What should motivate us to make a leap of faith?

[Fluffy]

If we have never had a religious experience or a relationship with God, what should motivate us to make a leap of faith?

And a side note: If we have a religious experience then is it really a leap of faith?

 

[Popeyesays]

If we have never had a religious experience or a relationship with God, what should motivate us to make a leap of faith?

And a side note: If we have a religious experience then is it really a leap of faith?

Generally speaking a leap of faith can only be motivated internally. It can't be from an outside source.

Religious experiences are deeply internal as well.

So which comes first? I don't know if it can even be determined all the time.

Regards,

Scott

 

[Azakel]

If we have never had a religious experience or a relationship with God, what should motivate us to make a leap of faith?

You got me, to tell the truth I do not know how to answer that.

And a side note: If we have a religious experience then is it really a leap of faith?

Maybe Same has above I don't really know. Maybe if it a leap in faith to a different God then the one you believe in to begin with ^_^

 

[Somkid]

I would suggest that most religions are based on faith rather than empirical evidence or logic.

 

[Popeyesays]

I would suggest that most religions are based on faith rather than empirical evidence or logic.

Well there is no empirical evidence of God.

My faith is quite logical in an internal sense.

Regards,

Scott

 

[Somkid]

Well there is no empirical evidence of God.

My faith is quite logical in an internal sense.

Regards,

Scott

Yep, that's what I'm talking about.

 

[Popeyesays]

I would suggest that most religions are based on faith rather than empirical evidence or logic.

Main Entry: em·pir·ic Pronunciation: \im-ˈpir-ik, em-\ Function: noun Etymology: Latin empiricus, from Greek empeirikos doctor relying on experience alone, from empeiria experience, from em- 2en- + peiran to attempt — more at fear Date: 1562



Relying on experience alone my internal logic is empirical.

Regards,

Scott

 

[Katzpur]

If we have never had a religious experience or a relationship with God, what should motivate us to make a leap of faith?

Perhaps a desire for such a relationship.

And a side note: If we have a religious experience then is it really a leap of faith?

Good question. From the LDS perspective, faith precedes the miracle, not the other way around.

 

[cardero]

If we have never had a religious experience or a relationship with God, what should motivate us to make a leap of faith?

GOD is not a motivator for making people perform leaps of faith. It is why He instigated gravity.

 

[cardero]

GOD is not a motivator for making people perform leaps of faith. It is why He instigated gravity......

...and the "house call".

 

[Somkid]

Main Entry: em·pir·ic Pronunciation: \im-ˈpir-ik, em-\ Function: noun Etymology: Latin empiricus, from Greek empeirikos doctor relying on experience alone, from empeiria experience, from em- 2en- + peiran to attempt — more at fear Date: 1562



Relying on experience alone my internal logic is empirical.

Regards,

Scott

"Empirical" as an adjective or adverb is used in conjunction with both the natural and social sciences, and refers to the use of working hypothesus that are testable using obeservation or experiment. In this sense of the word, scientific statements are subject to and derived from our experiences or observations.

So, relying on experience alone in your internal logic is not necessarily empirical if it were it would be for all people even the ones who are heavily medicated.

What you have is faith and belief and that is what most religious texts say so in fact if someone was to quote a religious text in this case it would be correct.

 

[blackout]

If we have never had a religious experience or a relationship with God, what should motivate us to make a leap of faith?

And a side note: If we have a religious experience then is it really a leap of faith?

Since God for me is Life itself,
the Sentient Living Universe
all in and around me
I guess my answer carries a different slant.

It wasn't until I finally took the leap of faith into myself,
when I finally let go of everything I had ever been told,
everything I thought I had ever known,
and lept into the "free fall",
that the "Sentience" of my Life Reality
opened itself up to me.
My "Reality" and I have a sentient relationship now
I would say only because of the heightened awareness
that opened up to me there.
Did I open it up?
Or was I finally simply open to it.

As every single thing I do is done within God
(as God is the Living Universe Itself),
and every single thing I do, see, percieve,
choose to believe, hold to, let go of, create, re-create,
order, re-order, a-spire to, and find meaning in
I DO IN FAITH... I CARRY OUT WITH FAITH...
I would say that I actually do EVERYTHING
with faith, IN God.

My VERY Life is empirical evidence of God for me,
as God IS my very life.
Make sense?

 

[Popeyesays]

Since God for me is Life itself,
the Sentient Living Universe
all in and around me
I guess my answer carries a different slant.

It wasn't until I finally took the leap of faith into myself,
when I finally let go of everything I had ever been told,
everything I thought I had ever known,
and lept into the "free fall",
that the "Sentience" of my Life Reality
opened itself up to me.
My "Reality" and I have a sentient relationship now
I would say only because of the heightened awareness
that opened up to me there.
Did I open it up?
Or was I finally simply open to it.

As every single thing I do is done within God
(as God is the Living Universe Itself),
and every single thing I do, see, percieve,
choose to believe, hold to, let go of, create, re-create,
order, re-order, a-spire to, and find meaning in
I DO IN FAITH... I CARRY OUT WITH FAITH...
I would say that I actually do EVERYTHING
with faith, IN God.

