Aside from the fact that we can see the chair, and we can tell if the chair is broken before we sit in it....
It is also true that we don't know FOR SURE that the chair will hold us but we still sit in it. Therefore, does that mean you are saying that you, too, don't know FOR SURE that God is real, but you still have faith in him, same as the chair?
2007-10-11 10:21:24 · 10 answers · asked by Linz ♥ VT 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Todd--you did not address the second part of my question at all.
2007-10-11 11:00:32 · update #1
Todd, I AM discussing the issue of the genuineness of people's faith--not only whether God exists.
2007-10-11 11:23:51 · update #2
I have never compared my faith in God to a faith in a chair...
I guess I think of god as more of a room, or a space that is undefinable. The room would lack physical walls, but you would still know they are there. It would be elaborate and decorative yet innately simply. Grand and large, but quiet and close like a blanket or a warm fire. Boisterous...but calm...
Truth...
I think until you know what faith in God is it cannot be described to you...
and once you know it...
it is difficult to find words that do it justice.
I know that God is real...
More then I know that a chair will hold me or not...
God is real, alive, loving, caring, wonderful, questionable, ration, provable, trustable....REAL
2007-10-11 10:27:49 · answer #1 · answered by OldSchoolLove 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Again to this repeat question:
The chair analogy is not directed at atheists--sit in the chair, don't sit in the chair...your choice.
It is directed at believers telling them that it is not enough to say you have faith (believe that there is a chair) you must exercise and put trust in that faith (sit in the chair).
Edit: sorry Linz, I thought the answer to the second part was implied...no it isn't an issue of is God real or not that isn't really what the analogy is meant to represent...it is "Is your faith real or not." There is a verse in James that says in a paraphrase You say you believe well the demons also believe and shutter the implication is that mental assent does not constitute true faith and belief requires a component of trust. The issue of whether the chair will hold someone or not deals with the genuineness of their belief or faith--nothing at all to do with weather there is a God or not. The analogy really isn't speaking to it. The issue again is if you don't sit in the chair what type of faith Do You actually have. That's all--wasn't trying to be incomplete in my answer.
Edit 2: I guess I'm interpreting the second part of your question differently:
"Therefore, does that mean you are saying that you, too, don't know FOR SURE that God is real, but you still have faith in him, same as the chair?"
No that is not what those who use this analogy are saying. It is not that they do not know "for sure that God is real". The issue is whether the faith they express toward this God they believe in is real.
Honestly Linz I guess I'll just pass on this question. I really do think I've sincerely answered it--I'm not sure what I'm not addressing.
2007-10-11 10:47:23 · answer #2 · answered by Todd 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
If you have faith in a chair, you need a mental ward. There is nothing in this world, worthy of faith. Everything man made can let you down....how many airplanes crash everyday..but those people who got on them, had faith they would get where they were going. If you open your door forty times and it opens,,,it doesn't mean it will open the next time...you just can't trust or have faith in,,things man made....that goes for man made ideas of The who, what, when and where of life. No 100 per cent certainty of anything but God...God is real and always right..things will unfold exactly as he says it will....it doesn't matter where you believe it or not...
2007-10-11 10:39:12 · answer #3 · answered by dreamdress2 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That comparison is more to show that we all live by faith in something. Whether you choose to believe in Jesus or evolution, you're putting your faith into something on a daily basis.
So, to answer your question, I do know for sure that God exists, but since I can't see Him physically, there is an element of faith that is needed and necessary. There are other people, however; that have seen God personally. Here's a link to one of them: http://stage6.divx.com/videos/tag:bill+weise
2007-10-11 10:31:00 · answer #4 · answered by i_floss 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I get the mental picture of a believer squatting in the middle of an empty room swearing that he's sitting on a chair that's supporting his weight. But his face is turning red and his legs are starting to shake...
2007-10-11 10:56:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Yes I know God is real. How? I can feel His arms around me hugging me close to Him, just as you feel the arms of someone who is physically standing by you.. God also answers all of my prayers.
God Bless
2007-10-11 10:56:03 · answer #6 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Obviously not. You don't understand analogies? How sad.
You trust that the chair which has supported you for the last 5 years will continue to do so today. Likewise, we trust that God, who has supported us all our lives, will continue to do so.
2007-10-11 10:29:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Ok, how about faith in the wind...
you can't see it, but you know it is there,
you can feel it....I can feel God's love.
It's gentleness can caress you and at it's most powerful it can leave you in aw, helpless and on your knees...
2007-10-11 10:27:31 · answer #8 · answered by Buff 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i never said that but God wont let me down...Hes way above furniture...i dont use those kind of silly comparisons..
2007-10-11 10:27:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Both were created by man.
2007-10-11 10:24:34 · answer #10 · answered by Win Noble 3 · 5⤊ 4⤋