Is it impossible to have faith in anything without having personal incontrovertible proof of that thing?

Answer 1

I'm not sure about "impossible" because some people had faith in scientific theories that ended up being discredited later, others had faith in false gods, etc. But I would say that neither is the opposite true. Faith does not mean to insinuate lack of evidence / proof.

For instance, let's say I know you well and over the years have come to know that you are a man of your word. One day you tell me you will meet me at a certain location at 3pm. I go there with another person, who says to me at 2:45pm, "How can you have "faith" that your friend will be here at 3pm as he said even before you see the physical evidence of his being here? How can you believe in something like that before you see it?"

Well, in this case, faith is rooted in evidence. It is not "blind faith". This is the same way it is for us who are in Christ. In fact, I think back to how the apostles walked with Jesus, had Him open their minds to the revelations of Scripture, saw him miraculously heal people and perform miracles before them like walking on water and calming the storm. Then after that he rebuked them for being "of little faith" (As if He was saying to them, "NOW do you believe I am who I say I am and can do what I say I can do?").

Those who consider Christianity to be "blind faith" have not known the power of God in their lives as have those like you and I who have had the "born again" experience. Therefore, they see it is merely trusting in the words of a Book, without any basis other than human intellect.

Also, faith is not something that is all or nothing. It is something that continues to grow in us....much like the analogy of the mustard seed. The more God shows us the more reason we have to trust in Him - even before we see the actual evidence of all the great promises He has given us in His word.

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*Edit: "Juicy" above wrote: "No one has faith in gravity. Everyone knows gravity works, has worked, and will continue to work, because all the evidence ever collected by anyones senses backs that idea up."

But I would argue that perhaps those who trust in gravity also have faith in gravity (or our definition and explanation of it). The reason I say this is because no one knows exactly how gravity works. Our most sophisticated theories and most advanced scientists still do not know exactly how it works. And prudent science dictates that something must be observed on a perfectly consistent basis to be considered as a completely factual and legitimate hypothesis. For example, if we dropped a ball from a two-story building 1000 times and it fell to the ground each time, but then on the 1001st drop it did not, we need to re-examine our hypothesis and/or theory. Even though 99.9% of the time it did as predicted, we cannot call it a scientific fact or trust fully in the reliability of the theory supporting/explaining this behavior. That said, there are a few instances where gravity did not act as we would expect - for instance, when Jesus walked on water...or when Peter did the same.

Some say God just circumvented the laws of physics in these instances, but perhaps He just understands them better than we do. And therefore, we ought to have greater faith in Him than our scientific theories...even those explaining gravity!! Food for thought....

Answer 2

Having faith mean believing without absolute proof.

There's very little in this world that we have incontrovertible proof of.

Even the most anti-religious of scientists have faith: that the laws of science will hold, have been constant for millions of years, that there's some scientific reason for them to be the way they are, etc.

Most of us have faith that we'll get our paychecks on schedule, that our telephone will work when we try to call someone, that our skin won't turn purple overnight. But there's no proof of any of that. As investment companies tell us over and over again: Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns.

Answer 3

There is no such thing as "incontrovertible proof".

You can't even prove that YOU exist without somebody saying they don't believe you.

I have faith that the Earth will continue to rotate on its axis and therefore the sun will rise in the East tomorrow morning. I have no proof except that I have perceived observing it happen for 51 years.

Answer 4

Sure. I have faith that the Theory of Evolution is true and accurate. And though there is a lot of evidence that points to it, I don't have "personal incontrovertible proof" of it.

Answer 5

In claims as outlandish and wild and irrational as an all knowing deity that created the world in seven days, knows everything, and is someday going to make everyone who likes him fly up in the air while everyone else battles a three headed dragon? Yeah.

But no, if you tell me about the really pretty oak tree behind the house where you grew up I'll believe that there's an oak tree unless I know you to be a person who lies a lot for no reason. I've seen plenty of pretty oak trees behind plenty of houses, and there would be no reason to think that was an outlandish statement.

If someone told you that a thirty foot tall gorilla crashed into his bedroom, stole his TV, climbed a mountain, and held it above his head while screaming "I HAZ TEH SONY!" wouldn't you find that a little unbelievable without rock solid proof? That's kind of how the God thing sounds to non believers.

Answer 6

faith means belief without incontrovertible proof

Answer 7

No, quite the opposite.

It is impossible to have faith in something that you have proof of. I have never heard a truly satisfying definition of "faith", but most of them involve the fact that you have faith in things that you can't see. If you have proof of something, then you don't "have faith in" it, you "know" it.

Gravity is an excellent example. No one has faith in gravity. Everyone knows gravity works, has worked, and will continue to work, because all the evidence ever collected by anyones senses backs that idea up.

Terry Prattchett explains the concept better, and much more entertainingly, in hsi novel "Pyramids".

Answer 8

Faith of expectations of things not seen, is a faith to be well rewarded.
YHVH God Almighty, Christ Jesus (only begotten son), & the Holy Spirit
Faith & Love though we do not see, is a faith that goes into the vast Universe to connect to the Love of the Almighty God.

Answer 9

I need no proof to have Faith I have always been this way since I was a child and nothing will make me believe other wise . it comes from deep with in.

Answer 10

No it's not. I have faith that the sun will come up tomorrow...Yet I don't have any proof that it will. It's not only possible but reasonable to have faith in some things...not all...PEACE!