PopeJohnPaulIIoncesaid,"Faithandreasonareliketwowingsonwhichthehumanspiritrisesto thecontemplationoftruth;andGodhasplacedinthehumanheartadesiretoknowthetruth–ina word,toknowhimself–sothat,byknowingandlovingGod,menandwomenmayalsocometothe fullnessoftruthaboutthemselves."(FallibleBlogma)Basedonthissignificantandpowerfulquote, onecaninferthatfaithandreasonaredirectlyassociatedandrelated.Itcanalsobeimpliedthatthe combinationoffaithandreasonallowsonetoseekinformationandknowledgeabouttruthandGod; basedonvariousclassdiscussionsandpastacademicteachings,itisunderstoodthatbothfaithand reasonaretheinstrumentsthatdiversepartiesshowmorecontent
ThomasAquinasareconsideredtobescholastics.Becauseofthisvastacademicdifference,itcanbe easytoassumethattheinterpretationoffaithandreasonamongmysticsandscholasticswould obviouslybedifferentHowever,sinceIbnRushd,MosesMaimonidesandStThomasAquinasare allscholasticstheirviewswillessentiallybesomewhatparallelandconnected.Beforebeingableto trulyunderstandwhateachphilosopher'sstanceultimatelyis,thiswriterfeelsthatitisimportantto distinguishthedifferencebetweeneachschoolofthought;theschoolsofthoughtinparticularwould bemysticismandscholasticism.Accordingtotheclassdiscussion,materialsandpresentation,the termmysticismreferstoaverypersonalandindividualreligiousexperienceInthisschoolof thought,privatefaithandphilosophyisaccompaniedwithanemotionalexperiencethatsurpasses reason.MysticshaveapersonalpreferenceofadirectrelationshipandexperiencewithGod,orthe divine.Mystics,liketheonesstudiedinclass,usecertainvisions,dreamsandrevelationstogain definiteknowledgefromGod;further,mysticstypicallyrevolvetheirstudiesaroundGod'sinfinite love
Conversely,theotherschoolofthoughtisscholasticism;basedontheclassmaterials,itis understoodthatscholasticismreferstovariousmethodsanddiversewaysofteachinginacademic institutionsDifferentlyfrommysticism,thisschoolofthoughtcombinesfaithandreason
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Whatisfaith?Faithissomethingdifferenttoeveryone.Ifyouaskedahundreddifferentpeople,itis possiblethatyouwouldgetmanydiverseanswers.Religiousfaithandnon–religiousfaitharetwo verydistinctterms.Faithholdsanextremelycomplexmeaningwhendiscussingitinthecontextof religion.Faithisabelief.Thatholdstruetoeveryreligiousandnon–religiousperson.Everyfaith involvesadecisionItisnotaboutwhatweclaimtobelieve,butwhatweactuallydobelieve,thatis truefaith.Throughoutthispaper,IamgoingtodiscussChristianfaith,howitpertainstodailylife andChristianityasawhole.IalsointendtodelveintoGeorgeW.Forell'sdiscussionofChristian faithandanalyzeandshowmorecontent
Youcannothavereligionwithoutfaith.GeorgeW.Forellstatesthat"faithisuniversal,"(Forell1). BythisForellissayingthateveryonehassomesortofbelief,theybelieveinsomethingor somebody.ForellisnotlimitingthisbelieftoGod,orgodsforthatmatter,hesimplymeansthatall humansbelieveinsomething–money,oreducation,orthegeneralgoodnessofmankind.Forell goesontoalsodescribeChristianfaith;"ClassicalProtestantismassertsthatGodwantsfellowship withmanandthatifwetrustcompletelyinJesusChristandhisworkwewillhavecommunionwith God.ThiscompleteanduttertrustinJesusChristisfaith,"(Forell19).ItendtosidewithGeorgeW. ForellandhisexplanationofChristianfaith.
