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mek42
Guest
To me, faith means to choose to belief things that cannot be proven. How do other people define faith? Does the Church define faith differently than my usage of the word?
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bzkoss236
Guest
Faith is a versatile word. I would disagree that it is a belief in something that cannot be proven, because people take things in science ‘on faith’ even though it has yet to be proven, or is in the process of being proven.
Take Evolution as an example. By definition, it is still a theory, but a lot of people speak of it as fact, and many would even call it fact, and yet, it is still considered a theory. So, even though it is still a theory, many people take it ‘on faith’ that Evolution is true. Now, does this mean that it cannot be proven, no, as it is in a process. This is why I would relate faith with trust. People trust that science is good enough to ‘prove’ Evolution is true, even if it has not been proven yet. Even faith requires evidence or ‘givens’ to base an idea on.
(Do not turn this into a debate about Evolution)
So, I might define faith as “trusting that something is true”. I can take this further. We have enough scientific evidence to suggest that the sun will rise tomorrow. And in turn, I can have faith that the sun will in fact rise tomorrow. Since it isn’t tomorrow yet, I do not know if the sun will rise, but I have enough evidence to suggest that it will. And if tomorrow comes and the sun rises, then my faith has proven fruitful.
So, again, faith doesn’t mean that something can’t be proven, but is (in general) trusting that something is true.
Take Evolution as an example. By definition, it is still a theory, but a lot of people speak of it as fact, and many would even call it fact, and yet, it is still considered a theory. So, even though it is still a theory, many people take it ‘on faith’ that Evolution is true. Now, does this mean that it cannot be proven, no, as it is in a process. This is why I would relate faith with trust. People trust that science is good enough to ‘prove’ Evolution is true, even if it has not been proven yet. Even faith requires evidence or ‘givens’ to base an idea on.
(Do not turn this into a debate about Evolution)
So, I might define faith as “trusting that something is true”. I can take this further. We have enough scientific evidence to suggest that the sun will rise tomorrow. And in turn, I can have faith that the sun will in fact rise tomorrow. Since it isn’t tomorrow yet, I do not know if the sun will rise, but I have enough evidence to suggest that it will. And if tomorrow comes and the sun rises, then my faith has proven fruitful.
So, again, faith doesn’t mean that something can’t be proven, but is (in general) trusting that something is true.
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wmw
Guest
Faith is concluding that the evidence of what can’t be detected directly is actually in existence as proposed.
Example:
Percival Lowell had faith that someone would find a planet X that he had predicted because of the deviations of the orbit of Neptune. It was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. Today we see the dwarf planet with better instruments and call it Pluto.
Example:
Percival Lowell had faith that someone would find a planet X that he had predicted because of the deviations of the orbit of Neptune. It was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. Today we see the dwarf planet with better instruments and call it Pluto.
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DebChris
Guest
The Church uses the definition found in Scripture and used by St. Paul in Hebrews 11:1:
Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see.
Faith is a gift that we receive from God that comes to us by grace.
Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see.
Faith is a gift that we receive from God that comes to us by grace.
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Pitcharan
Guest
I understand faith as belief in truth by virtue of spiritual vision even when there is no tangible evidence.To me, faith means to choose to belief things that cannot be proven. How do other people define faith? Does the Church define faith differently than my usage of the word?
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
This was the description given by a priest I heard years ago, which fits my experience.
Faith is God’s revelation of himself to a person, however that may happen.
It may be come through another person, Scripture or even God’s appearance in some profound way.
It’s a personal experience and no one should seek to have another person’s experience.
God will reveal himself in his way according to the disposition of the person. We can only be open to God when he comes.
In other words, “we wait on the Lord.”
Jim
Faith is God’s revelation of himself to a person, however that may happen.
It may be come through another person, Scripture or even God’s appearance in some profound way.
It’s a personal experience and no one should seek to have another person’s experience.
God will reveal himself in his way according to the disposition of the person. We can only be open to God when he comes.
In other words, “we wait on the Lord.”
Jim
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wmw
Guest
I find it quite interesting the word “proof” is also very subjective by being dependent on each person’s acceptance in his/her mind. Here is the #1a. definition of Proof n. from the online Merriam Webster dictionary.
Proof 1 a : the cogency of evidence that compels acceptance by the mind of a truth or a fact .
Proof 1 a : the cogency of evidence that compels acceptance by the mind of a truth or a fact .
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Meemai
Guest
It’s to put your believes in to something your not sure about and to stick with it.
When God does reveal himself to you it’s actually no more faith I think because at that moment your sure He exists.
When God does reveal himself to you it’s actually no more faith I think because at that moment your sure He exists.
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fred_conty
Guest
Faith is either: lively or dead.
Lively is one where a person is energized by the appreciation of what the revealed truth means to them and others. It is the seed of love that grows with age, like Mary who kept things in her heart.
Dead is merely a fact revealed without impact. (lukewarm)
Lively is one where a person is energized by the appreciation of what the revealed truth means to them and others. It is the seed of love that grows with age, like Mary who kept things in her heart.
Dead is merely a fact revealed without impact. (lukewarm)
Just a thought.
“Let us go to the altar of God, the God of our gladness and joy.” (hymn)
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sl59
Guest
For me faith is “saying freely and wholeheartedly “yes” to God who reveals Himself to me”.
Of course I do not mean revelation as some kind of personal vision. God reveals Himself to us through Scripture and the teaching of the Church. Saying “yes” to God then means not just believing that He exists, but believing what He says to us and behaving myself accordingly, even when it is difficult or against my (imperfect) wishes.
Of course I do not mean revelation as some kind of personal vision. God reveals Himself to us through Scripture and the teaching of the Church. Saying “yes” to God then means not just believing that He exists, but believing what He says to us and behaving myself accordingly, even when it is difficult or against my (imperfect) wishes.
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