cannot see.
Pretend a guy comes up to you and says something is going to happen, and you can't check it out. You don't know this guy, so you have no faith in him.
Different people/religions/philosophies have different kinds of faith. Faith is not irrational anymore than you can't give a reason for trusting your good friend. You *can* give reasons for trusting your friend.
So don't lump all "religious folks" together. Christianity is rooted in hisorical basis and by the testimonies of people. I'm sure some people have blind faith, but not me. If it's not true, after all, why believe it? Having faith is trusting someone/something about what you can't see because you know you can trust something/someone about what you can see. Some religions/philosophies have no basis for faith, such as weird Wicca-types where some people make up their own gods or goddesses. There is no basis for that, and making up something doesn't make it exist.
I may have left out some definitions of faith - I'm sure there is a better way to say it - but this is how I think of it. There *can* be evidence for faith - and there certainly is for my faith.
2007-08-07 12:45:06 · answer #2 · answered by JustAsking 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I used to be an adamant atheist but I realized that it was utterly impossible for all the things required just to become human by the evolution process so I started to pray and honestly seek God with the full realization that the only revelation he would give would be in my heart because he did promise long ago that there will never again be any physical signs of his existence given. and now the joy and peace that he has put in my heart is far more worth wile than any beer or drug beer high that I ever had before. many people that do not believe in God try to tell me that I do not know what I am missing but I respond with" yes I used to be atheist so I know exactly what I am missing and the new life I have found is far better" so yes faith is justified in many ways but all on the INSIDE of the believer
2007-08-07 12:46:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why is faith only a problem when it comes to religion. We have faith all over this place.
* We have faith that the airplane we're boarding will reach it's destination.
* We have faith that we'll wake up in the morning.
*We have faith that our money in the bank will be their when we want it.
*We have faith that we won't get into a car accident on the road way.
This is only a few of all that we have faith in, but to believe in a holy God- well I guess their must be something wrong with us.
2007-08-07 13:06:01 · answer #4 · answered by Owl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This misconception of faith seems to abound here on Y/A. Speaking from a Christian point of view, faith is a response to God's revelation of himself. It is also divinely imparted to the heart. In other words there is a mystical element. The believer has an encounter with God that is undeniable in its reality. There is an accompanying KNOWING of truth in the heart. This divinely given faith that responds to God's self revelation harmonizes with the mind's search for understanding (apologetics). This is the Christian concept of faith. Criticize it if you will, but the misrepresentation of faith coupled with ridicule so often seen in Y/A is nothing but the ignorant beating a straw man.
2007-08-07 12:47:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Scientists have not proven where the material came from which initiated the Big Bang. Plenty of theories, but no concrete proof. So are not believers in the Big Bang theory displaying faith ? Faith that one day science will eventually have positive proof?
2007-08-08 08:07:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Life's realities are so harsh it is difficult for a follower to take responsibility. It is safe to blame his failures to the supreme power he believes in, cause he feels he is being tested for what ever is happening in his life. Believing that he is born out of sin, itself is a negative way to start life. Hence living in negitivity he is not going to be confident about himself. Believing that he is being watched means he is living in a make belief thought that he surely cannot be smart, he is only going to consult another believer as to how he should act. Its like one blind person leading the other.
Believing that to cross the teachings from the belief is a sin, living in misery through out his life, he is waiting for the promise of heaven, Once born these believers head straight to the waiting room for heaven. they know they are making decisions in their daily lives, but do not want to accept that to make changes they have to change. Instead they wait for change to happen and at the end of every prayer, they start with a give me list.
For a weak minded person he surely needs the imaginary hold because for him it is psychological support. I know of a person who had an extra marital affair and had a son, he consulted his clan, and they said that God forgave Adam only after he prayed for forgiveness for 40 years. So this person is praying non stop and believe he will be forgiven, otherwise he will not get heaven, People do accept this and are feeling justified in holding on to faith. It is a sad thing.
2007-08-07 13:36:32 · answer #7 · answered by thachu5 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hatred of others can never be justified, and anyone who claims to be Christian must not willingly hate anyone. Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." and "Love your enemies; do good to those who hurt you." One may hate what people do, but one may never hate other people. Other faith traditions probably have something very similar to the teachings of Jesus. People who believe in a loving, just and merciful God will find no place for such hatred in their hearts.
2016-05-21 02:07:34 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have absolute faith in my particular belief system. From my perspective, it's justified completely. 'valid reason' as you describe it, exists for me, and doesn't allow any elbow room, nor any demands for rationality or logic.
That probably doesn't make sense to you. It doesn't need to.
2007-08-07 12:47:36 · answer #9 · answered by Jack P 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I mnot religious but believe in God.many of my prayers have come true
2007-08-07 12:37:37 · answer #10 · answered by woodsonhannon53 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