Eve Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 A very specific question really. What is faith to you? and where has your persective come from? Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 First, Eve, we have to understand what you mean by Faith, and how you define it. As I understand it, for those of a Christian or Deistic persuasion, the Faith they have in their hearts and minds amounts - at one point - to a hope for a better life with God... Faith is at one point, relying on the unseen, unheard presence of God who offers ultimate salvation and a place at his side in heaven. THis is not a criticism. It's merely propounding what conclusion I have come to. For those with a faith in Christ, and in God's Love and salvation, this is a hard and fast guarantee. Their faith is so strong that it's a dead cert. As a Buddhist, I think I belong to the only religion that has no Godhead, no Deistic figure, no Divine being. So 'Faith for me - with regard to the teachings and scriptures in Buddhism - is a faith grounded in confidence. A confidence that what I read, see, hear, leran and absorb is so logical, so frank, so matter-of-fact and black-and-white, that it's unambiguous to me, and very basic and transparent. Just to open it up and to respond. Link to post Share on other sites
nleeh Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Faith is belief with strong conviction; firm belief in something for which there may be no tangible proof. A person can have faith (strong conviction) in anything or anyone. Link to post Share on other sites
annieo Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 Faith is belief in something that is unproven or unprovable. It can mean believing that you can do something that takes great courage, that you've never done before, or it can relate to the presence of an omniscient/omnipotent being who is guiding the journey of the universe, and everything/everyone in it. Faith is obviously not rational, but an emotional/spiritual knowing that needs no proof, defies all naysayers, sort of like the will. Just knowing, as willfulness is just doing. I'm a (sort of) Catholic, with a more than passing interest in Buddhism and Paganism. Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 faith is taking a great leap into the unknown and trusting in that leap. Be it love, be it spiritually, be it taking a chance on something with unfavorable odds. a lot of this perspective comes from what I learned through my mom, who was a very strong woman spiritually and psychologically and emotionally, and some of it comes from experience itself. Link to post Share on other sites
ed-205 Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 To me, Faith and Hope are two different things. Say that there are 2 people who have never ridden on a roller coaster before, and both of them feel some sense of anxiety at the initial experience. The person with hope gets in the middle car, crosses his fingers, closes his eyes, and grips the safety bar for dear life until the ride is over, and will probably never ride it again feeling that once is enough. It takes courage for someone to do something out of hope, even if they only do it once. The person with faith takes whatever seat is available, relaxes to let the safety bar do what it was designed to do, and keeps his eyes wide open to let the experience and excitement flow through him all the way to the end, then just as likely decides to get back in line for another ride. Having faith does not require someone to have courage, just a willingness to trust that the people who designed, built, and operate the ride are experienced and knowledgeable about their job It's kind of a lame analogy, but if the roller coaster you are riding is called "Life", then it can make all the difference in the world how you experience it. Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 To me, Faith and Hope are two different things. Say that there are 2 people who have never ridden on a roller coaster before, and both of them feel some sense of anxiety at the initial experience. The person with hope gets in the middle car, crosses his fingers, closes his eyes, and grips the safety bar for dear life until the ride is over, and will probably never ride it again feeling that once is enough. It takes courage for someone to do something out of hope, even if they only do it once. Yes, but he also has a modicum of faith in the equipment and those who have to maintain it in tip-top condition. If he had only 'hope', chances are he wouldn't go near it, because the fear of (mechanical/human) failure would over-ride his desire for the experience. The person with faith takes whatever seat is available, relaxes to let the safety bar do what it was designed to do, and keeps his eyes wide open to let the experience and excitement flow through him all the way to the end, then just as likely decides to get back in line for another ride. Having faith does not require someone to have courage, just a willingness to trust that the people who designed, built, and operate the ride are experienced and knowledgeable about their job. So, in other words...he darn well hopes they know what they're doing....! It's kind of a lame analogy, but if the roller coaster you are riding is called "Life", then it can make all the difference in the world how you experience it. Whenever we embark upon an unknown, we have Faith that things will work out as planned, and hope that we will see them right to the end Even going to bed at night and falling asleep, entails having faith and hope, that we will wake up the next day. One day, you see, we might not. This is the Faith without Guarantee. However, I have faith (confidence) in my mother's love for me, and Faith (confidence) that whatever she does, even if i'm not 100% with it, she has done with the very best intention. This is the Faith WITH guarantee. Link to post Share on other sites
Moose Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 Forsaking All I Trust Him Here's a memo that I sometimes use here in the office to people I see struggling: To: YOU Date: TODAY From: GOD Subject: YOURSELF Reference: LIFE This is God. Today I will be handling All of your problems for you. I do Not need your help. So, have a nice day. I love you. P.S. And, remember... If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do Not attempt to resolve it yourself! Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now. Should you decide to send this to a friend; Thank you. You may have touched their life in ways you will never know! Now, you have a nice day. God Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 That's a nice post, and very comforting to many, I'm sure. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Eve Posted October 16, 2008 Author Share Posted October 16, 2008 Very thoughful posts. Is love the ultimate expression of faith? I think it is, but I see many versions of love in existance. How do we know if we are really expressing love or faith? Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 Faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love ... so says Scriptures. I think love is both foundation AND outcome of faith because there's no "halfway" to the act of loving! Link to post Share on other sites
