Board index ‹ Faith and Knowledge

[Newbie]

Why is faith a virtue? Why does god require it instead of providing proof?

[jimwalton]

I guess it depends how you define faith. I would disagree with your assumption that faith and proof are in different arenas. I define faith as making an assumption of truth based on enough evidence to make it reasonable to make that assumption.

Now, this IS the Biblical understanding of faith. Faith is no leap in the dark, or a blind acceptance, or a belief contrary to facts. I'll give just a few examples from a field of many more:

Heb. 11.1: "Faith is being sure of what we hope for, the evidence of what we can't see." Faith is more than optimism, and it's more than hope. Faith is knowledge, pure and simple, based on evidence.

Luke 1.2: Luke's account is based on reliable information handed down as evidence by eyewitnesses... (verse 4:) "so that you many know the certainty of the things you have been taught."

John 20.31: After John has written a whole book of evidences, he said, "These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God."

You'll also notice as you read the stories of Jesus that he didn't expect anyone to believe in him until he had given evidences, by his teachings and miracles, that he was who he claimed to be.

You see, God gives us proof, and then he asks us to believe the proof he has provided.

[Newbie]

This seems to contradict the dictionary meaning.

faith feɪθ/Submit noun 1. complete trust or confidence in someone or something. "this restores one's faith in politicians" synonyms: trust, belief, confidence, conviction, credence, reliance, dependence; More antonyms: mistrust 2. strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof. "bereaved people who have shown supreme faith" synonyms: religion, church, sect, denomination, persuasion, religious persuasion, religious belief, belief, code of belief, ideology, creed, teaching, dogma, doctrine More

How do you feel about these definitions?

[jimwalton]

I feel that the dictionary definitions are generic understandings. Certainly we all acknowledge that the deeper concepts of life, such as truth, hope, faith, knowledge, love, and even life, are nuanced concepts with many facets. If I were to ask you what you mean by love when you're talking about your significant other, you might read me a poem, or struggle for the words, or give me examples, trying to plumb the depths of what you mean by that word. Then if you were to read the dictionary definition, you'd most likely say, "Yeah, I know what they're trying to get at, but that's not it." So also with faith. "Complete trust or confidence" or "strong belief in a doctrine" just doesn't cut it. What the Bible means by it is something different, as I have expressed.