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| − | '''Faith''' refers to any of a number of different things: | + | '''Faith''' is a uniquely [[Christian]] concept referring to a confidence or trust in a greater good. Faith is expressed in [[Greek]] using the term ''pistis'', and in [[Latin]] using the term ''fides''. Faith is mentioned in 229 verses in the [[New Testament]] ([[KJV]]), but only twice in the much larger [[Old Testament]] ([[KJV]]).<ref>http://www.crosswalk.com</ref> |
| − | * '''Confidence or trust in a greater good'''<ref>Hebrews 11</ref>;
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| − | * '''Loyalty''': To be faithful, as in keeping one's commitments (e.g. "She was a faithful wife");
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| − | * '''Trust''': To have faith that a person will keep their commitments (e.g. "I have faith in you");
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| − | * '''Commitment to reason''': “Faith... is the art of holding on to things your reason once accepted, despite your changing moods.”<ref>C.S. Lewis</ref>
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| − | * '''Belief without evidence''';
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| − | == Etymology ==
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| − | Faith is expressed in [[Greek]] using the term ''pistis'', and in [[Latin]] using the term ''fides''. Faith is mentioned in 229 verses in the [[New Testament]] ([[KJV]]), but only twice in the much larger [[Old Testament]] ([[KJV]]).<ref>http://www.crosswalk.com</ref> | |
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| | Faith embodies more than belief in two significant respects. First, faith implies a causal role by the believer in an outcome, as in [[Peter]]'s walking on water based on his faith or in overcoming a personal fear. Second, faith implies advancement or accomplishment rather than wrongdoing. | | Faith embodies more than belief in two significant respects. First, faith implies a causal role by the believer in an outcome, as in [[Peter]]'s walking on water based on his faith or in overcoming a personal fear. Second, faith implies advancement or accomplishment rather than wrongdoing. |
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| | Genesis 22:12 | | Genesis 22:12 |
| | <i>"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." </i> | | <i>"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." </i> |
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| − | Similarly to the reference above from Genesis, [[Deuteronomy]] 13:1-3 stresses the importance of having faith in God:
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| − | {{Bible quote|If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
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| − | |book=Deuteronomy|chap=13|verses=1-3|version=KJV}}
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| | ==Other Definitions and Religions== | | ==Other Definitions and Religions== |
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| − | === Islam ===
| + | Outside of [[Christianity]], faith is misused as a synonym for "belief". The [[Merriam-Webster]] dictionary, for example, includes this definition of faith: "a system of religious beliefs."<ref>http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/faith</ref> |
| − | The word for "faith" in Islam is "iman." Two hadiths (traditions) describe the Islamic concept of faith: | |
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| − | * "One day while the Prophet [Muhammed] was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Gabriel came and asked, "What is faith?" Allah's Apostle replied, "Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection." Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 1.47, Narrated Abu Huraira.
| + | Alternatively, faith often refers to a "firm belief in something for which there is no proof" or evidence. |
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| − | * "A person asked Allah's Messenger [Muhammed] What is faith? He said: When a good deed becomes a source of pleasure for you and an evil deed becomes a source of disgust for you, then you are a believer." Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi, Narrated Abu Umamah.
| + | In the [[Koran]], the concept of submission to [[Allah]] is mentioned 11 times, while the concept of faith in Allah is mentioned only once. |
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| − | * “If you have faith, do not yield to fear and sorrow, for you have an upper hand over the others on account of this asset of faith.” Qur’an (3:139).
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| − | * "Those with Faith, those who are Jews, and the Christians and Sabaeans, all who have Faith in Allah and the Last Day and act rightly, will have their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow." Qur'an (2:62).
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| − | === Western Secularism ===
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| − | In Western Secular societies, faith is sometimes misused as a synonym for "belief". The [[Merriam-Webster]] dictionary, for example, includes this definition of faith: "a system of religious beliefs."<ref>http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/faith</ref>
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| − | Alternatively, faith often refers to a "firm belief in something for which there is no evidence" or insufficient evidence. This use, however, is totally absent from the Scriptures. No person in scripture described as being "of faith" believed without evidence. They all had signs, miracles, and the word of God, and were ''faithful'' in their trust in God to keep his commitments, as well as their own commitment to keep their commitments to God.
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| | ==References== | | ==References== |
| | <references/> | | <references/> |
| | + | [[Category:religion]] |
| | + | [[Category:philosophy]] |
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| | == External links == | | == External links == |
| − | * Holding, James Patrick, [http://tektonics.org/whatis/whatfaith.html Fallacious Faith] | + | * Holding, James Patrick, [http://tektonics.org/whatis/whatfaith.html Fallacious Faith] |
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| − | [[Category:religion]]
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| − | [[Category:philosophy]]
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