Yep, that's what I've concluded. I was talking to a Catholic today about Stephen Hawking's new book where he says God doesn't exist based on science. So he responded, "That's why they call it faith." Yep, faith doesn't need scientific evidence. It's irrational. I want everyone to think "Irrational" whenever someone says the word "faith" because that's what it is.Why is this silly? It's silly because he mis-defines "Faith" - at least the way the Bible defines it. "Faith" does not mean you believe something despite evidence to the contrary. I totally agree that is irrational but again that is not what Abraham nor anyone in the Bible was commended for doing. I agree that faith might mean believing something contrary to what you think otherwise would be rational but this is different than rejecting scientific fact that you can objectively prove. Let's look at what the Bible defines as faith.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. - Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
Look "faith", "pistis", has two parts. One part is about being certain in hope - not a vain hope - but an expectant hope that you will see God do what he promised. Every instance of faith in the Bible was depended on a relationship with Go The second pd in which he made promise(s) to the one who had faith and that person walked in that faith. Look at the entire list of heroes in the Hebrews 11 and that is something they all have in common and the second part of faith is that it is it's own evidence, but not of what does not exist. Rather faith is evidence of things we do not see. Just because you don't see something doesn't mean it is not real.
What does a standard lexicon say about "pistis"?
See? Nothing like what John Loftus says "Faith" is.
- conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
- relating to God
- the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ
- relating to Christ
- a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God
- the religious beliefs of Christians
- belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same
- fidelity, faithfulness
- the character of one who can be relied on
Debunking Christianity: Faith is Equivalent to Irrationality
An important part of faith is willingness to believe, not only in God's existence, but to actually belief what God says, to trust God's wisdom and integrity enough to believe He knows what He is talking about in the Bible and He will never lie to us. Most people, even religious people, belief their traditions, their ministers, and their own opinions more than they believe what God actually says.
ReplyDeleteSo Marcus, have you read Hawking's The Grand Design yet?
ReplyDeleteI agree, penman@trugosp.org
ReplyDeleteRyan, I have not read Hawking's book The Grand Design but it is on my reading list. You never did explain how I've said anything to misrepresent what is there. And you said it was 100 pages. It isn't. it's 208 pages. (according to Amazon. I'm wondering if you had read it.
ReplyDeleteI was exaggerating, like the Hebrews when they attacked the Caanaites. 208 is very short.
ReplyDeleteI read it on the kindle, so I actually had no idea how many pages it had.