Is it possible for someone to have faith in something and be wrong?

Question

A Muslim has faith that Mohammad told the truth about his visions, etc..

A Mormon has faith that Joseph Smith told the truth.

A Jehovah's Witness has faith that they are part of the 144,000 that will be saved

A Christian has faith that their 'relationship' with Jesus is real, and not imaginary - plus they have faith that the people who put the Canon of Scripture together were trustworthy...

Which group has the strongest faith? Does it matter? Can all these different groups have faith in things and those things all be correct?

What if someone has faith that the Earth is flat... Are they wrong? Is their faith based on something wrong?

Should people who have wrong beliefs be compelled to change them?

How do you know your faith is correct?

Do you care?

Answer 1

Not just possible - likely.

People should not work out their opinions by assuming an answer - having 'faith'.

Who cares which religious group is the most devout?

There are people in mental hospitals who REALLY believe they're Napoleon. That doesn't make it so.

Answer 2

I think if you find your faith is wrong, to change your mind promptly, I knew I was being brainwashed in the mormon church, the theology after a while was too confusing, I became wicca, but I had a problem casting a succubus out of my house, so I abandoned that religion/witchcraft, then I was an atheist, but I believed people just believed and they could heal themselves and I almost died and could not heal myself by just believing, so I got saved, and what do you know, the suicidal thoughts and wishes I had for years just left me, I can't explain it, except to say that when I was a mormon, a relationship with God/jesus was missing, and now that that factor was in the mix, and I was a sinner and needed a Savior ect. I was now free of this need to end my life. The bible finally opened up to me and I foudn things that were not there before, but the mormon bible has things added to it, and you can say 2 cor.4:4 plagued me at the time as well. Atheist can still say I am brainwashed, but I cannot go back to where I came from and go back to being suicidal, I just an't do it. I have faith that were I am is the right place.

Answer 3

Faith is simply a belief without evidence.

It is very easy to have faith and to be wrong.

In fact, it is almost insured to be wrong, because faith asks that human being stop questioning or thinking about an idea. It asks them to go on what another person claims is true -- whether about gods, ghosts, faith healing, and all elements of the supernatural.

Answer 4

Yes. And if you have faith in a flawed idea it can actually work to a degree anyway - since then one has a structure to build on.

In the christian faith we have the Holy Spirit to give a real evidence of the reality of God and our faith. He was operational in the Old Testament period in Israelites in key positions such as prophets and a few kings. Possibly he is active in the lives of Jews, muslims and other non-christians to a degree, although none of those acknowledge His existence.

Answer 5

Any or all faith could potentially by "wrong". The whole purpose of a belief system is to help you decide how to understand and respond consistently to life in the chaotic world. By its nature it is allegorical because it is about something that can't be empirically demonstrated. Exactly what you believe is less crucial than how it makes you behave. If it makes you treat others terribly, it is not a good faith. If it makes you treat others well, it's a good faith, even if it is factually unverifiable or even technically incorrect.

Answer 6

I don't have faith in my relationship with Jesus, I have faith in him.

I don't have faith that the people who put the Canon of Scripture together were trustworthy, I trust God.

That's why my faith is correct.

Answer 7

Yes it's possible for someone to have faith in something and be wrong. It's called deception.

2Co 4:2
Indeed, we refuse to make use of shameful underhanded methods, employing deception or distorting God's message. On the contrary, by making very clear what the truth is, we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

2Co 11:3
and I fear that somehow your minds may be seduced away from simple and pure devotion to the Messiah, just as Havah was deceived by the serpent and his craftiness.

2Ti 3:13
while evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.

Ro 16:18
For men like these are not serving our Lord the Messiah but their own belly; by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the innocent.

Eph 4:14
We will then no longer be infants tossed about by the waves and blown along by every wind of teaching, at the mercy of people clever in devising ways to deceive.

2Th 2:3
Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For the Day will not come until after the Apostasy has come and the man who separates himself from Torah has been revealed, the one destined for doom.

2Th 2:10
He will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction because they would not receive the love of the truth that could have saved them.

Jas 1:22
Don't deceive yourselves by only hearing what the Word says, but do it!

1Jo 3:7
Children, don't let anyone deceive you - it is the person that keeps on doing what is right who is righteous, just as God is righteous.

Re 20:10
The Adversary who had deceived them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Re 20:15
Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was hurled into the lake of fire.

1 John 2
26 I have written you these things about the people who are trying to deceive you. 27 As for you, the Messianic anointing you received from the Father remains in you, so that you have no need for anyone to teach you. On the contrary, as his Messianic anointing continues to teach you about all things, and is true, not a counterfeit, so, just as he taught you, remain united with him. (This is how you know your faith is correct)

Answer 8

Faith is believing in something that can't be proven.

God doesn't want us compelled to believe. He wants us to learn for ourselves what the truth is. That means, that not everyone is going to believe the same things.

However, I believe that if one follows the "Golden Rule", if not the two greatest commandments, even if they don't believe in the Judeo/Christian God, they are not going to burn in hell. I don't believe God is so petty and mean as to throw someone in hellfire for eternity, just becasue they chose the wrong religion or the wrong denomination.

Answer 9

That's the nature of faith. I think a big part of faith is being able to say, "I might be wrong but I choose to believe this anyway because I think it is right". That's how it is for me anyway. I think I'm right but I'll admit there's plenty of evidence to the contrary and that there's a possibility I'm dead wrong.

Answer 10

there is no right or wrong in matters of faith, the only thing of importance is to HAVE faith, even if one is an atheist, you can still have faith in yourself, but to HAVE faith is part of being human