ChristianfaithhasanimplicationofloveItisstrictlyapersonalactThe"agape"thatexists betweenthelordandallofhiscreationsismanifestedintoeachreligion'sfaith.Thisagapeisthe respect,connection,andintellectualvirtuethatexistbetweenmenandwomenandtheirbeliefin GodFaithcanalsobethoughtofasaperceptionItisnotaconclusionoraproof;"itisnotan explanationoftheworld,anargumentfromcausality,anapologeticofcreation,"(Chenu2).Faithis neitherblackor
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IstherereallyaGod?Isitpossiblethatthereisasuperiorbeingwatchingoverus?Itseemed farfetchedtomewhenIwasyounger.Iaskedmyselfthesequestiongrowingup.Ineverboughtinto thethoughtofbelievinginaGodasakid.ThatwasuntilIfacedadversityinmylife.Iturnedtomy faithinhardtimes.Religionisacrutch.Whenyouarewounded,youoftenneedacrutch.Thecrutch symbolizingfaith,andthewoundedlegembodiestheproblemswefaceinlifeInmylife,Ihave learnedthatfaithhasbeensidebysidewithmeformyexistenceandthroughtoughtimes.Lifecan gethard,butwhenyoustandbyyourfaithwhendodgingobstaclesitmakesitmucheasier.Thatis howfaithcanhelpovercomeobstacles
Lookingback,religionhadplayedakeyroleinmylife.PickingmeupwhenIwasthrowntothe groundandhelpingmegrowfortheobstaclesIwouldfacelaterinlife.IrecallamomentwhenI wasabout7yearsold.Atthetimemyparentsweregoingthrougharoughpatchintheirmarriage.It wasahardtimeformyselfandourfamilyTheirnon–stopquarrelwouldpushmepastmybreaking point.Icouldn'thandleit.Thethoughtofthemsplittingupalwaysranashiverdownmyspine.I distinctlyrememberthisonenightwhentheywouldnotstopyelling.Atthatage,Icouldn'thandle it.Tearsfilledthesocketsofmyeyes.Ineededsomeonetotalkto.Icalledmygrandmotheron skype.Ibeggedher,"Pleasestopmyparentsfromfighting".Shetoldme
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HowwillyourpersonalfaithandbeliefsallowyoutocontributetoLiberty'smissiontodevelop Christ–centeredleaders?
IamChristianwhobelievesinGod,theFather;God,theSon(JesusChrist);andGod,theHoly Spirit,asthreeinoneChristianityisarelationshiptome,notareligionMycommitmentinmy christianlifeencouragesmetoshareGod'slove.Mychosenvocationisteachinginfantsand toddlers.WhileIamalreadymakingagreatcontributiontomycommunityandmychurch,havinga teachingdegreewillstrengthenmyChristianvalues,broadenmyknowledgebase,andequipme withskillsnecessarytoimpactmycorneroftheworld.
IbecameachristianataveryyoungageandwasbaptisedwhenIwas6yearsold.Ialready ...Getmorecontent...
FaithandReasonhavelongbeenatopicofdiscussionintheCatholicChurch.Somemightsaythat faithandreasoncontradicteachother,buttheCatholicchurchdisagrees.IntheCatechismofthe Catholicchurchitstates,"Thoughfaithisabovereason,therecanneverbeanyrealdiscrepancy betweenfaithandreason.SincethesameGodwhorevealsmysteriesandinfusesfaithhasbestowed thelightofreasononthehumanmind,Godcannotdenyhimself,norcantruthevercontradict truth"37Consequently,methodicalresearchinallbranchesofknowledgeprovideditiscarriedout inatrulyscientificmanneranddoesnotoverridemorallaws,canneverconflictwiththefaith, becausethethingsoftheworldandthethingsoffaithderivefromthesameGod.Thehumbleand perseveringinvestigatorofthesecretsofnatureisbeingled,asitwere,bythehandofGodinspite ofhimself,foritisGod,theconserverofallthings,whomadethemwhattheyare"(CCC159).The CatholicchurchteachesthatreasonisagiftfromGod,andtherefore,allthingsresearchedaredone throughbecauseheistheonewhohascreatedthepersondoingthereasoning.Godwantsustouse ourmindsinwaysthathonorhim,andtheCatholicchurchcontinuestoreinforcethatthisideaof faithandreasoninggotogether,hand–in–handFaithishavingthefaithinthesystemofreasonthat isusedtoinferanswersfromtheBible.Thechurchteachesthattherecanneverbeabigdifference betweenthe ...Getmorecontent...
