- chosen, met each other.
Group Session A: Religion & Faith From a Secular Viewpoint
There are many ways of looking are religion and faith, here is one.
Religion: can be defined as the pivotal value that all parts of one’s life revolves around. Such as money, hockey, Christ, or button collecting. It is the organize principle, like the central panel of a rose window.
1. the Act of the Faith
2. the Object of Faith
The object of faith is the person's pivotal value. It is central to the person's life. It comes from 'data'.
The act of faith is the trust someone places in their object of faith.
Someone is 'authentic' if both their act of faith and the object to which they are faithful is real - if it is true
When studying religions one cannot compare 'acts of faith' because it is subjective - everyone can have strong beliefs that they sincerely follow. I can firmly believe collecting buttons will bring me to heaven.
Therefore, when looking at religion, one must compare the objects of faith. This is objective data that can be analysed to determine how strong the object of faith is and if the object of faith reasonable to believe?
However, it is important to use the correct tools to study the data of faith. Science is based upon measuring, weighing, and calculating data in repeatable experiments. How can science which operates on finite principles ever prove the infinite God?
One must use appropriate tools in any field. It would seem silly to attempt a debate in English by throwing away the dictionary and drawing pictures. However, today's atheists usually throw out the tools that are used to study the object of faith, theology (the study of God), rather than use them to show that God does not exist.
Group Session B: Faith As an Act of Trust
- coming soon....
Small Groups:
Q: Can one 'loose' their faith?
Q: What are common reasons people stop 'believing'?
A: pg 30-31 Faith Booklet
