Ummm eejit wow you just opened a HUGE can of Worms with this thread. It's okay though, because I am on a strict Diet of them...
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(I'm a Lutheran)

Okay sorry to any of you who didn't find that funny. Anyways, yes, I too am a Christian and I agree with BnL that faith is the existence of things not seen. Faith is the most important part of any religion. However, I understand what eejit's trying to say when he say he wants proof. That's why faith is so difficult to have, and even the strongest Christians, myself included, have times where they doubt or even have a lack of faith. It's not a foolproof system by any means.

Having said that, as a Lutheran, I believe that God is the one who redeems. That is not to say that God only saves those he desires to, because God wants all his children to receive salvation. My point is that there is nothing we humans can do to receive that, it is a gift. Additionally, especially for the Christian, a lack of faith is not a weakness but rather a strength, as it allows God to work in our lives and therefore strengthen our faith. God know I'm going through an extreme test of faith in my own life right now.

To address GloBug's point, yes suffering is difficult to equate with the belief in the existence of a benevolent God. And I do not, nor I hope any Christian believe that God is the cause of suffering in people's lives. Having said that, what would be the point of faith without suffering, without doubts? There would be no need for the grace of God, because there would be no sin or suffering. Any rational person, believing or not, can see that there is suffering in the world, whether they personally equate any of it with sin or not.

I guess to sum it all up for eejit, having faith will allow us to see the proof. Because it's out there. But I will agree that faith is not something easily obtained or sustainable. But it's possible. And that's what I believe God's role in our lives is.

(Sorry if this made absolutely no sense, I'm up at four in the morning and can't sleep. I can try to clarify my position later when I'm more alert.)