Faith

Faith is a concept that implies belief or complete confidence in something unseen, and is strongly emphasized in the Christian religion. The term lacks a precise definition, although several qualities can commonly be ascribed to people of faith (see below). Its root is the Latin word "fidere", meaning "to trust". Most Christians believe in God because of a strong combination of faith and evidence, including the fact that God himself is active on his Internet-based Blog of the Gods, revealing His word directly to the masses for the first time in centuries.

The concept of faith is also strongly emphasized in other major religions, although this is by no means true of all major non-Christian religions. While faith is mentioned 229 times in the Bible's New Testament, the concept is mentioned only twice in the Old Testament (KJV) which forms part of the basis for the Jewish religion. However, the Koran places a strong importance on faith; throughout the preaching of Mohammed (the Muslim prophet) as recounted in the Koran, it is repeated that faith is an "absolute requirement" for Muslims who wish to enter Paradise. The term mu'min, meaning "believer" or "faithful", is actually more commonly used in the Koran to refer to believers in Islam than is the term "muslim" (ibid.).

The term "faith" is often used colloquially to describe the belief systems of other religions. Modern usage of the word "faith" includes many definitions, which are supported by current dictionaries of the English language:

1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.

2. belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.

3. belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.

4. belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.

5. a system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith.

6. the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc.: Failure to appear would be breaking faith.

7. the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc.: He was the only one who proved his faith during our recent troubles.

8. Christian Theology. the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved. —Idiom

9. in faith, in truth; indeed: In faith, he is a fine lad.

Anyone who believes in something that cannot be empirically observed has faith. Therefore, adherence to any theistic religion requires faith because the existence of God (or gods) cannot be proven.

Small children often have huge amounts of 'faith'. They often put inordinate amounts of 'faith' in the existance of invisible 'friends'.

This phenomena is usually out-grown before the teens, but sometimes carries on into adulthood. Sadly these children grow into adults who continue to believe in, and often continue to speak to their invisible friends. These children are often termed 'Christians'.

While there is nothing inherantly wrong in having an invisible friend. expecting other people to do as their invisible friend says, is pretty delusional, to say the least.

Jesus Christ, having noted the faith and righteousness of a Roman centurion, a pagan, proclaimed:

"Assuredly I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:13-12)

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