Evolution - A Philosophical Belief

originally posted by: peter vlar
a reply to: Out6of9Balance

You can’t just redefine words to make them mean what you want. Nice try.

I sure can.

originally posted by: peter vlar
Keep up the good work.

a reply to: Out6of9Balance

I am very aware of faiths meaning neighbour. Faith is not predicated by facts.

a reply to: Noinden

Only when you don't count life experiences for facts.

originally posted by: Out6of9Balance

Faith is the evidence of things unseen.

originally posted by: Xtrozero
That statement has basically zero logic... Faith requires zero evidence and those that have the desire to look for evidence lack faith. If you need proof of God you lack faith period.

a reply to: Xtrozero

That's because Out6of9Balance is making a bit of a mess of it. Your statements about "faith" are more compatible with the word "credulity" though. That is not how the concept of faith is explained in the Bible (and thus what it should mean to anyone claiming to be a Christian, i.e. follower of Christ).

Faith: Reasoning From the Scriptures [between brackets is mine, it's a synonym meant as a reminder]

Definition: “Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.” (Heb. 11:1) True faith is not credulity, that is, a readiness to believe something without sound evidence or just because a person wants it to be so. Genuine faith requires basic or fundamental knowledge, acquaintance with evidence, as well as heartfelt appreciation of what that evidence indicates. Thus, although it is impossible to have real faith without accurate knowledge[/science], the Bible says that it is “with the heart” that one exercises faith.—Rom. 10:10.
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Faith—What Does the Bible Say?

Some people claim to be religious, but they struggle to understand the meaning of “faith.” What is faith, and why is it important?
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WHAT SOME PEOPLE SAY

Many people think that a person who has faith simply accepts a belief without having any real evidence. For example, consider a religious person who says, “I believe in God.” If that person is asked, “Why do you believe?” he might reply, “That’s the way I was raised” or, “That’s what I’ve always been taught.” In such cases, there might seem to be little difference between having faith and being gullible. [whereislogic: actually, that sort of acknowledgement may be a bit rare even when it is the reality of the situation, the primary cause for a person to say “I believe in God.”]

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

“Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) For a person’s expectation to be assured, he or she needs to have sound reasons for that assurance. In fact, the original-language word for the phrase “assured expectation” means more than an inner feeling or mere wishful thinking. So faith involves conviction that is based on evidence.

“His [God’s] invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship.”​—Romans 1:20.
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What Is Faith?

HOW would you define faith? Some equate it with blind belief. Influential American essayist and journalist H. L. Mencken once called faith “an illogical belief in the occurrence of the improbable.”

The Bible, in contrast, describes faith as being neither blind nor illogical. God’s Word says: “Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.”​—Hebrews 11:1.

Given the different opinions about faith, let us consider the answers to the following questions:

• How is the Bible’s definition different from what many refer to when they talk about faith?
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A Title Deed and Solid Evidence

At the time of the writing of the Bible book of Hebrews, the Greek term translated “assured expectation” was commonly used. It often appeared in business documents and carried the idea of a guarantee of future possession of something. Therefore, one reference work suggests that Hebrews 11:1 could be translated: “Faith is the title-deed of things hoped for.”

If you have ever bought an item from a reputable company and then waited for it to be delivered, you have exercised that type of faith. The sales receipt in your hand gave you reason for faith in the company from which you bought the item. In a sense, that receipt was your title deed, your guarantee that you would receive what you purchased. If you had lost the receipt or had thrown it away, you would have lost the proof of your claim of ownership. Similarly, those who have faith that God will fulfill his promises are guaranteed to receive what they hope for. On the other hand, those who do not have faith, or who lose it, are not entitled to receive the things God promises.​—James 1:5-8.

The second expression at Hebrews 11:1, translated “evident demonstration,” carries the idea of producing evidence that contradicts that which only appears to be factual. For instance, the sun appears to revolve around the earth​—rising in the east, moving through the sky, and setting in the west. However, evidence from astronomy and mathematics reveals that the earth is not the center of the solar system. Once you become familiar with that evidence and accept it as true, you have faith that the earth revolves around the sun​—despite what your eyes tell you. Your faith is not blind. On the contrary, it gives you the ability to see things as they really are, not merely as they seem to be.

How Important Is Strong Faith?

This is the type of faith that the Bible encourages​—strong faith built on solid evidence, even if it requires that we adjust our beliefs. Such faith is vital. The apostle Paul wrote: “Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him.”​—Hebrews 11:6, New Century Version.
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Faith itself is not the evidence as Out6of9Balance put it (sounds a bit circular actually). The evidence for God's existence and attributes as well as Creation as opposed to Evolution as the explanation for the origin of various things such as life or different kinds of life on earth ("origin of species" as Darwin put it), are referred to at Romans 1:20 quoted earlier. Here's a more detailed look at the evidence:

Molecular Machinery of Life (“...are perceived by the things made”, Romans 1:20)

a reply to: Out6of9Balance

If I may

GOD

(in Christianity and other monotheistic religions) the creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being. 2. (in certain other religions) a superhuman being or spirit worshiped as having power over nature or human fortunes; a deity. "a moon god" synonyms: deity, goddess, divine being, celestial being, supreme being, divinity, immortal; More exclamation

This is why you have a hard time defending your absolutely legitimate view IMO.
The conflict begins where Gods supreme power over nature begins. Most scientists
and atheists alike mock the very definition of God simply because they can by God
given free will. God allows this because they are allowed a lack of faith.

Most have based their lifestyles on an absolutely unscientific finding that a
supreme being can not exist. This is a false hope not based in science at all.
Real science would be searching for God not trying to destroy him. They only
use science to defend their own preferences. They hurl insults and label very
serious teachings as myth. Nothing of it any where close to science.

The reality of the odds alone are far more in favor of intelligence rather than
random chance to infinity x the sixth power. In other words you're wasting time
defending what you know is the truth. The truth they have willingly rejected to
believe a preferred lie. Stop giving your pearls to anyone who says God does not
exist. Because they're truly blowing smoke up their own ass.

a reply to: whereislogic

Thanks, good read...