It's always a big part of the discussion at this time of year. The real "reason for the season". Now that we have social media at our finger tips the back and forth can get quite intense. (I have to think that, in a country where Christmas decorations go up the day after Halloween, the real "reason for the season" sort of gets lost in the shuffle. Posts keep reminding me how many days left until Christmas....posts from stores offer holiday discount coupons. It's sort of like "shop.....shop....shop" and then "oh yes, we better go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for an hour.")
As I was drifting off to sleep last night I began to ponder the difference between faith and truth. Is there a difference? Does one person's faith represent the only truth? If your faith is different than mine does that mean my truth is wrong.....or is yours leading you straight to "hell"?
So this morning I checked the definition of "faith" according to Merriam Webster. That source lists several definitions, among them: "belief and trust in and loyalty to God.....firm belief in something for which there is no proof."
Another web source defines "faith" as: complete trust or confidence in someone or something.....and a strong belief in God or doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.
So the way I read these definitions, faith and truth may be associated, but faith has no proof. People believe what they believe for many reasons and see their faith as their truth. But I think we need to see that there is more than one "truth" and what is true for one person may not be true for another. It doesn't mean that either person is "wrong"....they just follow a different set of beliefs. They follow a faith journey that helps them to navigate their path in life. They follow a path that gives them hope and answers the un-answerable....for them.
This has been a difficult discussion this year....perhaps more difficult than in previous years. As our world "shrinks" and gets more complicated truths and beliefs and faiths are bumping up against one another. People of faith are being tested as never before.
Interesting how, if you do a little reading and research, you find the basic tenets of many faiths echo one another....but people of faith won't recognize that....or they refuse to believe it.
Faith isn't truth.....and my truth is, we need to look for bridges instead of constructing walls.
Thank you, Linn. You've said it well. The difficult part comes when conflicting beliefs lead to conflicting actions that condemn those who believe differently - or even harm them. Most religions subscribe to some form of the golden rule. There are many followers, of all religions, who seem to miss this somehow. I, like you, am very weary of all the hate that's in the air. I find myself treasuring the kind and thoughtful acts and comments.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linn. You've said it well. The difficult part comes when conflicting beliefs lead to conflicting actions that condemn those who believe differently - or even harm them. Most religions subscribe to some form of the golden rule. There are many followers, of all religions, who seem to miss this somehow. I, like you, am very weary of all the hate that's in the air. I find myself treasuring the kind and thoughtful acts and comments.
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