Cause we barely know what we're talking about anymore when we use the word «faith», whether the disregard and disrespect for reason, and the embrace of a belief in spite of the contradictory evidence, or what. If the Bible's definition: «faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.», can you explain to me this definition, because it's not a working one. There's nothing anyone can do about that definition cause it's incomprehensible. It's a debate stoper actually.
And where does faith come from: (1) God? (2) the believer? (3) both?
Is there a working definition of faith that is comprehensible and we all can agree on?
Update:Faith is definitely not trust. Otherwise the distinction would be unnecessary. Definitely faith is different than trust. Now where does that difference lie?
Update 3:@Savannah: Faith isn't trust. You have a reason to trust an event or a person. And that's why you've been interacting with that even or person in the past and you can make inferences about the future.
Update 5:@Savannah: Faith is not trust. Read my other answers. They're not interchangeable. Faith implies a belief with 100 of certainty, when trust is usually and uncertain inference from past interaction. Trust involves one's actions, not one's existence. I trust my brother, it means he won't betray me, tho I know I might be wrong. Faith is probably to think your god exists with complete certainty, so without doubts. So faith in relation to something's existence, not to someone's future actions.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Faith means pretending and playing make believe. That's why the Bible says faith is it's own evidence. When you make believe, it's the pretending that fills the roll of evidence.
Gutbucket is pretty much spot on, although I'd say faith is believing in concepts that the person believing has no evidence to support. Evidence can exist, it's just not part of the reason the person believes the idea.
Faith comes from individual people, I can't see how God can be giving out faith and still allowing people to choose weather to believe in him or not.
It's not going to happen, but you are right to insist on a "heads up" about the hopeless variety.
I have a philosophy textbook which gives nine different sample usages or definitions of "faith", at least five of them mutually incompatible.
And the classic Hebrews 11:1 passage is far from an adequate explanation since it can be understood at least two different ways, depending where the stress is placed.
(that's not a personal view: I've traced both to published commentaries.)
edit: if the first two comments are correct, why on earth is it considered a virtue in many instances?
Is the content of the faith relevant or irrelevant?
Was 9/11 a faith-based initiative?
Faith is sometimes used in the sense of "trust", but there the word trust is clearer and far less ambiguous. No need to use "faith" at all there, unless the word has picked up connotation value: an ill-defined magical or mystical association.
The definition of faith is the bible is that it has evidence. Faith is not merely blind belief. Why can we have faith in the bible?These books have been proven true by multiple fulfilled prophecies with details so minute that it would be impossible to guess or predict, historically accurate, archeology has proven the accounts of the bible, secular history of many nations verifies biblical accounts, plus tons of eye witnesses. Only God could orchestrate this,
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Romans 10:17
A believer in Jesus Christ can have Faith in him because there is evidence. A believer can have Faith to follow the teachings of the Bible because it has been proven true by evidence.
Faith is the opposite of fear. Perfect Love casts out fear. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. God is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
Faith is being able to trust. In the Bible it refers to faith like a child. When a little child is born, it doesn't come out screaming, "don't drop me, don't forget to feed me" It has faith that these things will be done. That is faith. I have faith in the fact that my husband will never cheat one me, because he made a vow not to and I trust him. So, I guess it comes a little bit from both. I think as we begin to trust God, he gives us more reasons to trust him, because he is faithful.
Trust in God with all your heart
faith is the assured expectation of the things hoped for ...the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld
Faith is believing in concepts which have no evidence to support them.
Gutbuckets answer....ditto
"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." - Thomas Aquinas