What is the primary reason you have faith? Which one option (if any) is the strongest motivation?
a) fear of hell or other punishments for not believing
b) stop self-destructive behavior/bad habits
c) taught by parent(s) or other mentors
d) historical evidence/research
e) to join a social network (local church or religious community)
f) read religious text(s)
Originally posted by BigDoggProblem For the theists...
What is the primary reason you have faith? Which [b]one option (if any) is the strongest motivation?
a) fear of hell or other punishments for not believing
b) stop self-destructive behavior/bad habits
c) taught by parent(s) or other mentors
d) historical evidence/research
e) to join a social network (local church or religious community)
f) read religious text(s)[/b]
You forgot the most important reason:
Because my faith proclaims the Truth about God and his Creation.
Originally posted by BigDoggProblem For the theists...
What is the primary reason you have faith? Which [b]one option (if any) is the strongest motivation?
a) fear of hell or other punishments for not believing
b) stop self-destructive behavior/bad habits
c) taught by parent(s) or other mentors
d) historical evidence/research
e) to join a social network (local church or religious community)
f) read religious text(s)[/b]
How about none of the above. I choose to be his servant because he is my creator.
Originally posted by Rolfey pretty certain that was your parents...
I will not deny that one of my parents was a Christian. I suppose you are implying that my parents have programmed me. Having said that, what is Biblical faith? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. This is simply how we are wired. Have you ever heard the expression if you tell a lie long enough you will start to believe it. I am not implyiing that the Bible is a lie. What I am saying is that we must choose what we feed our mind. Typically, what we feed our mind we will begin to believe. What does it matter what venue it comes by? Granted, if you have a parent who is a christian it stands to reason that the odds of you developing faith increase because you will be exposed to someone elses faith. Unbelief works the same way. Unbelief is faith in reverse. The more times you tell yourself you can't do something the more you believe it yourself. If you grow up with parents who tell you that you are no good the chances of you growing up believing this increases. Also, if your parents were not christian the chances of you not growing up in the faith increase as well. You must get the message from some one.
Removed
Joined
15 Sep '04
Moves
7051
18 Jan '06 03:25
Originally posted by BigDoggProblem For the theists...
What is the primary reason you have faith? Which [b]one option (if any) is the strongest motivation?
a) fear of hell or other punishments for not believing
b) stop self-destructive behavior/bad habits
c) taught by parent(s) or other mentors
d) historical evidence/research
e) to join a social network (local church or religious community)
f) read religious text(s)[/b]
You left out brainwashing
Removed
Joined
15 Sep '04
Moves
7051
18 Jan '06 03:28
Originally posted by whodey I will not deny that one of my parents was a Christian. I suppose you are implying that my parents have programmed me. Having said that, what is Biblical faith? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. This is simply how we are wired. Have you ever heard the expression if you tell a lie long enough you will start to believe it. I am not im ...[text shortened]... s of you not growing up in the faith increase as well. You must get the message from some one.
If your parents ingrain this faith into and anothers don't. Will this other kid go to hell purely as the result of him being born to the wrong parents? What about those who don't receive "the word" at all. Will God reject them?
If not, then it might be best to pretend to be ignorant and avoid accepting faith
Originally posted by BigDoggProblem For the theists...
What is the primary reason you have faith? Which [b]one option (if any) is the strongest motivation?
a) fear of hell or other punishments for not believing
b) stop self-destructive behavior/bad habits
c) taught by parent(s) or other mentors
d) historical evidence/research
e) to join a social network (local church or religious community)
f) read religious text(s)[/b]
There are many reasons why people decide to pursue God, the ones that you listed are just a few. The evidence that God gives them is what builds a persons faith, and turns religion into a way of life.
Hebrews 11:1-2 NOW FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Originally posted by Conrau K If your parents ingrain this faith into and anothers don't. Will this other kid go to hell purely as the result of him being born to the wrong parents? What about those who don't receive "the word" at all. Will God reject them?
If not, then it might be best to pretend to be ignorant and avoid accepting faith
I will answer your question with another question. If the parents routinely used drugs in the household and were abusive to the child, does this mean the child will use drugs when he leaves the household and is more likely to end up in jail or even dead later on in his or her adult life? In a word, yes it is more likely. Does it mean this will happen 100% of the time? No. It merely means that what you expose yourself to the most is what you tend to become. Don't you agree?
It does not matter who you are or what kind of a background you come from. It says in the Bible that God searches the earth and looks at the hearts of men. It also says that he only responds to faith. Take Abraham for example. His father worshiped idols. He also made them and sold them for a living. Abraham knew that the idols were powerless and as a result rejected them. His father, however, probably knew as well in his heart but did not care to change his ways. After all he was making a good living at what he was doing. Abraham was more concerned with finding the truth than he was about making money and inhancing his own wealth. God saw this and responded to it. Only God can judge man. I cannot. I can only tell you what I know about him.
Originally posted by BigDoggProblem For the theists...
What is the primary reason you have faith? Which [b]one option (if any) is the strongest motivation?
a) fear of hell or other punishments for not believing
b) stop self-destructive behavior/bad habits
c) taught by parent(s) or other mentors
d) historical evidence/research
e) to join a social network (local church or religious community)
f) read religious text(s)[/b]
g) I love God because he first loved me.
However, f) is the first step to saving faith - it comes by hearing the Word of God (spoken or read it matters not).
Survey: Motivation of faith
17 Jan '06 23:27
Back to Top