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Childlike Faith....opinions please!!!!!
| Philosophy 101 |
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Childlike Faith....opinions please!!!!! |
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timothysangel1973
since 2001-12-03
Posts 1725Never close enough 
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If anyone cares to know what this means to me.....email me please. Really, I am interested in what it means to others!! |
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| © Copyright 2001 Tima Chavis Cooke - All Rights Reserved | |||
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banburycross Senior Member
since 2001-03-27
Posts 946viginia |
when i hear that term i usually think of someone what has a faith that has not been developped by questioning things and coming to individual conclusions. much the same way a child takes what is told to them at face value and doesn't question the validity of it. i also think that childlike faith tends to develop into a more mature faith as the person begins to experience different things in life and begins to question some of the things that they have accepted. Sometimes, the things that go unsaid are the only things worth hearing. |
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Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
Or, to contrast with the above, childlike faith can be found in reverse by having questions and seeking answers. I'd really like to meet a child who doesn't ask 'Why?'. Now, this may just be me putting things into catagories (bad habit of mine), but I see different levels. Blind faith, which accepts without questions. Childlike faith, which accepts with questions. Mature faith, which accepts the answers to the questions. This is not to say that maturity negates childlike qualities. Though my dad accepts and knows me as an adult, so long as he has memory, he will also see the child within me, since I am his son. The same applies with my Father. |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
I think it depends on who said it (or more precisely the situation in which it was said). Childlike faith can mean the pure, natural innocence of the child -- a child in many cultures and even residually in our own is regarded as somehow closer to the Divine than we -- adults -- are. On the other hand, it can mean a naive ignorance to the 'real' world. Another way of saying you see the world through rose colored glasses. I like Ali's quick definitions here but I'm stuck trying to define myself. By Ali's account, I certainly put myself in the childlike faith category but I want to go further -- what type do you give someone who wants to question the question?  What if we're just asking the wrong questions? Brad |
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Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
Easy Brad....True Wonderer. |
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Local Rebel Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767Southern Abstentia |
Hmmm... a child is regarded closer to the divine.... sounds like a reincarnation of the Gnosticism discussion... |
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UniqueFreak Member
since 2004-01-09
Posts 62Scotland |
i agree with what was said about childlike faith being related to the innocent etc... but what came to my mind first when i read 'childlike' was a 'naive' faith. Naivety has to be somehow related to innocence in a round about way, dont you think? im finding it difficult to put into words what im tryin to say...so i think i'll come back later! Stephi |
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berengar Member
since 2004-01-02
Posts 86 |
Not sure what you mean Brad by wandering if we're asking the wrong question, but timothysangel you got me thinking about the passage; "People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have them touch him. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'" Luke 18:15-17 (NIV version) Now, there have been lots of historical misunderstandings of this passage, the most cardinal error being that we should suspend critical thinking in matters of faith. Another, less obvious error, is to assume that children are necessarily innocent or good. Nowhere are these misconceptions stated or implied in the passage. What the children were receiving was a blessing, with no 'give and take' or reservations or questions of 'worthiness'. That's all. It is the gift of grace freely given and accepted that is the basis of entry to the kingdom of God, at least as far as I can make out. And how do we receive it? Well, like children at Christmas I suppose. When I was a child I never wondered if I deserved the presents given - I wasn't even particularly clear where they came from. They were just there, and affirmed me and made me happy. Of course, what I did with the presents (and wrapping paper) is another story, and THAT demands adult judgement in every sense. |
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Opeth Senior Member
since 2001-12-13
Posts 1543The Ravines |
Interesting observation, Berengar. I used to look at this way... Traditional doctrines of Christianity are taught and as adults the masses except what they read without a truly opened-mind, unlike the minds children possess. And that Christ was saying the truth is understood by those who truly pursue the "Word" with an open-mind, like children. Scribes and Pharisess and those whom followed in Christ's time = The mainstream christian leaders with their doctrines and followers of our times... it makes perfect sense to me. |
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berengar Member
since 2004-01-02
Posts 86 |
Opeth That's an interesting angle. Are you able to clarify what it is you mean by an open mind? It seems to imply having no prior preconceptions (and is a plus in that respect), but how do we achieve that? What impact, in your opinion, does having this childlike faith have vis a vis people's relations with the 'scribes and pharisees'? |
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Opeth Senior Member
since 2001-12-13
Posts 1543The Ravines |
"Are you able to clarify what it is you mean by an open mind?" ~ The ability to put everything you have been told to be what is true (in this case, religious truth) aside in your mind and become completely open and receptive to other points of view without fearing that by changing your mind, if it came to that, the rejection, ostracism, loss of friends, loss of life and its convienence as you knew it, that would most certainly come to follow. I know. It happened to me. "It seems to imply having no prior preconceptions (and is a plus in that respect), but how do we achieve that?" ~ Good question. I can't speak for others. Maybe when God is truly calling, He provides that means or maybe it is achieved through the power of one's brain. "What impact, in your opinion, does having this childlike faith have vis a vis people's relations with the 'scribes and pharisees'?" ~ I would say an ability to spot the wolf in the shepard's clothing, which the majority of the other sheep cannot spot. "You sleep in the night yet the night and the silent water still so dark." |
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A Romantic Heart Member Ascendant
since 1999-09-03
Posts 5496Forever In Your Heart |
A Child believes and trusts with his heart, without logic or sight, having faith of that which is unseen, a childs mind and heart is innocent and pure, free of being tainted from the worlds philosophies, free of having a heart that is hardend by lifes' experiances, a child depends on his father, not depending on self. A child can love and give love more freely, without reserve,innocent and pure without forethought, a child respects and obeys his father. A childlike faith is free of hinderance, free to believe, free to love, easy to be taught,a childs mind desires and seeks answers from his father,faith that believes and trusts, faith that grows and matures.A faith that is innocent and pure....pure of heart and mind. |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
People say "childlike faith" so you you will probably give them the benefit of the doubt that they mean "innocent and sweet" when they probably mean " immature and gullible!" |
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