FaithandReasonFaithandreasoncanbeviewedasopposites.Faithisanelementofbelief, somethinganindividualdoesnotnecessarilyrequireareasonforacceptingwithoutreason.For example,anindividual'sreasonforbelievinginGodmaynotseemtoorationalwhentheyaretrying toexplainthem.Theymaynotevenstanduptocriticism.Ontheotherhand,reasonisconstructed asaformulaFaithisbasicallysomethingwebelievein,likesomethingwelearninchurchReason issomethingwelearninschool,suchasamathformula.Alongtimeago,priortothescientific revolution,itwasconsideredanti–Semiticthatreasonsupportedreligion.TheCounterbalance Foundationwebsiteobservesthatbeforethistime,sciencethatshowmorecontent Manypeople,includingthoseofChristianbeliefthenreadtheworksoftheseclassicalwriters.Of themanyclassicalwriterswhoseworkswereavailabletothemedievalscholars,themostinfluential onehadtobePlato.InNormanCantor'sbook,heobservesthat,"Christianitywasbuiltasmuchon PlatoasontheJudaictradition"(Cantor,18).BecausePlato'sworksoinfluential,itwouldbe illuminatingtolookatexactlywhatPlato'sideaswere,aswellashowtheywerereinterpretedby medievalscholars.AccordingtoCantor,"ToPlatoideas,orconceptualforms,werenotidle fantasies,butessentialrealities.Whenwereferto'justice'or'thestate'or'love',weareactually referringtosomethingthathasanindependentexistenceoutsideourminds"(Cantor,16).Onthe otherhand,materialobjectssuchasatable,whicharecommonlyassumedtohavemore"reality" thanmereideas,actuallyhavelessrealitytoaPlatonist,because"Atablewouldnothavecomeinto existencewithouttheideaofatable;itistheideathatgivesitshapeandreality.Pure,ultimate realityispureIdea,andthephysicalworldthatwetouchandseehasarealityonlyinsofarasit participatesinorisformedbypureIdea"(Cantor,16)Itiseasytoseehowaphilosophylikethis couldhavebeeneagerlyassimilatedintomedievalChristianity,whichdenigratedthebodyinfavor ofthespirit,andallmaterialthingsinfavorofGod.However,itisimportantto
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Whatisfaith?Faithcanbemanydifferentthingsbasedondifferenttypesofpeopleperspective. Somepeoplesayit'sabouttrustwhileotherssayithastodowithreligion.Whenitcomestotrusting peoplefaithisaboutbelievinginsomeoneevenifyoumaynothaveprooftheyarecorrect. Howeverfaithtiesinwithreligioninwaysthatreligiouspeoplemusthavefaithortrustintheir leadersorthepeopletheylookupto
Nowwhoneedsfaithyoumayask.Personally,Ithinkeveryoneneedsfaith,maybeatonepointin theirlifeormultiplepoints.Faithcanbeagoodorbadthingbecausehavingfaithcanallowusto takerisksHowever,IalsothinktherearecertainpeoplewhomayneeditmorethanothersFor example,peoplewhocan't...showmorecontent...
