How strong is your 'faith' ?

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

Now first things first, I make no denial of the fact I'm an atheist agnostic, I don't 'believe' in gods and very much 'doubt' that one could exist and not be detectable in some way other than through a person's 'faith'...

But I would have to be blind deaf and dumb to deny that there are people who 'do' believe'...I can appreciate the fact that for many people, gods are real and if these gods bring them comfort in times of need, who am I to judge...In fact at times I've often encouraged them to seek out their god/s when they are troubled. After all, god/s for them are real and I can't 'prove' otherwise....As you can see, I'm not a cold hearted  god/s hating atheist agnostic  as some would have you 'believe' and I do have a soft spot for those who choose to believe... 

However, this is NOT a discussion on whether or not god/s exist... Believers 'believe'-non believers 'don't' end of story! And the agnostic sits  somewhere in between...

What this thread/poll is about is 'faith' ...

Some people lose their faith[or it's greatly weakened] when a crisis hits, that is, some devastating thing happens to disrupt their life and the inevitable 'why me ?' doubt-questions pop up...For others in a similar situation the opposite might happen their faith grows stronger...

So if you just want to do the poll  that's fine,  if you would like to make a comment about 'your personal' level of faith, feel free to do so, for it might in some way help others to put their faith into perspective, possibly help reinforce it...And I'm all for overcoming doubt and finding happiness in whichever path one chooses to follow...

It's a fact, words can be misunderstood=taken out of context, which can provoke' trigger happy' responses in the form of personal attacks, so please be careful and don't jump to the wrong conclusions and come out guns blazing  :: There's enough 'hatred' in the world as it is...

Metta Zenda    

[Shang]

I'm Pagan.  I do believe in gods, but I don't believe in physical entities that have a physical impact on the world.  I believe they're more like spectators who might randomly intervene in a non-tangible [i.e. non-physical] way.  I believe that myths are generally for comfort and that was they were created:  to give comfort to humans since humans generally don't want to think nothing happens to them when they die; they don't want to believe that there's the very real chance that everything ceases.

Anyway, while I believe in my gods, I'm open to other ideas.  I'm open to the idea that nothing happens after death and I'm open to the idea that the gods I believe in aren't real in any sense of the word.  I'm open to the idea that all of my experiences are psychological happenings and nothing more.  However, for me, my gods are real and they offer me guidance and a way to get through life. Note:  They don't hand me everything all pretty and say "here you go!"  I have to work through my problems myself with maybe a 'nudge', but nothing more.  As I said in the above paragraph, my gods are more like spectators than beings that intervene...They're kind of like parents in a way: they let you live your life and only make themselves known when necessary.

So...I guess my faith is fairly unshakable while at the same it's open to change? 

Edit:  I had to give the two paragraphs to quantify the final sentence. 😛

[Anatta]

I'm Pagan.  I do believe in gods, but I don't believe in physical entities that have a physical impact on the world.  I believe they're more like spectators who might randomly intervene in a non-tangible [i.e. non-physical] way.  I believe that myths are generally for comfort and that was they were created:  to give comfort to humans since humans generally don't want to think nothing happens to them when they die; they don't want to believe that there's the very real chance that everything ceases.

Anyway, while I believe in my gods, I'm open to other ideas.  I'm open to the idea that nothing happens after death and I'm open to the idea that the gods I believe in aren't real in any sense of the word.  I'm open to the idea that all of my experiences are psychological happenings and nothing more. However, for me, my gods are real and they offer me guidance and a way to get through life. Note:  They don't hand me everything all pretty and say "here you go!"  I have to work through my problems myself with maybe a 'nudge', but nothing more.  As I said in the above paragraph, my gods are more like spectators than beings that intervene...They're kind of like parents in a way: they let you live your life and only make themselves known when necessary.

So...I guess my faith is fairly unshakable while at the same it's open to change? 

Edit:  I had to give the two paragraphs to quantify the final sentence.

Kia Ora Aaron,

I'm glad you have faith and that your gods are there for you in your time of need...

Metta Zenda 🙂

[calico]

I would say I have pretty powerfull faith 
I believe in a singular god, however I would say my belief in him/her/it is of multiple religions themself.
I would say its an open religion and I believ with my heart, and I have taken something from every religious book I have came across.
I lean toward the holy bible, but I view it as a reference and not to be taken literally, I also lean toward budhism, which technically isnt a religion in itself but more of a way wisdom and way to live.

