How does faith relate to the world in which we live?

Faith is both simple and complex. For the simple explanation one of the best definitions that I have ever come upon can be found in Hebrews 11:1 in which faith is defined as—“أَمَّا الإِيمَانُ، فَهُوَ الثِّقَةُ بِأَنَّ مَا نَرْجُوهُ لاَبُدَّ أَنْ يَتَحَقَّقَ، وَالاقْتِنَاعُ بِأَنَّ مَا لاَ نَرَاهُ مَوْجُودٌ حَقّاً.” Which, when translated to English is—

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

That is the definition that best explains faith. Faith is merely a word that is used to describe the two characteristics mentioned above. “confidence in what we hope for” and “assurance about what we do not see.” Now that is the definition that can be used to explain what faith is however, looking back to the original definition “…relate to the world in which we live.” Faith is everywhere, from the time we get out of bed in the morning to the moment when we fall asleep. Faith is everywhere, one example that often helps to put faith into perspective is the idea of crossing a street.

Imagine that you are going to cross the street, you are standing on the corner of the street waiting for the crosswalk light to switch to green. You are waiting and then the light turns to green and you begin to cross the street. As you get to the other side of the street--- Now stop. You have already expressed faith in the situation, the second you took your first step faith was exercised. You had faith that the oncoming cars would stop, that a driver wouldn’t accidently press on the accelerator and come rushing forward into you. You expressed faith, perhaps on the subconscious level, but nonetheless faith was demonstrated in that--“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view? Explain the impact of these factors.

A question of this nature beckons thy soul of thy being. Asking in essence what is it that makes you who you are. This is not just a simple yes or no question, because in essence what is being asked is “what makes you who you are and how has this influenced your perception of the world.” In answering such a question all factors must be considered as that is what makes you who you are and allows you to view the world as you do. Your perspective on the world is not something that can instantly be explained, or even understood. Perspective if it was a formula would look something along the lines of (experience + time =perspective.) Seeing as time is constant, and perspective is the result, experience is left as the ‘x’ factor.

So to begin, the factors of my native culture that have informed my religious worldview are the experiences that have occurred throughout my life. Now although it is in actuality the cumulative-exponential collection of your experiences that leads to perspective……..

Now that ^^^^ is one of the ways that we could look at this question, taking it technically and saying 2+2=4. So instead of looking at it technically, I’m going to use the KISS method.

KISS version: What has influenced my religious worldview is my religion. At some point upon immigrating to what is now the United States we (my ancestors) were of an Amish and Mennonite basis. Somewhere along the lines between those who immigrated and me, we moved from the Amish and Mennonite beliefs to Nazarene. I grew up going to church, attending the same church as my grandparents. I went to Sunday school, and other church events. It is from these childhood events that my perspective was shaped. Time passed (as time does) and with it we moved, switched churches, moved again, switched churches, and continued to switch churches until we found one that was a good fit. I continued to develop and establish my perspective, and do this through God.
My religious worldview hasn’t come from my parents, or my grandparents, friends, or any of the numerous churches that I have attended in my life. Although all of these in someway provided contribution to this perspective it is through none of them that my religious worldview was developed. This perspective, the lenses that I see the world through, was attained not through these earthly things but through God and the experiences that He has allowed me to experience and grow through.