Onetime,aboutthreeyearsago,Iwantedadogreallybadly.Ihadalwayswantedonebutsuddenly nowIwanteditmorethanever,Butmyparentsdidn'thavefaiththatIcouldtakecareofone. "You'retooyoungtotakecareofit,andwearetoobusy,"theycontinuouslytoldme.Itmademe angrybecauseallmyfriendshaddogsandIjustwantedonetooIttookalongtimeofconvincing buttheyfinallyallowedmetohaveone.ButfromthisIlearnedsometimeswhenpeopledon'thave faithinyouit'sfortherightreason,becauseisuckattakingcareofmy
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FaithandreasonweretwomodesofbeliefthatdominatedthehistoryofWesternCivilization.Both faithandreasonwerepopularizedastoolstounderstandtheuniverseinGreco–RomanandJudeo–Christianeras.Byconflictingwitheachother,thesetwomodesofbeliefsparkedalotof controversy.Reasonorrationalityisbeliefbasedonconcreteevidenceandlogic.Thedevelopment ofone'sreasonreliesheavilyonobservationandquestioningGreco–Romanphilosophersbelieved inthepowerofthehumanmindtounderstandtheworld.Soinordertofindultimatetruth,Greco–Romanphilosophersdedicatedtheirlivestoperfectingtheirreasoningskillsandencouragedthose aroundthemtodothesameContradictorytoreason,faithistheshowmorecontent
Socrates'journeyconveysanimportantaspectoflivingalifeinaccordancewithreason: questioning.Questioningisakeyaspectofreasoningbecausebydoingso,oneischallenging somethingthatiscommonlyaccepted.Socrateswasagainstself–proclaimedwisdom.Though accusedofcorruptingtheyouth,Socrateswantedtodispelanymisinterpretationofhisintentions.
SocrateswantedtoemphasizetheimportanceofquestioningtoacquireknowledgeAnother exampleofreasonintheGreco–RomancultureisSeneca'sLetterstoLucilius.Inthisletter,Seneca arguedthattheonlywaytoliveatrulyhappylifewasthroughhavingperfectreason."Nowifwe agreedonthispoint,itisnaturalthatweshallbeagreedonthefollowingalso–namely,thatthe happylifedependsuponthisandthisalone:ourattainmentofperfectreason."LetterstoLucilius demonstratesGreeks'relianceonreasonasameanstoachievetruehappinessNotonlywasreason importanttotheGreeksbecauseithelpedthemachievehappiness,butitwasalsoimportantbecause itwasaqualitythatmadethemsuperiortoanimals.InEpictetus'Discourses,Epictetussupports rationalityforthatveryreason:
Whenweactgluttonously,lewdly,rashly,sordidly,inconsiderately,intowhatarewesunk?Into cattle.Whathavewedestroyed?Therationalbeing.Whenwebehavecontentiously,injuriously, passionately,andviolently,intowhathavewe
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ThetopicwhichIhaveselectedisfaith.FaithisacomplextermthatweusecasuallyintheLatter DaySaintcommunity.Yes,itissimple,butithasamuchmoreprofoundmeaningthanjust believing.ItisbelievingintheSonofGod,andthathewilldeliveryoufromyourtrialsand tribulations.Iwilldescribetoyouaboutmyfindingsonfaith.Iwantedtofocusonfourmajor effectsanddoctrineoffaith,theyarehowtogainfaith,theblessingsthatcomefromfaith,doubt robsfaith,andtheeffectsoffaithinmylife.
Faithisnotaphysicalobjectwhichonecanobtainthroughforce.Ifyouaregoingtoobtainfaith,it mustbethroughyourowneffortsManyhavefallenintothetrapofwhatIliketocall"I'llbelieveit after...showmorecontent...