This being said, I dont believe in church's at least today's church's ,religion is orchestrated by humanity and has very often been bent to the desires of the person leading it. So often are people judged and told that god doesnt want youlike this or that, or you shouldnt this or that.
Its said not to judge one another in the bible, yet it is done so feely by those who think they are of perfect standing in the eyes of the lord. Religion is a business now aday's and this is why I dont believe in church's
I would say my view is kinda complicated. I will say this more. I dont judge anyone or say what they believe is right or wrong as who am I to say its right or wrong?
I read the bible like jesus taught while he was upon the earth and that is in parables, I take nothing literally in the bible.
I believe the wisdom in the bible is sound, but every bible I have piccked up is copyrighted and I cant help to ask how can you copyright the words of the lord?
The best and worst gift we have been given is free will, it allows us to do many great things and allso very bad things and because of us having freewill the lord, though able to change that as he wish, will not step in and interfere as if he does he takes away that which is freewill itself.
I believe this is but a temporary existance and a gateway to the next, kinda like a right of passage or a test.
I believe god is a loving god and wants nothing but happiness and joy for us, but he wants us to learn and to really apriciate what we have,if we had everything gave to us what value would we have in it?. And that is why we dont live forever.
I could probally go on and on,and more in depth, but I am tired but felt I would share my view.

[Anatta]

I would say I have pretty powerfull faith 
I believe in a singular god, however I would say my belief in him/her/it is of multiple religions themself.
I would say its an open religion and I believ with my heart, and I have taken something from every religious book I have came across.
I lean toward the holy bible, but I view it as a reference and not to be taken literally, I also lean toward budhism, which technically isnt a religion in itself but more of a way wisdom and way to live.

This being said, I dont believe in church's at least today's church's ,religion is orchestrated by humanity and has very often been bent to the desires of the person leading it. So often are people judged and told that god doesnt want youlike this or that, or you shouldnt this or that.
Its said not to judge one another in the bible, yet it is done so feely by those who think they are of perfect standing in the eyes of the lord. Religion is a business now aday's and this is why I dont believe in church's
I would say my view is kinda complicated. I will say this more. I dont judge anyone or say what they believe is right or wrong as who am I to say its right or wrong?
I read the bible like jesus taught while he was upon the earth and that is in parables, I take nothing literally in the bible.
I believe the wisdom in the bible is sound, but every bible I have piccked up is copyrighted and I cant help to ask how can you copyright the words of the lord?
The best and worst gift we have been given is free will, it allows us to do many great things and allso very bad things and because of us having freewill the lord, though able to change that as he wish, will not step in and interfere as if he does he takes away that which is freewill itself.
I believe this is but a temporary existance and a gateway to the next, kinda like a right of passage or a test.
I believe god is a loving god and wants nothing but happiness and joy for us, but he wants us to learn and to really apriciate what we have,if we had everything gave to us what value would we have in it?. And that is why we dont live forever.
I could probally go on and on,and more in depth, but I am tired but felt I would share my view.

Kia Ora Calico,

And very strong beliefs too, I'm sure you benefit greatly from having them, good luck on your journey...

Metta Zenda 🙂

[Bexi]

I was raised strictly Catholic but as time passed I never *lost* my faith per se, but religion was never a big part of my life.

At the time, I suppose I saw the teachings as more guidelines on how to be a good person rather than a strict way to live my life that I must adhere to and take literally.

I'm probably an agnostic - I'd like to believe in a higher power - but that higher power has never manifested itself in my life, nor intervened in any way, shape or form. I think we all do what we do for our own personal reasons and morals, and not as some divine pattern. I've had times of depression and prayed and nothing changed, but likewise whenever I see joy I don't see any work from a heavenly spirit.

I don't beget anyone their own beliefs - they can believe what they choose, and -unless it affects anyone else negatively-  I don't have an issue with what they choose to believe. Its just not a big part of my life.
x

[Misato]

My philosophy professor said that it's not good to just have faith in something.  What you beleive should be supported by evidence.  That spoke to me and I've continued my belief in God as a guilty pleasure.

I pray, but I use it more as a form of meditation to help me think through problems.  I also thank God for my fortunes, such as not dying or even being hurt when my car flipped over.  That said, I do think a lot of my faith is just the remains of my evangelical upbringing.  But I'm not invested in it so I don't think it has any real strength and can't be shaken because I just don't care about it enough.

[DriftingCrow]

I think my faith is pretty unshakable, especially as I've gotten older and have learned more of what I actually believe versus what I've been told I should believe.

I was raised Seventh Day Adventist, but it never really fit for me. Then I became pagan and had lots of pagan friends, and I still greatly respect that religion. I didn't mean to ever leave Paganism, but I knew some of my thoughts were a bit different than what other Pagans believed, and then I read about Sikhi and it was just like "oh, here's basically everything I believe written down" and it's something I am strongly considering converting to.

