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Dissection
of the word "faith"
Let's take the
first phrase apart and find out what it means. We'll go section by section and
slowly consider each of those sections and look back at the whole phrase again when we're
done.
Being "Sure"
"Being SURE"
of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.
Merriam-Webster.com says:
Firmly established; steadfast; reliable; trustworthy; marked by or given to
feelings of confident certainty; admitting of no doubt; indisputable; bound
to happen; inevitable; destined...
What are you "SURE" of? Are you
sure that you'll wake up in the morning in good health, in a home with a secure roof over
your head? Are you sure that your next trip in a car will be a safe one? Can you
really be sure of anything?
"Hope"
Being sure of
what you "HOPE" for and certain of what you
do not see.
Merriam-Webster.com says:
To cherish a desire with anticipation; to expect with confidence; trust.
What do you "HOPE" for? Do you
hope that you will live a long and prosperous life? Do you hope you will have good
health all your life? Do you hope that you will go bankrupt and live a life filled
with pain and suffering? Is Hope always positive? Personally, I
hope so.
Being "Certain"
Being sure of what you
hope for and "CERTAIN" of what you do not
see.
Merriam-Webster.com says:
Fixed; settled; of a specific but unsettled character, quantity or degree;
dependable, reliable...
Certainty seems to be similar to "being sure"
of something, so let's just reconsider the section on "Being Sure" we
previously discussed and move on (unless you want to add to this section by
posting your comments below)?
What you do not "see"
Being sure of what you hope for and certain of "WHAT YOU DO NOT SEE."
Merriam-Webster.com says that "to see" is:
To perceive by the eye; to perceive or detect as if by sight...
If you're reading this, you can see. Let's not talk
about what we can see, but what we cannot see to highlight the benefits of
sight, or the ability to see.
Air
What are things you (and I) cannot see?
For example, do you see air (if
there was no such thing as pollution, etc.)? NO, of course not. Yet, we all know it's there,
right? Would we see air or know it was there if science didn't
convince us it was there?
Sound
What about sound? Can you see sound if you don't
have the technology creating visualizations for you to see sound in motion
or action?
Concepts
Can you see, with your eyes, concepts such as the love
of a family member or friend, a never-ending universe, an all-powerful creator or the
aspirations of a young child to change the world?
Prayer
What about prayer? Do you have the faith to believe
that prayer is a force that can change the world around you? What
tells you, convinces you that prayer works? Why believe in
prayer--especially when there is such little evidence to prove it's
effective at all? (personally I believe in prayer, if you're wondering)
Over 90% of people around the world believe in the power of
prayer and yet there is little proof that can be provided that would "hold
water" in a court of law. Now that's faith!
There are many things we cannot see but believe are
there. Why? What is it that has convinced us? Science? Science
taught the whole world that the world was flat... and we probably would have bought into that too
if we lived back then. We're all followers, no matter what anyone thinks.
We're all subject to peer pressure and want to be accepted.
Recap
I like to look at faith this way: Faith is
trusting in what may not exist compared to what we have been convinced
exists. That is to say, if you have the faith that
something is true or is real, then you believe it's possible for something
to exist despite what knowledge says is or is not true.
Inherently human beings want to know, and the idea that there are things
that exist that cannot be proven with science (yet--or if ever), messes
with our heads. Religion, a common denominator for more
than 90 percent of the world's population is based on faith. Not all
of the 90% believes in the same type or worship, commitment, devotion or
observance, but they all require some degree of faith to belong and/or
believe. Faith is blind
"Faith is something
you believe that nobody in his right mind would believe."
- Archie Bunker (TV situation comedy character -
"All In The Family")
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