ToliveGod'scommandmentswemusttrustGod.Thisisatruedoctrine.Ifwearetoseeandreceive theblessingsoffollowinghiscommandments,thenwemustbeobedient.Thismatterwasspokenon intheDoctrineandCovenants"AndwhenweobtainanyblessingfromGod,itisbyobedienceto thatlawuponwhichitispredicated(D&C:130:21)"Godblessesusthroughourobedience,andI viewobedienceandfaithinthesamedivision.Oneshouldnotbedonewithouttheother.Ofcourse, thereareexceptions,butIdon'twanttofocusonthoseinthecurrentinstant.TheLordblessesus accordingtoourobediencetohiscommandments,equallyimportantisthefaithwedisplayaswe obey.Manytimeswedon'tobeyacommandmentbecausewedon'tunderstandwhyitisthere.Ifwe choosenottofollowit,thenwearelackingthefaithtotrustGodthathiswordistrueForexample, Godhasgiventhecommandmentthatwearetopayone–tenththathehasgivenus,tohim.Ifweare disobedient,thenwelackthefaithintheblessingsthatGodpromisesus.Ipersonallyhaveseenthe blessingfrompayingmytithing,whichthroughmyfaith,IwasblessedforMyfaithintithinghas keptmefed,hasbroughtthespiritintomylife,andmostimportantly,IhaveseenGod'shand sustainmewithallmyneeds.FaithinandobediencetoGod'scommandmentsbringsbothtemporal andspiritual
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IntegratingFaithandTeaching
Ifeveryoneonthisearthheldthebeliefthatallhumanshavethecapabilityofbeingandbecoming goodpeople,thisworldwouldbeamuchdifferentplace.Iholdthebeliefthathumanbeingsare good,andIfeelthatisessentialthatallpeopledotheirbesttotrytofindthegoodaspectsand qualitiesinothers.Ithinkthatitisimportanttoconcentrateonthepositiveandgoodaspectsof people,eventhoughsomedomakethisverydifficulttoevenattempt.Allpeoplehavesomethingto offertheworld,eveniftheydonotknowitIthinkthatasateacheritismyjobandmydutytofind thesegoodpointsinmystudents.InICorinthians7:7,itstatesthat"...eachhasa...showmore content
ToeachisgiventhemanifestationoftheSpiritforthecommongood."Iwantmystudentstobeable todevelopandusethesegiftstobettertheircommunities.
Iliketobetreatedthesameasthenextperson,andIfeelthatstudentsshouldbetreated,andwillbe treatedinthesamemannerinwhichIintendtobetreated;withdignityandrespectasitsaysweare todointheBibleinMatthew7:12:"Ineverythingdotoothersasyouwouldhavethemdotoyou; forthisisthelawandtheprophets."AsFennemasuggested,thechildrenmustbeabletorespect themselvesbeforetheycanrespectothers,whichIcanhelpthemtodoOfcourse,ifIteachina Christianschool,IwillbeabletodemonstratemyChristianvaluesmorefreelyjustbyhavingthe abilitytodiscussthemwithmystudents.EvenifIteachinapublicschool,whereChristianvalues cannotbeexpressedoutloud,IcanstilltreatmystudentsaccordingtotheGoldenRule,andIcan expectthemtotreateachotherthesameway.IcaninstillChristianvalueswithoutpublicizingthem. Evenifnooneknowsaboutmyreligiousbackgroundinthesettingofapublicschool,mywords andactionscandisplaythatIaminsomewaysdifferentfromothersbecauseofthewayinwhichI treatmystudents.WhileItrytoleadaChristianmorallifemyself,Icanteach
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Whatisfaith?Faithcanbedescribedinmanyways,basedonthebeliefsomeonehasforGod.The difficultpartwhenwantingtotalkaboutexplainingfaithandwhatwethinkGodbringstoourlife, isbasedonwhatGodbroughttothisworldforeachofusspecifically.Faithcanbechallengingin anindividual'slife,becauseforsometheyareneversurewheretheystandwiththeword"faith". Fromchristianityaboutcom,faithwasdefinedasbeliefwithstrongconviction;firmbeliefin somethingforwhichtheremaybenotangibleproof;completetrust,confidence,relianceor devotion.Faithistheoppositeofdoubt.Iwillproveinthispaperthatfaithisnotonlyaboutwhat wasdefined,butmoreaboutwhatonebelievesandhowoneactsontheirownfaithThereisalot moretofaiththanjustastrongbelief.Iwouldarguethatbeliefoffaithconsistsofthreekey components;commitment,sacrifice,andbelief.BeforeIexplainmoreaboutcommitment,sacrifice, andbelief,IwanttoseewhatChristianfaithis,andfromwhereitcomes,howitmaybenurtured, andlastly,howcanitimpactsomeone'severydaylife.Twoversusfrom1Johnreallystandoutto mewhenitcomestoChristianfaithIn1John5:5itsays,"Whoisitthatovercomestheworld?
