24 Feb @ 10:58 PM
The verb "to believe" can have at least two meanings. The first meaning is "to know". So I might say that I believe there is a pencil in the box. I might say this because I have seen the pencil in the box. I know it is there. The second meaning is "to trust in". In this sense when I say that I believe in Dr. Smith, what I am saying is that I trust in Dr. Smith or I have faith in him.
The distinction between these two meanings becomes important when someone asks me if I believe in God. My answer is "yes" in the second sense of believe. I am saying that I trust in God. I am not saying that I know for certain that God exists. I certainly hope that He exists and I am certain beyond a reasonable doubt that He does exist. I am trusting in God and have placed my faith in Him, in the second sense.
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