My VERY Life is empirical evidence of God for me,
as God IS my very life.
Make sense?

Yeah, I can find little quibbles here and there, but I truly agree.

"
THE essence of these words is this: they that tread the path of faith, they that thirst for the wine of certitude, must cleanse themselves of all that is earthly--their ears from idle talk, their minds from vain imaginings, their hearts from worldly affections, their eyes from that which perisheth. They should put their trust in God, and, holding fast unto Him, follow in His way. Then will they be made worthy of the effulgent glories of the sun of divine knowledge and understanding, and become the recipients of a grace that is infinite and unseen, inasmuch as man can never hope to attain unto the knowledge of the All-Glorious, can never quaff from the stream of divine knowledge and wisdom, can never enter the abode of immortality, nor partake of the cup of divine nearness and favour, unless and until he ceases to regard the words and deeds of mortal men as a standard for the true understanding and recognition of God and His Prophets. "

first page of The Book of Certitude, Baha`u'llah

Regards,
Scott

 

[roli]

If we have never had a religious experience or a relationship with God, what should motivate us to make a leap of faith?

And a side note: If we have a religious experience then is it really a leap of faith?

Many things I guess could trigger such an experience, hopelessness, sickness, danger etc.
but I think what will have more of a lasting effect would be an inner conviction of sin and our awareness of our inherent evil nature before a Holy God.

But that's a rock that many in today's carnally infested society vow not to lift.

 

[Popeyesays]

Suew, I've done things wrong most every day.

Is my nature evil?
Nonsense.

If you wish to wade in self=pity and guilt, have at it.

Regards,
Scott

 

[roli]

Suew, I've done things wrong most every day.

Is my nature evil?
Nonsense.

If you wish to wade in self=pity and guilt, have at it.

Regards,
Scott

Depends on what you call evil and what God considers evil, the bible says, men By the waywill profess their own goodness.
It all comes back to and is based on what the ulitmate standard is, and I don't think we'll find that in any men this side of heaven
I don't make those claims ,just quote them from the scriptures and see them day in and day out.
A man is an excellent person,according to human standards of course, today and 80% of the time, hypothetically speaking, ususally more so in front of others ,but what goes on behind closed doors, well that is another story.
Were talking thoughts,attitudes, behaviors, there is inherent evil in all of us, if we just scratch the surface
I guess only God see's the heart, we all can look good on the outside, all the time or anytime ,if need be.

I don't wade in any such pity or guilt, it once was, that is before turning to God ,which was the means I sought God in the first place.When it brought me to him, it's his love ,mercy and forgiveness I expereince now because of the new nature I received. He's not brooding over his children with wrath and vengence, that is those who have received the gift of his son.

 

[Popeyesays]

Depends on what you call evil and what God considers evil, the bible says, men By the waywill profess their own goodness.
It all comes back to and is based on what the ulitmate standard is, and I don't think we'll find that in any men this side of heaven
I don't make those claims ,just quote them from the scriptures and see them day in and day out.
A man is an excellent person,according to human standards of course, today and 80% of the time, hypothetically speaking, ususally more so in front of others ,but what goes on behind closed doors, well that is another story.
Were talking thoughts,attitudes, behaviors, there is inherent evil in all of us, if we just scratch the surface
I guess only God see's the heart, we all can look good on the outside, all the time or anytime ,if need be.

I don't wade in any such pity or guilt, it once was, that is before turning to God ,which was the means I sought God in the first place.When it brought me to him, it's his love ,mercy and forgiveness I expereince now because of the new nature I received. He's not brooding over his children with wrath and vengence, that is those who have received the gift of his son.

Sorry, with no belief in heaven or hell as places of reward or punishment, or belief that judgment is meant to damn individuals through belief, your argument is not effective.

God is ultimate justice; but he is also ultimate grace and mercy.

Can you or I commit evil acts? yes, we can. Do we face responsibility for tho0se acts/ Sure, we do. Can you define what the consequences are going to be? No, you cannot.

Regards,
Scott

Regards,
Scott

 

[Rolling_Stone]

If we have never had a religious experience or a relationship with God, what should motivate us to make a leap of faith?

The fact thqt you ask shows me you really aren't interested since it was answered centuries ago.

 

[rojse]

Don't we have a lot of accounts on here of people having a profound experience on here, and becoming religious?

The leap of faith for these people only comes after an experience that allows them to place trust in a deity, so the leap of faith is hardly a leap at all.

 

[rojse]

The fact thqt you ask shows me you really aren't interested since it was answered centuries ago.

Firstly, many people might not be aware that such a question has been answered (self included), so the question is relevant in that we now know there is an answer.

Would you please post some information about this answer if you are able?

However, if we do know about the answer to the question, we are not able to question the person that wrote it, since they are unable to defend their ideas.

And since it was answered centuries ago, I am sure that there are refutations and counter-questions that the author was unable to answer at the time.