OnlytheonewhobelievesthatJesusistheSonofGod."Therefore,statingforwhomeverisgifted thegiftoflifeshallbelieveinJesus,andindoingsoyouarestatedasthesonofGod.1John5:13 says,"I
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Myfaithjourneyhasbeenchallengedthroughoutmylife.Ihavehadmanyupsanddowns,and manytimeswhenIquestionedmyfaith.Althoughthosetimeswererough,IfoundcomfortinGod andknowingthatHeisalwaysthereformeOneofmyfavoritequotesis"Icandoallthings throughChristwhostrengthensme"Philippians4:13.Thisquotegotmethroughtoughtimeswhen myfaithwasshaking.Inthepast,myfaithhadbeenchallengedonnumerousoccasions.Thevery firsttimethatmyfaithwaschallengedwaswhenIwasnineIwasdiagnosedwithtypeonediabetes (T1D).ThiswassohardformyfamilyandItocopewithandtounderstand.Ididnotknow anythingaboutT1Dnorallthestrainsthatcamewithit.IblamedGodforgivingmethisdisease,I hadaskedhim"Whyme,whatdidIdotodeservethis?"Ispentalotoftimeseekingforthisanswer. AfewdaysafterbeingdiagnosedwithT1DIhadreceivedthenewsthatmygrandpahadpassed awayThiswasreallyhardformetodealwithandtounderstandwhyithappenedsosoonMy sophomoreyearofhighschoolwasreallydifficultforme.Ihadlostbothofmygrandmasthatyear. ItriedmybesttocopewiththefactthatIwouldnotgettoseethematholidaysanymore,thatthey wouldneverseemegraduatehighschool,orthatIwouldnotbeabletoheartheirwonderfuland happyvoicesanymore.ItreachedthepointthatIhadmostlygivenuponGod.Iwasnotreadyto saygoodbyetosomeofthepeoplethat
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Whatisfaithanddoesitreallywork?Peoplerelyonfaithforthingshopedfor,buthavenotyet received.Faithiscommonlyassociatedwithreligion.Faithisembracingtheunknown.Faithgives peoplehopeandcourage.Peopleencourageotherswithfaith.Peoplegetonbendingkneeandpray withfaith.Faithcanbesomeone'sfirstname.Faithgiveshelpthroughhardtimes.Faithisnot tangibleFaithisinpeople'sheartFaithishopingforabetterworldFaithistouchingsomeone's heart.Faithisapromiseforabettertomorrow.Faithisdifficulttodefine,yetpeoplerelyonfaith everyday.AccordingtoWebster'sonlinedictionaryfaithis,"completetrustandconfidencein someoneorsomething"Faithistrust,courage,andassuranceshowmorecontent Adolescentsandadultsfacedifficultchallenges.Family,sports,illness,andevendeathcanquestion ourfaithtimetotime.Faithcangiveapersoncourage."Letyourfaithbebiggerthanyourfears." Courageisafeelinginspiredbyfaith.Courageisasparkofhopeandbelieftochallengewhatto overcome."Aleapoffaith"isatermusedwhenpresentedachallenge.Toembracefaithcangive evidenceandtrustthattheyreceivedwhattheyaskedforRealfaithismorethanjustbelievingin something.Realfaithincludesactingonthatfaith.Tohavefaithinyourselfandchallengeyourself takesrealfaith.Faithcomesintoplaywhenwelosealovedone.Deathchallengesourfaithinmany ways.Faithcanbelievethelovedoneisnowinabetterplace.Onemayquestionfaithafteradeath. Asuddendeathcancauselossoffaith.Whywasheorshetaken?Whywereprayersunanswered? Whyistheworldsocruel?Whydidheorshegetsick?Faithcanbelosswhenwemayhavewished foradifferentoutcome.Faithrestoreswhenwehaveaprayeranswered.Formanypeopleitis naturaltoblamesomeonewhenquestioningfaith.Couragetohavefaithagainishardforsome
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Faithisimportantintheworldandtopicofreligion.Sincethereisnotawholelotofhardevidence withintheworldofreligionthiscausesmanytoquestiontheirfaith.Alongone'sjourneywiththeir faiththeymightrunintotimeswhentheyarequestioningtheirfaithbutitisimportanttheykeep lookingatScriptureforthathardevidence.Thebasisoffaithisinvolvedwithscripture,tradition, andpersonalexperienceThroughoutthispaperthetopicsofbasisoffaith,thesubjectiveand objectiveknowledgeoffaith,theneedofverificationoffaithwillbediscussed.
