THE DYNAMICS OF FAITH

HUMAN FAITH

One need not be a religious person to have faith. In fact, faith is a significant factor in every human life because we all need to believe in something in order to make life meaningful and manageable.

HUMAN FAITH

It can give a person a sense of security from the uncertainty of the future. It gives a person a sense of direction and consolation in moments of crisis. It grounds relationships and allows basic human trust to develop.

RELIGIOUS FAITH

Faith is the opening of self to that offer of fullness of life and love that comes from God/Divine being.

It is relating to someone greater (God/Divine) in a personal way.

RELIGIOUS FAITH

Faith in God provides the ethical standards for living, as one entrusts ones whole self to God in obedience to Gods will, which is for the well being of persons. It unites a person with God; it transcends all boundaries as it gathers people together into believing communities.

DIMENSION OF FAITH

Believing Faith and belief are frequently confused BUT they are not necessarily the same.
- Faith is a way of perceiving God in human experience; - Belief is a clear and precise articulation of, in a specific instance, of our much broader commitment to God; - Believing, therefore, is an aspect of

faith.

DIMENSIONS OF FAITH

Trusting
- Believing faith is always a leap in the dark. We believe even though we do not have all the evidence that would produce certainty. - At its simplest and most fundamental psychological level, to trust someone

means that we have to relinquish control, we must let go, we must stop managing things and let someone else run the ship. - Trusting is an intrinsic part of believing.

DIMENSIONS OF FAITH

Doing
- it is possible, though probably not a very common occurrence that someone may

overemphasize the trusting dimension of faith.

- overemphasis on trust would tend to make us believe that all we need to do in

life is to trust God.

- we cannot call ourselves faithing people if we do nothing about our faith. - true faith is a blending of all dimensions:

active believing, trusting and doing.

DEVELOPMENT OF FAITH
1. Natural Faith

In every human being, there is a natural (inborn) capacity to have faith;

The natural desire of man for God is seen through: The desire for God is written in the human heart because man is created by God and God never ceases to draw man to himself (CCC 27); - search for God or an ultimate being - the existence of different religious beliefs signifying mans search for God - human behavior: praying, making sacrifices, rituals, meditations etc.

WAYS OF KNOWING GOD: 2 POINT DEPARTURE

1. Through the Physical World:

- movements, order, beauty in the world

2. Experience of the human person

- openness to truth and beauty - sense of moral goodness - voice of conscience - longings for the infinite and happiness - man questions himself about Gods existence

However, this natural desire is sometimes forgotten or overlooked and for many people, it is destroyed because of : Revolt against evil in the world Religious ignorance Cares and riches in the world Scandal, bad example on the part of believers Hostile thoughts on religion.

2.

Revelatory Faith

Since there is a limit to mans natural faith, God is the one who reveals himself: Revelation ---------- Transmission 1. Loving goodness (apostles) Bible Divine revelation 2. Stages (Heb 1:1) - apostolic preaching Creation - apostolic succession Covenant Christ 3. Christ as the fullness of revelation No more revelation after Christ

3.

Supernatural Faith
This happens when the natural faith of man opens itself to Gods revelation. Supernatural faith is our response to the revelation of God.

JESUS

APOSTLES
PREACHING DEPOSIT OF FAITH SUCCESSION

SACRED SCRIPTURE
-

SACRED TRADITION -Unwritten part

Written part