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drpaladin

drpaladin 114,982
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Faith is unconditional trust.

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sandrewn

sandrewn 29,351
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15 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

Faith is unconditional trust.

My first thought on your comment. Alvin surviving a lightning strike on the rifle in his lap, while riding his horse in a rainstorm. Rifle split open, smoking on the ground. Not a scratch on him or his horse. You have to understand that he was not exactly a man of faith up until  this point. Then, in a sudden blinding flash and bang............

give me that old time religion sgt york - Google Search

and the rest as they say is history.

 

:cowboy:

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Bill W

Bill W 63,565
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Posted

The word "faith" originated in the 13th century from the Middle English feith and the old French fei or feid.  It traces back to the Latin word fides (trust, confidence, or reliance), which stems from the root fidere ("to trust") and the Proto-Indo-European bheidh-.  Historically, the suffix was adapted from the earlier Anglo-French/Old French and then naturally altered in Middle English to match native nouns ending in -th (such as truth and health).  

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest known use of the word faith (as a noun) in English dates to around 1300.  It was used in the Middle English narrative poem The Lay of Havelok the Dane (often just called Havelok). Earliest adjective use was before 1413, used by Geoffrey Chaucer.  Earliest verb  was in 1438 in The Book of Margery Kempe.  Before the adoption of "faith," Old English primarily used the native Germanic word geleafa (which eventually evolved into "belief").  
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Bill W

Bill W 63,565
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Posted (edited)

Faith in storytelling acts as a crucial anchor for character motivation and narrative tension, symbolizing resilience, hope, and perseverance.  It elevates the stakes of a story from mere physical survival to profound spiritual or philosophical journeys, driving characters to overcome insurmountable obstacles through deep-seated belief.  

Beyond character development, the concept of faith serves several vital functions in narrative structure and audience engagement: 
Internal Conflict: Faith provides an internal crucible. Characters are often forced to choose between self-reliance or worldly desires and their spiritual or moral convictions. This clash generates compelling, high-stakes drama.  
Thematic Resonance: It taps into universal themes like free will, destiny, and the search for meaning in the face of tragedy. This allows narratives to explore profound moral questions and human frailty.  
Audience Empathy: Stories that explore faith and doubt mirror real-life human experiences, fostering profound empathy. It helps audiences visualize and connect with narratives on a deeply personal level. 
Hope Amid Despair: Faith is frequently the catalyst for redemption or triumph. It acts as the driving force that allows characters—and by extension, the audience—to envision a better future when all seems lost.  

Understanding how faith builds bridges across diverse audiences can be a fascinating exploration, particularly when looking at how different genres handle this dynamic. 
Edited by Bill W
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