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Blind Faith
Quick Look: This article challenges the common misconception that Christians possess "blind faith" while skeptics rely on logic. Using the story of Jonah as an example, the author demonstrates that both Christians and atheists begin with unprovable presuppositions—either that God exists or doesn't exist. Ultimately, the author concludes that everyone operates on some level of faith-based assumptions, and Christians can confidently stand firm in their beliefs without shame or embarrassment.
We can think of blind faith in two ways.
First, skeptics often portray blind faith as believing something foolish or illogical. To them, it is like the man who was asked if he really believed that a whale swallowed Jonah, to which he replied, "Yes, and if the Bible said Jonah swallowed the whale, I would believe it too." He becomes a depiction of the faith definitions of Christians. But is that fair?
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Let's
look at the story of Jonah more closely. First, the Bible never says
that a whale swallowed Jonah. The Biblical record states that "the Lord
had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah." [Jonah 1:17]. The
atheist/skeptic is likely to laugh and say no fish could swallow a man
whole. And based on his presuppositions,
he would probably be correct. [Although if he is honest, he should say
that no fish exists today that could do it. There is no way anyone
could know all the possible types of fish which have existed throughout
Earth's history.] The atheist begins on the unprovable assumption that
God does not exist. IF his assumption or
presupposition is correct, then his conclusion that the record of Jonah
is false is also likely to be correct.
The Christian begins with the assumption or presupposition that God exists and that there is a supernatural element to life. Looking at the record from that perspective, we find the story does make logical sense. The record states that God "prepared" a great fish. This implies that a living fish was altered for this specific purpose, or else a special fish was created for the job. Considering that God created the entire universe, there is nothing unlikely or illogical in this story.
Now, about the statement that "if the Bible said Jonah swallowed the whale..." This is indeed a foolish statement from any perspective. While the Bible states things that go beyond natural understanding or reasoning, it does not degenerate into childish or illogical statements. The Bible would never say anything like that, so it is a non-issue.
Notice, in the above example, both the atheist and the Christian based their conclusions on faith. Neither one could prove their presupposition. They both had to start with a faith assumption and then work to a conclusion. Once they accepted their presupposition by faith, they could then logically work their way to a conclusion. They reached opposite conclusions because they started with opposite presuppositions. Obviously, one presupposition is right and one is wrong.
So, if, according to this first definition, blind faith is believing something foolish or illogical, then we must conclude that Christians do not have blind faith. Both Christians AND non-Christians have to begin with faith assumptions. These assumptions or presuppositions cannot be proven by science; they are simply accepted as true. Given the Christian presupposition, all the teachings of the Bible follow logically.
How does a person test to know if they have the correct presuppositions or not? A person tests his presuppositions against known facts [Rom. 1:20]. [It is vital to test it against the fact, NOT the conclusion drawn from the fact, which is already coloured by the underlying assumption.] Do the known facts support the underlying assumption, or do they argue against it? If there seems to be a conflict, the next step is to determine if the conflict is with the conclusions drawn from the presuppositions or is it with the presuppositions themselves? The presupposition may be correct, but we have drawn the wrong conclusion from it. There will always be an element of faith because we will never have all the facts or perfect information.
Considering all of this, who really has blind faith, the Christian or the atheist? Given the Christian presupposition, there is nothing in the natural world that contradicts the assumptions made, and much to support them. As science continues to uncover the complexity of the universe and life itself, it increasingly points to a Designer. To support his presuppositions, the atheist must explain the origin of a complex universe. Most often, they turn to some variation of the hypothesis of evolution. Evolution's 'goo-to-you' ideas contradict both science and common sense, and have numerous gaps that must be filled in with faith-based assumptions. It is actually the atheist evolutionist who has blind faith. The religious fervour with which they attempt to exclude or persecute all rival ideas suggests a lack of confidence in their own faith assumptions.
Second, if we define blind faith as simply believing something that someone cannot prove or could never be proven or disproven, then every human being operates on blind faith. All our lives are based on assumptions that are constantly being confirmed or disproved.
Christians can stand firm in the faith. They have nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about.
Blind Faith
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: How Should Christians Respond When Scientific Discoveries Seem To Challenge Biblical Narratives?
Question: How Should Christians Respond When Scientific Discoveries Seem To Challenge Biblical Narratives?
Answer: We begin from the foundation that the Bible, as originally given, is infallible. However, our understanding of what Scriptures mean may need to be adjusted. On the other hand, sometimes scientific discoveries are misapplied. These theories may contradict Scripture, but when the facts are clearly understood, there will be no contradiction. God, the Creator, knows exactly what He is doing.
Question: What Role Does Faith Play In Understanding Supernatural Events Described In The Bible?
Question: What Role Does Faith Play In Understanding Supernatural Events Described In The Bible?
Answer: Science is the study of the physical world and involves repeated observation, testing and adaptation. The supernatural realm is not opposed to science, but rather outside its scope of study. It is by faith in God's revelation that we understand the supernatural realm as much as we are able.
Question: How Can Believers Effectively Test Their Presuppositions Against Known Facts Without Compromising Their Faith?
Question: How Can Believers Effectively Test Their Presuppositions Against Known Facts Without Compromising Their Faith?
Answer: Both believers and non-believers have the same facts available to them and look at them through their individual presuppositions. That is why two people can look at the same fact and come to different conclusions. To test a presupposition, one must honestly assess how well it aligns with the facts. For example, dinosaur blood cells have been found. That is a fact. It is also a fact that blood cells cannot last millions of years. For the young-earth creationist, this fact poses no problem, as it aligns with their hypothesis of an Earth that is less than 10,000 years old. Old-age Christians and evolutionists must figure out how blood cells could be preserved for millions of years. Which presuppositions best fit the facts?
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