Wikipedia.com describes faith as, “Faith is commonly known as a belief, trust or confidence often based on a transpersonal relationship with God, a higher power, elements of nature and/or a perception of the human race as a whole.”

What is remarkable about both of these definitions that it seems that faith requires or at the very least produces a certainty about someone or something.

One of my friends always talks about a holy dance that happens between law and grace. Perhaps we need to see this discussion of certainty, arrogance, faith, etc as more a theological dance than a doctrinal stance.

my handy dictionary defines thus:

certain: fixed; agreed upon; settled
Origin: 1250–1300 *cert?nus, equiv. to L cert(us) sure, settled

faith: belief that is not based on proof
Origin: 1200–50 feid, feit of fidés trust, akin to f?dere to trust.

My own experience of following Jesus is unsettled & far from sure – but trust – ah, that is it.

http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2007/01/lake_of_fire.html

But I did see Craig’s bit last night. “If you have certainty you don’t need faith. If you have faith, you don’t need certainty.”

Amazing to me how many folks seem to need certainty to have faith…