My view of god and the universe hasn't been shaken in times of trouble, despite people dying and living through hard financial and emotional times, I always kept my beliefs. Just abandoning them and saying that there's nothing out there and we're all alone just doesn't seem like a feasible answer to my problems, while feeling like I am part of something greater than myself has been helpful.

[Del]

I believe my faith is unshakable. It has been tried many times over the years. The only failures were on my part and not the Lord.

My pilgrimage as a Christian started before I was born. When God knew me as part of the body of his Son and wrote my name in the Book of Life as said in Psalms. To this day I try to live for him so it does not get blotted out.

When I was a child of 10 in a Protestant church a lady handed me a King James Bible and told me the Lord told her to give it to me. I was drawn to it and read it after school all throughout my youth. My favorite story was about Solomon's life as the son of David and his wisdom. I used to look at the pastor and wonder how he came up with such new stories each week. I cherish all I learned there but some things just didn't line up with the word of God.

At about the age of 20 I attended a Lutheran church but it too failed to satisfy my need to learn about God. Some of the sermons were alright but they didn't answer some questions about baptism and such. I cherish what I learned there as well.

My next stop was a Baptist church where I learned about being baptized. I went through with that and grew a little more. The sermons were good and such but I started feeling that there was the issue of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues that I had to know. When I asked about this the answers I got were within the Baptist limitations. They just didn't feel right. I cherish what I learned there but felt I should go farther.

One day I attended a Pentecostal church and my eyes were opened to the baptism of the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues. I received this and it was as though I had gotten a new Bible. I saw things about the Lord I had never seen before even though I had read the King James Bible probably a thousand times over the years. At this point I read it more than ever to see Jesus.

Finally I was led out of that church when I was sent to where I go now. I met a non-denominational preacher with a very small flock that worked to support his ministry. He was the only one I could find that believed as I do. I know there are others but not many. I also know from the response I get that they are small flocks. This minister ordained me Pentecostal but yet non-denominational as Pentecostal is probably the closest denomination to what we believe. Even though we do not agree with their limitations.

I have been in this ministry for 18 years and studying all my life and have had the hand of God on my life before I was born. To each their own but as for me the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth is my life. My only hope is in him and to be with him one day is the race I run and my prize.

I do not look down on those of other beliefs. My faith works for me just as theirs does for them. All in all my faith is unshakable as my Lord is my faith and he is unshakable.

May God bless.

[SunKat]

I have faith, in the sense that what I believe I believe very strongly.  But I do not believe in the essential goodness of god or in a human-centric order to creation.  I believe in a form of animism instead... that there is spirit in all things and that all spirits are on their own paths of spiritual evolution/de-evolution.  In some ways my beliefs are similar to Shinto but with a western cultural bent.
This doesn't mean that my theology doesn't have room for a Jesus or Buddha or Thor. As far as I know they may all exist as well... but I don't think any one deity is the end all and be all of the spiritual universe. If these gods exist as anything more than a conceptualization of their followers... then to whatever extent they are unconcerned about me, I am unconcerned about them.  My regard for gods is similar to my regard for other beings.  I respect or disdain them in relation to how I feel their morals, wisdom and compassion compare to my own. 

[Keira]

Technically speaking...I don't have faith.

If I absolutely had to label what I believe, I think I would be called gnostic (knowing).

I do not have faith, I know what I believe to be true; but only for myself, no one else. Every one experiences spiritual things in a different way; I know through such things as deep meditation and sacred geometry etc. I also study various fables and compare religions to discern themes and symbols that relate to the human/spirit experience (not to mention various branches of science).

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

And thanks for all your responses so far...

It looks like, having faith, ranges from luke warm to very strong[almost 'blind'] faith...

Some might find this of interest when they think about how they perceive their  'faith'..

"There was a tightrope walker, who was so good that he
could walk between two twenty stories building on a
tight rope with a balancing pole.
Thousands of peoplewould watch him perform his breathtaking feat. After
he walked across the building he would have his
assistant sit on his shoulder and he would proceed to
walk across the building.
Everybody were amazed and gave him a thunderous applause. He asked them whether
they believed that he could do it again. The crowd
said, "Yes, we believe that you can!"
After a while he asked the crowd again, "Now, who wants to volunteer to
get on my shoulder?" With that the crowd became
silent!"

SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

There is a difference between Belief and Faith. We
can believe what we see. In the above story, the crowd
believed in the tightrope walker because they saw him
perform the feat. But when he asked them "Who wants to
get on my shoulder?" everyone was silent. You see, the
crowd had Belief but they did not have Faith. This
story clearly illustrates the difference between
belief and having faith!