Beliefshouldhavesomesortofbasistoacertainextent.Ibelievethatastrongbasistobeliefisthat GodisthecreatorGodisthecauseforeverythingthatwehaveintheworldtodaywhetherthatis family,wildlife,nature,etc.ItisbecauseofHimwhywehaveallofthat.WithoutGodouruniverse wouldhavestartedfromnothingandsomehowendupthewayitisnowtoday.Onecouldgoonand saythatitisevaluationoritjusthappensastimepasses,butitisbecauseofGodweareheretoday. NooneelsewouldcreatetheworldthewayitisotherthantheCreatorhimself.Somemightargue andsaythatGodcreatedevilthenalsobecauseheisthecauseofeverythingweseearoundus Recentlythishasbeenacommontopicin...showmorecontent...
Theneedforproofiswerereligionandsciencetonotgetalongverywell.Scientistneedproofto provesomethingisreal.OntheotherallthebelieversneedistheirfaithandtheScripture.Outof natureandgrowinginfaithIbelievethatpeoplearecuriousandstarttoquestionhowweknowthe ScriptureisrealandifGodisevenrealPeoplecaneitherovercomethethoughtandaskquestionsin asettinglikeinasmallgrouportheycanslowlywalkawayfromtheirfaithbecausetheyletthe thoughtofneedingproofovercometheirfaithandtheyloosewhattheybelieve
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Whatisfaith?Faithissomethingdifferenttoeveryone.Ifyouaskedahundreddifferentpeople,you wouldgetmanydifferentanswers.Faithholdsanextremelycomplexmeaningwhendiscussingitin thecontextofreligion.Faithisabelief.Itholdstruetoeveryreligiousandnon–religiousperson. Everyfaithinvolvesadecision.Itisnotaboutwhatweclaimtobelieve,butwhatweactuallydo believe,thatistruefaith"TrustintheLordwithallyourheart,Andleannotonyourown understanding,InallyourwaysacknowledgeHim,AndHeshalldirectyourpaths."Proverb3:5–6 Thathastobemyfavoriteproverbfromthebible,wheneverIfeellikescreaming"WhyMe",I simplyplaythatproverbinmyheadandjusttellshowmorecontent Inatimeofneed,faithisalwaystheanswertotheproblem.God'shelpisthebestthatyoucanget, heisthealmightyandcanteachusrightfromwrong.Iwenttopublicschoolmostofmygrade schoolyearssoIdidnothavereligionclassuntil8thgrade,butIattendedReligiousEducation (CCD)everySundayat9a.m.Ihadagreatteacher,Ms.*******.Shemadelearningactuallyfun, wewouldhaveabunchofopendiscussionsandattheendofeachclasswewouldplaytrashcan ballwithfactswelearnedinclass.TheonlythingIdidnotlikeabouttheclassisIfeltlikeitwasn't wellorganized,wewerethrownallthisinformationoutoforderandallatonce.Ihadmyfirst communioninsecondgradewithmyCCDclassat************,Georgia.Iamnotyetconfirmed butIwillbegettingconfirmedthisyear.IamveryexcitedtobeofficiallyintheCatholicChurch.I wasbaptizedwhenIwasveryyoungat***********************Myfamilyisveryreligious Myfamilyconsistsofmydad,mymom,mysister,me,andofcoursemydog.Wepraytogether beforeeverymealandatnightbeforeweallgotobed.Wealsoalwaysattendmassasafamily,It wouldnotbethesamegoingtomasswithoutmyentirefamilythereItisfantastictohavea religiousfamilybecausewheneverIhaveaquestionabouttheBibleorevenmyCatholicfaithin general,Ialwayshavesomeonetogoto.Ifeelverylucky
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