Posted by 64bowtie on October 29, 2004, at 1:42:41
I keep hearing faith bandied about as a designated end or purpose, ignoring the object of the very faith (God) being felt, leaving me wondering how we got there.
Dictionary dot com:
1. Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. See Synonyms at belief. See Synonyms at trust.
2. Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance: keeping faith with one's supporters.
3. The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will.
4. The body of dogma of a religion: the Muslim faith.
5. A set of principles or beliefs.At no time do these definitions imply that faith is a weapon to be used to wipe out beleivers in other faiths. Also, testing folks' integrity based on their ferver in this or that faith, implies faith is more important than God.
For a long time now I have thought that this odd application of faith needed a different word to describe. Suddenly last week it came to me; FAITHISM: faith in faith itself, or faith is the object of the faith itself.
I don't say this to offend anyone. I only point out that this doesn't get anyone closer to their particular godhead. Faith is abstract reasoning, not known but rather felt. A tarantula, a cow, and an octopus, probably don't have faith. We can have faith and believe. These are wonderful traits not available to animals, per se. Let's all use them to find a better life.
Rod
poster:64bowtie
thread:408646
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20040914/msgs/408646.html