why is it that some people think that people who have faith are deluding themselves?

Question

and why do they think that having faith is "comfortable"?
Some of the toughest experiences in my life have tested my faith severely. Faith is far from comforting...it's challenging and exciting to me...
am I deluded because of this?

thank you 1st 3 answers...I'll just wait patiently :)

dear megan: defensive? *grin*
it's a question

dear Octal040: you don't know me very well.
Actually - the first answers are almost always knee clip reactions to what they've just read...I often wonder why people who answer first don't come back later after thinking about it to edit... the best answers usually come after a few have posted, and no - I don't cherry pick my answers... ask ANY of my contacts... thank you for answering. I'll join you in that drink! :)

(((((laptop,Zilla,UP,Jack et al)))))

Dear Rachel O: wow you REALLY don't know me.. :)
thank you for answering :)

Answer 1

Because I have watched people I know, including me, convince themselves of various beliefs because at the time they had a compelling need to believe that way. That need is not necessarily one of personal gain, it can be any of a number of psychological needs, including sometimes, punishment. The result is that anytime I hear people saying things that ring bells of familiarity to me of that particular style of self rationalization I become wary. Consequently I am perhaps best described as an agnostic theist, in spite of the fact that at least once, God sent me a personal message and maybe more often. I simply do not have a position outside the universe to examine it and tell if it was him or my own mind playing tricks on me.
Edit: One thing I am reasonably sure of is that when we die, we all will have answers. There is no need to rush it, for ourselves or for others.
"Do good. Avoid evil. And, stay out of the refrigerator." Brother Juniper

Answer 2

Job 26:27 He is stretching out the North over the empty place,Hanging the earth upon nothing. Isaiah 40:22 There is one who is dwelling above the circle of the earth the dwellers in which are as grasshoppers. And yes the Bible was written over 2000 years ago,God's message would be expected to be available all around the globe to all mankind. The Bible in whole or in part has been translated into 1,800 languages.It's circulation totals in the billions,is the most widely read book in history.it is probably also the most influential. More copies have been distributed than any other book,and has been translated more times and into more languages than any other book.Just because men teach falsely and have twisted the scriptures to their own benifit doesn't mean there isn't a true God of love 1 John 4:8 and the Bible isn't the truth. Prophecies today are being fulfilled right in front of our eyes,after 2000 years,Read Matthew 24th chapter,Luke Mark 13 and Luke 21 2 Timothy 3:1-7 But know this that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here,for men will be lovers of themselves ,lovers of money,blasphemers,disobedient to parents, unthankful,disloyal having no natural affection,not open to any agreement,slanderers without self control,fierce without love of goodness,betrayers,headstrong,puffed up with pride,lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God,having a form of Godly devotion but proving false to it's power and from these turn away.Always learning and never coming to a knowledge of the truth. Note it says having a form of Godly devotion but still having these characteristics,and that is the very reason so many would not believe in the true God or his word today, 2 Timothy 3:16 Exodus 6:3 John 13:34,35 Revelaton 7:9 We all have the same problems,not trying to convert anybody but just hoping to give you some hope. Revelation 21:3,4 Isaiah 2:4 Proverbs 2:1-9

Answer 3

Wow, people are mean. I've only read the first ten or so answers so far and they're vicious. But they don't explain *why* like you asked.

Anyway, Rammie, I think the essential difference is that some people only find their "truth" or whatever you want to call it through exploration of the empirical, the here and now, the solid, physical facts. Others are open to possibilities beyond our realm of physicality.

Funny enough: I know several people in "real life" who are of the second sort but are still atheists. I never knew there were so many rationalist/modernist minds still out there until I came here!

I don't like being called delusional. It's rude and disrespectful. I hate it when my atheist friends here go around accusing us of that. It makes me want to strike back.

If the people who call all Christians delusional would bother to know why I believe what I believe they would see that I'm actually an intelligent, philosophically minded woman who only makes these types of decisions for herself. But most of them are happy with smacking an insulting label on our foreheads without knowing anything except our belief in God.

Well, I hate to ask...but then who exactly is closed-minded in this situation?

Answer 4

Because of the very nature of faith. Paul defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Some people walk by sight only and not by faith.

1 Corinthians 2:5 makes it plain that faith is given to some, but not to all: "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

And, again, in 1 Cor. 12: 8, Faith is given as a gift by the Holy Spirit.

Obviously, then, God allows certain ones to have faith. The rest are described in 2 Thessalonians 2: 11 as those who are sent a strong delusion so that they believe the lie.

Answer 5

I understand that faith can be extremely taxing; it is hard to have faith sometimes and even if that's not the case, it's not all happy bunny time.

I do, however, think that many faithful people are deluding themselves because they fail to recognize basic facts that have nothing to do with religion, like evolution or pro-choice. These should not be religious issues but people have been roped into thinking they are. Also some people are ignorant and believe things that are impossible, like that a person can be a mom and a virgin, or that people can rise from the dead.

Answer 6

I guess I tend to think this way. I think it is not so much faith itself, but when people have faith in something against all evidence to the contrary.

An example would be (& this is not to say most people with faith beleive this, I am just using an extreme): if someone were to say that they believed the world was flat becuse it says so in their holy book and their faith dictated it.
Sorry that is not worded too well but I hope it mostly gets the point across.

As I say, it is not exactly the faith itself......

Answer 7

Faith is not comfortable, the answer to our prayer is where the comfort is. The comfort is also in knowing who and what God is to you.
Deluded- in the sight of man oh yes! Because faith is foolishness to the unbeliever, that's why when we have faith it is to ourselves and to God...it avoids a lot of hassles!
There have been all to many times where God has pulled me through an impossible situation for me to even consider the comments of others.
Faith is the substance of things HOPED FOR, the evidence of things NOT SEEN- that is the point when you appear deluded but what do they say when those things you hoped for become seen???
Abraham hoped against hope...huh! Romans 4:18 There was no hope for Abraham but God said...this is the point where we look deluded/foolish...
Deluded? Foolish? I venture to say that we don't take the risk of looking foolish enough in that we don't trust God enough. Many try to make themselves look spiritual but they are not basing their faith on what God truly said, so in every situation go to God's word and make sure you are in that sweet spot with God and that you have a biblical basis for your faith. If so continue to trust Him, if not then get it right and then move on in your adventures with God!!!

Answer 8

lol, waiting for what after the first 3? For someone to say exactly what you want to hear, no doubt. Those first 3 were about the only information you needed.

That's why we think you're deluded and easily lead. You will go on to prove you're deluded by picking a best answer that just reiterates your boring question.

*drink*

Answer 9

Because if people of faith are delusional then they don't have to accept faith as reality. You're not deluded. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

Answer 10

I have no idea why some are so sure that there is no God, or that all Christians should be lumped together as the "masses." That one always cracks me up. I will say most of the wonderful people I have enjoyed meeting here are above such a generalization, but it tickles my funny bone to hear the word, as if the person using the slur is so "elite." I get a visual of a little raggedy Napoleon, strutting about after Waterloo, as if nothing had changed.
I know there is nothing in this world that I would trade for my faith and trust in my Lord. He is my strength.