Metta Zenda 🙂

[bethany]

This is a really good question. I was raised Catholic. Became an alter-boy, served under two wonderful priests. But I was doing that to please my grandparents not for myself. I stopped going to church around the age of 17. I just didn't agree with what they were preaching. One of the last masses I attended the priest was talking about modern music and how it was the work of the devil. I did not see his side of the argument at all, and still don't. So I stooped going altogether. But that didn't stop me from believing in God, or higher power or what ever the entity that watches over humanity.

Then one day my cousin invited me to go with him to his Baptist service. I figured why not might be a good learning experience. Well for me it was a horror show. The Minister was slamming every known religion other than his own. And that I just could not grasp the concept of. I was taught not to be judgemental of others in any way shape or form. And here was a man with power, a man who has command of his congregation, well to me they were more like sheep.  And they were soaking up every thing that was being said. And I just wanted to get out of there as soon as I could.

I believe in one God. I think every religion has their own name for it but at the end of the day it's one in the same; be it the Christian Father Almighty, Jehovah, Buddha, Allah, Or any other name used by organized religion.

I continue to pray for those things that I deem important, I just don't need to go to church in order to communicate with my God.

[Jess42]

I really can't pick one so I chose other. Really should have put an "all of the above" for me because I experience it all.

My parents were strict Pentecostal and I could never grasp the concept of good=heaven and bad=hell.

Looked to different religions but could never understand how they could have differing perceptions in the way of sects and opinions of the same message. I just never fit this or that. This made me extremely curious.

I then started to expand my way of thinking. I started looking deeper into why this religion thinks this way and that religion thinks another way. What I find is that it is a puzzle where certain pieces fit together as if they were meant to be in order to get a whole picture or vision. Started looking at symbolism and figured out that religious symbolism coincides with the astronomical age we are in. I won't go deep into it but rather hint at it; We are nearing the end of the Age of Pisces and shifting into the Age of Aquarius and have been for quite a few years now. The symbolism surrounding Christ, the harbinger and teacher of this age, is filled with fish in one way or another and Pisces is represented by a fish. Look at the back of some cars, the symbol of Christ is a geometrical fish. I do believe our Spititual perceptions change and our world can be and is affected by universal forces that we cannot explain or even comprehend at this time. These shifts can take hundreds of years. What is Aquarius represented by? A person pouring water out of a vessel. What does the liquid represent? I don't know but will take a guess at knowledge. Since mankind came about, our world and technolgy was pretty much limited as far as we could walk or ride a horse. In the last 120 years we have advanced in technology and intellegence (intellegence can be debateable though) more than we have throughout the whole common conception of the existence of mankind.

My Spiritual perceptions are strong and my Faith is strong but at the same time they can change. Before you go to school, yeah you know abcdefg and so on or you might be able to write your name but you can't really write full sentences, complex words, and paragraphs. Then you learn how to percieve those letters and understand how they fit together to make actual words and what once was a just an unintelligable book made from cardboard and paper with seemingly random letters, you can now understand what is written. What I percieve today may be a totally different perception tomorrow according to what I learn.

A lot of times people expect a booming loud voice or scream from our Creator, by whatever name or gender you choose to percieve or however many because after all, a being that Created everything should be big and loud enough to be heard. Since we were instilled with Freewill, there will be no screams and booming voices but rather gentle whispers if you choose to listen and seek knowledge of the Creator.

What happens when and after we die? There is no concrete proof of anything. We may just cease to exist consciously at all levels. I choose to believe in reincarnation. It has been prevalent in so many religions and hints of it even in the bible of today and early Christianity through the Gnostic texts. It has been studied by Psychologists in the way of past life regressions and then on the same token other Psychologists will turn around and call these false memories, fantasies, genetic memories and so on. Do we just die and experience the common conception of heaven or hell? I don't know but choose to think not. The Creator according to the bible took 6 days (whatever a day is in the scheme of Eternity) to create what we see and experience, why should we think that a human Spirit can be perfected in one life time or infinate number of lifetimes even. Can both concepts be right or wrong and/or right and wrong? Most certainly. I use the bible a lot since we are in the Age of Picses and it states that with God all things are possible. Not just anything but all things. It also states that God is Love. And that allows me to see that the God of the old testement is the same God that Christ hinted of and is the same Creator that has been and will be, its just that man's perception of the Creator has shifted and will continue to shift throughout our evolution. We know natural disasters happen all the time, sicknesses and death and so on. Man used to blame a God or Gods for these things but now we know it's nature. As for using God and or Spirituality as a means of control or justifications for horrific actions against fellow humans throughout history. Well that is just a consequence of Freewill and our own doing. I don't believe God has or has ever taken sides. Please, no one take offense when I use the word God because its not meant to offend and when I say it it covers all spectrums, versions, genders and names.

