==Religious Faith==

In religious contexts, “faith” has several different meanings. Sometimes, it means loyalty to one’s [[religion]]. It is in the latter sense in which one can speak of, for example, “the [[Catholicism|Catholic faith]]” or “the [[Islam|Islamic faith]].” For [[creed]]al religions, faith also means that one accepts the [[religious tenet]]s of the religion as true. For non-creedal religions, faith often means that one is loyal to a particular religious community. In general, faith means being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see with your physical (as opposed to spiritual) eyes.

In Romans 8:24-28 of the King James version of the Christian Bible, an intreguing, and perhaps controversial contradiction to the general interpretation that “faith means being sure of what you hope for….” is found.

24-For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25-But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

26=Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27-And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28-And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The biblical text is replete with implications for faith as well as hope. Yet, not even a conceptual grasp of God is admitted. The hopeful are enjoined to wait patiently, to experience the presence of God, only as groanings which can not be uttered.

Perhaps depicted is the transcendence of hope into faith, where the object of faith is not what is seen with spiritual eyes, but is more, as in the reference to “he that searcheth the hearts knoweth” that which is realized as the transformation of human intent.

Underlying reference to the mind of the spirit is arguably that higher purpose of the saints, a purpose which transcends the salvation of the self.

Here then is relief of our human infirmities: a hope for the salvation of mankind, achievable only by those who discover their purpose, here presented ultimately, not as faith in, but love of God – that God which is revealed as each according to his purpose, work together for good.

Faith – in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia