by SweetBabyCheezits 34 Replies latest jw friends
Not to confuse, hopefully, but perhaps my faith could best be described as 'gnosis'
From www.kheper.net/topics/Gnosticism/glossary.html - "While the literal translation for this word is "knowledge", it's meaning is closer to "insight" or, to use a more modern concept, "enlightenment". Rather than purely an intellectual understanding then, it is a "knowledge of the heart" (which is not meant to imply mere emotionalism) or wisdom. ..."
Okay, I should mention I'm not bashing faith but I am trying to sort out some thoughts that are in my head and I do need some perspective from those who have faith. But please don't use loopholes or dilute how you feel. I'm not trying to lynch any Christians.
I've allowed far too much variance for interpretation of the word know so let me specify, again... I'm referring to the relative sense. For example, my mother says she refuses to be turned away from what she KNOWS is right: her current set of beliefs.
I was only using faith in a particular afterlife as an example. I'm not saying all faith demands that you know what happens when you die. Faith is applied to specific religious beliefs, right?
Let's get down to a very fundamental faith: If you believe in Jesus, you have faith. You KNOW he exists, right? Or would you still avoid using the word "know"? Because if a person wasn't certain of his existence, it would seem he or she is exhibiting doubt - a lack of faith. Is that an accurate statement?
In a way, faith is the antithesis of modesty. Faith is like belief, only more stubborn.
It is better to simply admit that one doesn't know something than to believe in something one can't possibly know.
Faith can be applied to specific aspects of your beliefs, right?
Any and all, in my case.
Let's get down to a very fundamental faith: If you believe in Jesus, you have faith. You KNOW he exists, right?
I BELIEVE He exists; however, I've never seen Him face-to-face.
Or would you still avoid using the word "know"?
See above statement.
Because if a person wasn't certain of his existence, it would seem he or she is exhibiting doubt - a lack of faith. Is that an accurate statement?
No, not accurate. I believe all the available evidence points to the existence of Jesus, but I won't be certain of that until I see Him coming with the clouds.
Syl
I
say faith doesn't demand anything.Faith is the assurance that the unknowable will be revealed.I will take both modesty and faith.... snowbirdalmost exactly my thoughts ... then I read yours !!
Who says you must choose only one of the above ?
In my case, it is the explaining part that is difficult for me. I had an experience similar to the one Paul writes about - where whether it was 'in the body' or 'out of the body', I cannot say, but it is an 'awakening' to the oneness that I believe is Christ in each one of us. Do I 'know' whether Jesus Christ was an actual historical person? NO, and I don't believe I ever can know that definitively. As of yet, his existence cannot be PROVEN; someday it may be if verifiable archeological evidence turns up. Based on the writings his supposed existence inspired, I tend to believe that he was, but again this cannot be PROVEN.
The Christ I know is the Christ as revealed in the gospels written about him - not just the 4 I was taught to only accept by the JWs, but the many other gospels that have been written about him and his teachings.
I don't doubt that Christ exists. Where he exists is where words fail me to convey, but I see him in each and every mortal being. As George Harrison put it: I really want to see you Lord, but it takes so long, my Lord...
I'm poor at explanations...Timothy Freke, stand-up philosopher, comes closest to being able to convey this 'awakening' which I believe is available to EVERYONE...if you have time, google him and check him out!
As someone quite eloquently said once on this board (i am sorry I do not remember who to give credit to), and I borrowed the statement and put it on my facebook because it was so poignant---
You cannot choose what you believe. Belief is not like a switch that you can choose to turn off or on.
You believe what you believe until something comes along to influence that belief enough to change it.
So until something rocks your mom's world, or it influences her enough, she won't change her beliefs because she is not searching to.
No one can really have trust in Jesus. because you never talked to Jesus or he never revealed himself to you. You trust the person or the source who told you about Jesus.
In a way people have Faith in a book or in other humans. faith is not based on your own knowledge but the knowledge of other.. it makes you wonder what is their knowledge based on?..... on the faith of others.
29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Jesus talks to me all day long. I have more than enough revelation to take me through to Glory.
From one blessed :)
Stephen
Chalam, how does Jesus Talk to you? does that happen all inside your mind? or does he appear to you? or he calls you on the phone? or how exactly does he do that?
I am being serious. I want to really know.
