May the Force be with you?

[Anthony]

Is Faith a Force?
Does Faith have a positive force and a negative force? Does Faith have two sides of a coin?

 

[BudJohnson]

Originally posted by Anthony
Is Faith a Force?
Does Faith have a positive force and a negative force? Does Faith have two sides of a coin?

This is an interesting question - or perhaps I just think so because I'm a Star Wars fan. I'm not sure yet which it is.

I don't think there is such a thing as a "dark faith" which would of course be opposed to a "light faith." There's just faith. As far as Scripture goes, the question is "how much faith do you have?" Also, it seems that the "two sides" are faith and no faith.

- Bud

 

 

[Anthony]

There are some, i.e. (WOF teaches) that faith is a power source which we can be tapped into for our needs, by calling on God. By our thoughts and actions we either call on positive faith, and a positive event results, or because of our faith or lack there of at any given point in time, we can get negative outcomes.

 

[Jedi]

I've often times pictured it as the good side being "faith," and the dark side being "doubt." In all my years of discussing apologetics, I have felt both of these "forces" if you will. They concern the same matter, and are the exact opposite of each other. When I experience a surpluss of faith, I "feel" good (as in content, joyful, at peace, etc). However, when I have felt doubt, it is like sensing a very disturbing presence. It's as if you want to run away from this darkness. Where to, it doesn't matter, but you just want to run. The disturbance is very unsettling, and I can only describe it as the exact opposite of faith (and perplexing enough, this terrible sense of dread/doubt has nothing to do with the power of reason, but seems to be a force all of its own).

I do know that when Star Wars was created, it was created with Christian themes (good, evil, temptation to go to the dark side, etc). Perhaps this feeling is something that was factored into the making of Star Wars.

 

[OldShepherd]

Originally posted by Anthony
Is Faith a Force?
Does Faith have a positive force and a negative force? Does Faith have two sides of a coin?

If this were true then there would be an extensive history of this in the church. I say that the practice of some modern groups, "name it and claim it,." is not scriptural. There is no history of such practices in the early church. Instead of the church being blessed with untold prosperity, it was hounded, tortured, killed, buildings and scriptures burned, etc.

Click Early Church Fathers to read their writings. No WOF or "name it and claim it" there.

 

[Ben johnson]

I do know that when Star Wars was created, it was created with Christian themes (good, evil, temptation to go to the dark side, etc).

Star Wars was indeed based on "good/evil, the eternal struggle between the forces of light and the forces of dark"---but I would hardly call it "Christian". The FORCE of the movie, is far more parallel to "NEW AGE"---a religion opposed to Christianity. In "NEW AGE", the belief is that "God is all and all is God---therefore part of that tree over there, is DIVINE; and similarly, part of YOU is divine---LOOK TO THE GOD WITHIN YOURSELF. The "Force" is the sum of all life-energy; it is neither conscious nor sentient (cannot think or act independently). It can be used either for GOOD or for bad.

So often there is a focus on POWER and EFFECTS---I think the "FAITH-MOVEMENT", is largely about "FAITH---how to USE IT". When, really, the power of FAITH, is only effected by THAT IN WHICH THE FAITH IS BASED. In other words, it is not in FAITH that the power exists, it is in GOD---so the focus of faith is not itself, but rather in GOD---the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, absolute Perfect, perfect LOVE Creator-of-the-Universe!

To focus on "faith" as an end to itself---I really believe this is "serving the CREATURE rather than the CREATOR... Rm1:25

 

[Jedi]

Well said, Mr. Ben Johnson. I hadn't thought of the parallels concerning New Age philosophy and Star Wars before. It does seem to be a little more closely related.

 

[Knight]

Definition of faith:

Hebrews 11:1
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith is simply faith. The good/bad is based on what you've put that faith in. Faith in Christ can be defined as "good" faith because you're putting your faith in something real. The mormon would also say that he has faith but his version of Jesus is a false Christ. Hence this can be defined as "bad" faith.