Journal 4: What is Faith?
1.) One paragraph summary of the key idea summarizing the major idea of the section.
This week in theology our main discussion was faith. Faith is defined in a secular sense as complete trust or believing in something even though you do not have absolute certainty that you are correct. The catholic definition of faith is an intellectual assent to a loving God and His revelation. Catholics also define faith as a grace; faith requires a human response; faith is a risk; faith is certain; faith seeks understanding; faith is a virtue. Then there are the extreme versions of faith;nihilism and radicalism. Nihilism is the complete opposite of faith and is the belief that existence is senseless and useless and denies any objective ground of truth. Radicalism is defined as adamantly believing something is true without any evidence to support it. Although with these different viewpoints in existence we must believe that faith is the Golden Way, because if you don't go for either radicalism or nihilism is the middle ground, because it is supported by reason.
2.)List and explain three of the most important ideas you want to remember from this week.
The Life of St. Ignatius- The first thing that I want to remember is the life of St. Ignatius, because it is the ultimate example of metanoia and how faith can change someone's life. St. Ignatius experienced the ultimate conversion from a rich playboy of the feudal society to a man who devoted his life entirely to Christ. St. Ignatius' conversion at Pamplona was empowered by the faith he had in all the books he read about Christ and in turn that increased his Faith that changed his life.
Faith is the Golden Way- Another thing I want to remember from this week is that faith is the best choice. Many people get to caught up in reason and beliefs when in their approaches to faith. These people are nihilists and radicalists. Radicalists believe in something without any reason or evidence at all, and Nihilists have no belief in anything, not even existence itself. We learn that faith is the best alternative to these two, because faith actually makes sense. Faith uses reason and belief together, so it is the much better than using only reason or only belief.
Desolation and Consolation- Another thing I want to remember is the difference between desolation and consolation, because these are two major Ingnatian Ideals. Desolation is any of the feelings of depression, gloominess, or confusion that lead us away from God. Consolation is an "increase in faith, hope and charity"(St. Ignatius) that draw us closer to God. These are very important, because it was through St. Ignatius' desolation at Pamplona because of his leg that he was able to reach consolation and live a life completely devoted to God.
3.)One image of that reminds you of the topic. Attribute, link, your source
Courtesy of ArtsSales.com
4.)One good question you should keep with you to ponder.
Do I use faith to determine my decisions and actions or do I resort to radicalism and prejudge people?
5. What should you try to do to make you a better person, a more faithful person, from this study.
To become a more faithful person I need to remember that faith is free will and not to have the additude that I have to believe what God say, but rather I want to believe what his Word is and I want to live a life that he would approve of.