What is faith? Heb. 11: “1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” If explained literally, faith can be anything. So its secular meaning is easy to understand. What we discuss here is religious faith, which concerns all encompassing and supernatural. There are some reasons that some academics regard Confucius or Daoism as religious faiths originated from China. Worldwide, there are 4 major religions, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. I would classify Confucius, Daoism, and Falung Gong in the same category as Buddhism since they all represent effort by human to reach God and eternity.
   
   Historically, the strongest influence in China in terms of religion is Buddhism. There are also Islamic minorities in China. Christianity in China has a rather short history. The book 《真道手册》（大使命中心http://www.gcciusa.org/) has much useful info including a brief history of Christianity in China. I will refer to this book later on several different occasions.
   
   Which religion is correct?

   
   The short answer is Judaism and Christianity. God alone can reveal Him to humankind. Effort by human being, Buddhism is a good example, cannot reveal true God. As for Islam, it is more complex. I will address this issue in due course.
   
   I must state that no one can prove God or the Truth. How a mere mortal like me can prove God Almighty, who has created every thing? On the other hand, it is possible to show errors in faith. If one can show that some belief is inconsistent with the Bible, then that belief is doubtful.
   
   Other faiths
   
   I should state that I am a Christian, thus, cannot be totally objective to other faiths. In fact, regarding to the Bible, God, and the Truth, no human being can be absolutely objective. God did not create man that way.
   
   More importantly, being a Christian I must follow the Bible. Deut. 12:30 “….be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, "How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same." 31 You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, …”. The whole Chapter 13 of Deut. has more on this. Also Exodus 23:13 “…Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.” I only explain enough about a faith so that you can be sure that faith is not a correct one.
   
   Biblical Faith
   
   The whole Chapter of Hebrew 11 is an excellent one on Christian faith. Below are some important points. 1) Men of faith include Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, …, all appear in the Old Testament. Therefore, it implies that Christian faith is consistent with the faith of Godly Jews. 2) Even sinner can have faith, verse 31. Indeed, all of us are sinners. Rom. 4:10-11 (also Psalms 14:1-3, 53:1-3) 10As it is written:
    "There is no one righteous, not even one;
    11there is no one who understands,
    no one who seeks God.”
   3) Heb.11:39-40 indicate that faith comes with a promise by God. And that promise has not been fulfilled but will be fulfilled in the future.
   
   What does this concern me?
   
   Some of you are not believers. Maybe you would say what about if I just want to be a moral person, just live a peaceful life? Then, you would miss the most important thing of one’s life.
   
   A human being differs from animal in that a person has three parts: spirit, soul, and body. A secular man is a two dimensional person, i.e., with soul and body but not aware of spirit while a believer is a “three dimensional” person. In Chinese, the words spirit and soul are often used together. From the biblical viewpoint, it is not wrong for a secular man to talk about spirit (ref. Gen. 2:7) for he is referring a natural spirit. The spirit we believers talk is much more precious: the life giving spirit (I Corin.15:45). John 3: “15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” Also John 3: “13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man.” 16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” My interpretation is that this promise has two parts. In this world, a believer experiences a foretaste of the life giving spirit. In the world to come, a believer receives the full promise by God.
   
   Also Heb. 4: “12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-¬edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” So only the Bible can help one to separate spirit from soul.
   
   God gives every one a chance: either be one of His children or not. It is a choice you have to make.
   
   Can a scientist be a believer?
   
   Sure. Especially Mainland Chinese may have been strongly misinformed by communist propaganda. In addition, there is liberalism in scientific community at large (as well as in media, education, and academia). But many accomplished scientists in history are believers. Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein are two prominent examples. Both are strong believers; also faith and philosophy had strong influence on their works. See [1] for an intriguing account on faith of A. Einstein and its impact on his scientific contributions. Science is a branch of Truth. I might add, a small branch of Truth.
   
   Interestingly, by late 19th century Chinese scholars sensed that something was wrong in Chinese society and by 1919 (about the time of the famous May 4 movement) they proposed that two things “Science” and “Democracy” would save China. After that time, the faith among Chinese in Confucius is replaced by faith in science and technology. Please read the book [2]. Modern sciences and democracy have their roots in Greek. Also one should study the world history of major faiths. Faiths solely in sciences and democracy are not totally new. They cannot solve everything one needs and nor can build a paradise by themselves.
   
   To a believer, science and democracy do have important roles in society and in one’s life. But nothing can replace God. It would be pity if one worships created things but not the Creator.
   
   1. “Einstein and religion : physics and theology” Max Jammer, Princeton University Press, 1999.
   2. “The Alphabet Effect” by Robert K., Logan, St. Martin's Press; (September 1987)
   

此文于2009年09月08日做了修改