One of the brightest minds of the twentieth century stated that energy can't be destroyed but it can be transformed. These words give me a tremendous feeling of Faith in a reality separate from a physical existence. The physical body without the small electrical impuses running through it is nothing more than matter. This energy allows us to be animate and to think. When the body dies where does that energy go. I know a lot of folks may believe it is dispersed and go back to being plain old heat, light, electromagnetic and a number and another number of forms of energy. This may be true but what about our consciousness on all levels which seem to be a form of energy unto itself?

Who knows, I may be insane and delusional. I don't think so though because I question my sanity all the time and the truly insane are convinced they are totally sane. I might be just a tiny bit delusional though. 😉 But isn't everyone.

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

The Pali word saddhā Spoken at the time of the Buddha] is generally translated as "faith"

I have very strong faith in the universal laws of 'cause and effect'...In other words I take ''refuge' in it...

Faith in Buddhism, is in a sense, faith in the Three Jewels: the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Buddhism encourages one to investigate any teaching and to live by what is learnt and accepted, rather than believing in something simply because it is taught.

Because I 'experience' the universal laws of cause and effect="Dependant Origination" [through body, speech and mind] I have faith in what the Buddha taught...

Metta Zenda 🙂

[Cindy]

Interesting.


I was raised an RC. I gave that away when I was 13.
(yes I was a precocious child, I must have been hell; all that and trans)

About that time  I decided there were no gods.
My personal belief.

I'm fine with others beliefs, no problems for me at all.

I believe in me.

It is unshakable, it is proven and it sustains me and comforts me. It has allowed me to survive and live.

I don't need external belief to lift me. I have been lower than I hope no one else goes.

I survive because of my belief.

Is it easy? No.  - but I get the impression that faith/belief is not easy for anyone - which is of no surprise!

I have one ego that sustains me. No one to blame and no one to thank; except I.

I certainly believe that faith and belief are important to humans. It is their ability to allow that faith and belief to help them that I think is important.

I need faith and belief to survive, in my life it has to work, I don't depend on anyone or anything, I need a belief that enables me to live. 

My choice is not easy. It is not for those who cannot believe in self, the concept of I.

I'm very happy and very supportive for those who live their lives in other ways. It worries me not.

Why should it

C

[Anatta]

Interesting.


I was raised an RC. I gave that away when I was 13.
(yes I was a precocious child, I must have been hell; all that and trans)

About that time  I decided there were no gods.
My personal belief.

I'm fine with others beliefs, no problems for me at all.

I believe in me.

It is unshakable, it is proven and it sustains me and comforts me. It has allowed me to survive and live.

I don't need external belief to lift me. I have been lower than I hope no one else goes.

I survive because of my belief.

Is it easy? No.  - but I get the impression that faith/belief is not easy for anyone - which is of no surprise!

I have one ego that sustains me. No one to blame and no one to thank; except I.

I certainly believe that faith and belief are important to humans. It is their ability to allow that faith and belief to help them that I think is important.

I need faith and belief to survive, in my life it has to work, I don't depend on anyone or anything, I need a belief that enables me to live. 

My choice is not easy. It is not for those who cannot believe in self, the concept of I.

I'm very happy and very supportive for those who live their lives in other ways. It worries me not.

Why should it

C

Kia Ora Cindy,

True...

Having 'faith' in ones own abilities is of the utmost importance... Having 'faith in oneself= Self confidence -Self esteem...   

Metta Zenda 🙂

[Trixie]

I am an atheist. So, no faith. I have no problem with those who do believe in whatever though.

[Anatta]

I am an atheist. So, no faith. I have no problem with those who do believe in whatever though.

Kia Ora Trixie,

I understand that as an atheist you have no 'religious/spiritual' faith as such, but do you have faith in your own abilities, ie, faith in yourself ?

Metta Zenda 🙂

[Trixie]

Kia Ora Trixie,

I understand that as an atheist you have no 'religious/spiritual' faith as such, but do you have faith in your own abilities, ie, faith in yourself ?

Metta Zenda

Not a lot, but I suffer rather heavily from depression and anxiety, and have a long history of my feelings being invalidated and shot down. I think it's understandable that I don't exactly have much self-esteem, if one were to know how my life has gone.