I
itullian
Guest
i mean, it goes for every religion or belief that requires a leap of faith.
why do we do it?
why do we do it?
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L
littlenothing
Guest
Because we are immortal and we were given the natural law written in our souls. We look for God all the time and in every culture. We’re just created that way.
P
Poseidon
Guest
People believe what they’re brought up to believe, and the promises of religion are very attractive. Who wouldn’t want to believe that they’re going to live forever in paradise?
E
empther
Guest
Neanderthal people buried their dead. Even they sensed that the physical world around them wasn’t all there was.
S
Semper_Zelare
Guest
Because we’ve experienced the real presence of God. Speaking for myself at least. I used to occasionally doubt if God exists, but not seriuosly in a long time. At this point they’re just assaults of the Devil which I brush off. I can’t be swayed by such doubts when I’ve experienced the real presence of God.
Can I name 10 times where God has worked in my entire life?
I can name 10 times where God has worked in my life in the past 2 or 3 months.
And those are just the things that I pick up on…
Can I name 10 times where God has worked in my entire life?
I can name 10 times where God has worked in my life in the past 2 or 3 months.
And those are just the things that I pick up on…
H
Hypnotoad
Guest
Because reason demands it?
I
itullian
Guest
I
itullian
Guest
maybe it was compassion for the dead?
meltzerboy
New member
According to some Jewish theologians, there is no leap of faith in Judaism at all. They provide an interesting argument for this. But even if belief does require a leap of faith, surely it is not a blind leap of faith, but rather one that is based on reason. Moreover, lack of belief is also, in a sense, a leap of faith.
I
itullian
Guest
that would be an interesting argument.
i don’t think, though, that lack of faith is a leap. it’s just not taking the faith leap.
?
O
onjac
Guest
This is something that I’ve thought about many times . Do I believe in in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the communion of Saints and one, holy and apostolic Church because of the influence of my father? My father did influence me but I wasn’t that close to him as a child and he wasn’t exactly a practicing Catholic back then.
I don’t know if I’m drawn to Catholicism because I’m interested in living forever in paradise. I do care about the state of my soul and receiving the Body of Christ is the highlight of my week. But I don’t like to imagine what it would be to live in paradise since I’m rather unimaginative when it comes to that. But I do wonder what it’s like to be saint or any person who experiences a sense of closeness to God.
M
mj2001
Guest
Why do we choose to believe in something that might not be real?
Because to do otherwise is no way of living. if we didn’t believe in things that might not be real, then we’d never believe that true love is possible for us, that our work can make a better life for our children, that we might comfort the afflicted, that there is a difference between good and evil, that new inventions or discoveries for the betterment of humanity are possible . . . In short, to do otherwise is to despair.
Because to do otherwise is no way of living. if we didn’t believe in things that might not be real, then we’d never believe that true love is possible for us, that our work can make a better life for our children, that we might comfort the afflicted, that there is a difference between good and evil, that new inventions or discoveries for the betterment of humanity are possible . . . In short, to do otherwise is to despair.
D
dissurnmnt
Guest
Not necessarily: how about folks who come to faith when they’re adults? And how do you explain an atheist who was brought up a Fundamentalist or a Catholic? And maybe a person believes not primarily because of paradise, but because they yearn for the perfection of God’s goodness Himself, they yearn to swim in and breathe in His very majesty and excellence; maybe they despise, loathe and abhor the filth of human society, this contamination of ear, eye, soul, skin and lungs.
C
cerad2
Guest
Not sure what you men by true love but I’m comfortable with the notion that I love my family.
No problem there.
Yep, do that frequently.
Yep though ultimately I decide the difference for myself
Sure, big fan of science
Oops. Now you lost me. Not believing in an invisible sky daddy === despair? Guess I didn’t get the memo.
W
Waiting
Guest
It’s not really such a leap of faith, unless we are blind to everything going on in our lives. The Lord is in contact with you over and over and over again. You may call some of these instances coincidences. Or you may just be taking for granted that the good things that happen to you happen from good luck. You may even be oblivious to the help you are receiving from the Lord. Neverthless, you are a child of the Lord, and like the good parent that He is, He is taking care of you. Some people are fortunate enough to hear the Lord speak to them. I was blessed on one occasion to hear the Lord speak. After that, there was no need for me to only have faith that God existed. I could hardly doubt a spoken answer to a prayer. When God wants you to know that He has contacted you, He leaves no doubt with you. But we don’t need to hear Him vocally. Think about some of those so-called close calls that you’ve experienced. Just good fortune that you weren’t injured? What about something given to you at just the critical moment that you needed it? You breathe a sigh of relief. Did you remember to say, “Thank God?” Think about those instances a little more thoughtfully. You were given a Guardian Angel at birth to accompany you throughout your life. Do you think that he’s just there to observe? God is working in your life constantly. Listen for Him constantly.
I
itullian
Guest
your post terrifies me. that it could be true. :frighten: :nope:
I
itullian
Guest
me too, J.
M
mj2001
Guest
You totally missed the point. May the Invisible Sky Daddy grant you wisdom.
L
littlenothing
Guest
Invisible sky daddy? Im sorry, cerad, but we’re pretty much people of faith here who call this “sky daddy” our beloved Father. You can sure relive whatever you want, but could you perhaps refrain from choosing an irreverent and demeaning name for the One I hold most dear? I wouldn’t call someone you love a stupid name.
H
Hypnotoad
Guest
What about those who believe in this fairytale ending so that the love we experience here is not for naught?
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