ed-205 Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 I respect your thoughts and opinions, Geishawhelk, however Faith to someone who does not maintain a belief in God is very different than what it means to someone who does. It would be rather like asking a lifelong vegetarian what goes best on a cheeseburger. Not that their answer would be wrong, but probably different from that of a cheeseburger connoisseur. A person with hope enders life's challenges willing to do what they can to endure them, believing that in the end what will be will be. In a stressful situation, a person with HOPE might pray, "LORD, Please look after me, and help me survive this!", because he is unsure of the outcome. A person with Faith enters life's challenges *knowing* that everything will be all right in the end. There is no rational reason for this *knowing* other than the fact that one trusts in a higher power to be in complete control, and acting in one's best interests on their behalf. Therefore, a person with FAITH might pray, "LORD, I'm glad that YOU know what's going on, because I don't have a clue!", because he *knows* God is already looking after him. This is very much in line with Moose's post. True Faith is a gift you receive by simply asking for it, and there is nothing else like it. This is one of many fragments that remained with me after my "epiphany" I wrote about in another thread, and I shudder to think where I would be today without it. Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 It would be rather like asking a lifelong vegetarian what goes best on a cheeseburger. Not that their answer would be wrong, but probably different from that of a cheeseburger connoisseur. nice analogy, ed – I may steal it sometime to prove a point Link to post Share on other sites
ed-205 Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 It would be rather like asking a lifelong vegetarian what goes best on a cheeseburger. Not that their answer would be wrong, but probably different from that of a cheeseburger connoisseur. nice analogy, ed – I may steal it sometime to prove a point I am an "Open Source" person. You cannot steal what is freely given! Link to post Share on other sites
Explorer Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 Faith is an intuitive response to absolute truth. Link to post Share on other sites
Meaplus3 Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Faith to me is an inner belief that whatever life throws my way I can handle with all the strength, courage and hope it takes. AP:) Link to post Share on other sites
Dark-N-Romantic Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 I think the Bible explains it best: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"(Heb.11:1). In essence, faith is the link of all things. That can be faith in a God unseen or the belief that we are going to wake up in the morning. We aren't really sure, it is not visible to our senses, but we just know and live our lives that way. Even those who claim they don't have faith have it. Be you a scientist or athiest, you believe in your computations and experiments and hypthosis, or you believe there is no such thing as a divine being, it is all faith because until their is evidence to support or disprove, we can only believe. DNR Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 First, Eve, we have to understand what you mean by Faith, and how you define it. As I understand it, for those of a Christian or Deistic persuasion, the Faith they have in their hearts and minds amounts - at one point - to a hope for a better life with God... Faith is at one point, relying on the unseen, unheard presence of God who offers ultimate salvation and a place at his side in heaven. THis is not a criticism. It's merely propounding what conclusion I have come to. For those with a faith in Christ, and in God's Love and salvation, this is a hard and fast guarantee. Their faith is so strong that it's a dead cert. ~.........~ well, I do believe I was on the button then - ! Link to post Share on other sites
disgracian Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Except that faith is evidence of nothing. It is hope in absence of evidence, or in spite of the evidence. Cheers, D. Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 No no, D., don't hold back, tell it like you want......!! Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Faith is an intuitive response to absolute truth. This statement is so flawed I don't know where to start.! Link to post Share on other sites
disgracian Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 My implication is not that it is therefore a bad thing, just that it should not ever be confused with evidence, nor used in the same sentence (with obvious exceptions like "faith and evidence are mutually exclusive"). Having said that, it is esteemed far too highly by most people. Cheers, D. Link to post Share on other sites
ed-205 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 Except that faith is evidence of nothing. It is hope in absence of evidence, or in spite of the evidence. Cheers, D. I would say it's more like *knowledge* in the absence of evidence. "Hope" is a tenuous thing fraught with uncertainty. "Faith" is neither. Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 If you look at my first response, immediately after Eve's OP, I think it's both. Link to post Share on other sites
disgracian Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I would say it's more like *knowledge* in the absence of evidence. Well, it isn't anything like knowledge either. Knowledge is based on something concrete, like evidence or logical/mathematical proof. "Hope" is a tenuous thing fraught with uncertainty. "Faith" is neither. It is half. It banishes uncertainty, but faith is quite tenuous, since it is not based on anything real but rather what a person wants to be true, not necessarily what is. Cheers, D. Link to post Share on other sites
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