Is faith real or just made up?

Is faith real or just made up?

That’s a good question for the following simple reasons. It will either stop you from trying to find an answer or encourage you to look at this question in an open and honest way. It will also help you realize that you already have a faith-based few of reality, human dignity is one example. Here then is the question you have to answer, will you follow what others tell you or follow the evidence wherever it will lead you? Honest philosophers, historians, scientists would do exactly that.

That’s a  fair question. Fair, because there are so many other faiths around. People of all kind of backgrounds and countries have their own faith. Culture, country, ethnicity, religious background influence the faith you have. We all have faith. Even an atheist has faith, she cannot prove her atheism scientifically, does she? Since we all have a certain level of faith in what we hold as true it is not strange by itself to have faith. The question then is not if faith is real but which faith explains reality in a better way. Because that’s what faith is supposed to do, help us understand reality and make sense out of it.

But why do people reject faith?

Some people reject faith because they have intellectual objections to the idea of a personal God. They may say that faith and reason are incompatible. Faith, in their thinking, is unreasonable. Others may reject faith because they had negative experiences with religion. Sometimes our own culture may discourage us to consider the question of faith in God. We are living in a scientific and technological advancing age, faith is something for the less informed and uneducated. Science will finally explain everything some people would say. There are also reasons that go deeper, reasons that are related to making a commitment to a certain faith. People may reject faith because they do not want to change their lifestyle. This is a more personal and subjective reason to reject faith, but it is certainly a real one.

Why do you reject faith?

You may reject faith because of the above-mentioned reasons. Or you may have other reasons that are holding you back.  You may simply not have enough time. Or you may not see the need for faith in God at this stage in your life. Or you may not know from where to start searching for an answer to these questions. Here are some thoughts that might help you in your faith journey.

First, find out why you reject faith in God. You could write these objections down. Be honest with yourself and try to find out how people have responded to the objections you mentioned. Here are two links that could help you find reasonable answers, every student and bethinking. Second, leave a comment and I will be happy to respond.

Notes

– There are different reasons why people reject faith. Four of them mentioned in this post are taken from a talk given by Alister McGrath. Reasons of the mind, of memory, of the culture, of the heart.

Can Science Explain Everything?

Reflections on the conversation

Some of my thoughts about this conversation, impressions I would say. Two opposing worldviews. “Can Science explain everything? Can we answer all questions using the scientific method?” This was a very interesting conversation between John Lennox and Peter Atkins.

Is faith in God reasonable?

Both speakers appreciate the scientific method. Both hold to a different worldview. John Lennox is a Christian theist and Peter Atkins believes in atheism. During the conversation, Peter Atkins mentioned a few times that to believe in God is not rational, it is immature. In fact, he went further than this. John Lennox thinks that to believe in God is rational and explained why.

The historicity of the person of Jesus questioned

Peter Atkins at some point even questioned the historicity of the person of Jesus. After John’s response, Peter admitted that he would support the historicity of Jesus at the level of about 80%. That was an interesting moment. Something that is well established historically was seriously questioned.

The origins of the universe and the best explanation

John thought that one strength of the Christian faith is its explanatory capacity and power. Peter thought that science if we would give enough time, would finally be able to explain things that we currently don’t understand very well. The debate focused at that moment on the question of the origins of the universe. Why is there something rather than nothing? There was agreement that the universe had a beginning. John thought that the scientific discoveries in the 1960s were confirming what the Bible was saying already for thousands of years.

Purpose and hope for this life and the life beyond the grave

Both speakers had opposing views about the ultimate purpose of life and life after the grave. Peter said that there is no afterlife, there is no evidence for it. He did say though that for some people faith in God and the hope for life after death may have a therapeutic purpose, it might help some people cope with difficulties.

John thought that there are good reasons to believe in God and the afterlife. He pointed to the historical evidence of the resurrection of Jesus. Peter thought that the explanation is that people were hallucinating. John responded that this was not possible, Jesus appeared many times to the disciples after his bodily resurrection. One time he even appeared at once to 500 people! We also see that people’s lives have changed because of an encounter they had with Jesus. This is enough evidence that points to the reality of God, purpose in life now, and real hope for the afterlife.

Justice for evil done

Furthermore, without the afterlife, justice will not be done for so much evil in the world. For Peter, there is no ultimate purpose. His purpose in life is to study, know and discover the beauty and glory of the universe now. This is it. There is nothing beyond this.

More was said and all can be watched at YouTube, see the link below. It was a meaningful, deep and challenging conversation. Very instructive.

Who is John Lennox and Peter Atkins?

Here some information from the website event: “John Lennox is an Emeritus Fellow of Philosophy of Science & Pure Mathematics at Green Templeton College, and Emeritus Professor of Pure Mathematics at the University of Oxford. John holds that the universe itself and the human rational capacity to study it are two of the great gifts of an intelligent Creator.

Peter Atkins is a Fellow at Lincoln College, and was a Professor of Physical Chemistry, at the University of Oxford until his retirement. Peter believes science is the only route to full understanding of the origin and workings of the universe, arguing against contamination of that understanding by the superstitions of religion.”

This event was live streamed on 31st January 2019

This event was live streamed on YouTube, here is the link

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Responding to World Religions

Upcoming seminar will be on Islam. Dr. Phil Gottschalk will lead this session. You are welcome October 9th 19:00 hour at trinity church international.

Responding to World Religions at Trinity International Church Directions click here

25 September Drake Williams Introducing the topic on World Religions.

2 October Mike Duffy on Hinduism.

9 October Phil Gottschalk on Islam.

16 October Jim Dahl on Buddhism.

30 October Solomon Dimitriadis on Secularism

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Apologetics Conference

Apologetics conference coming – May the 30th in The Hague

Area – Is faith reasonable? What about suffering and faith? Is the Bible a reliable set of books or are there more gospels around? Dr. Phil Gottschalk will give a plenary session on faith and reason at the start of the conference. There will be two workshops given right after the first session that participants can attend:

1. Workshop on suffering and faith given by Solomon Dimitriadis

2. Workshop on the lost gospels by pastor Drake Williams 

Facebook event 

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