Webster defines:
faith, hope and love
Main Entry: 1faith
Pronunciation: 'fAth
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural faiths /'fAths, sometimes 'fA[th]z/
Etymology: Middle English feith, from Old French feid, foi, from Latin fides; akin to Latin fidere to trust -- more at BIDE
1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : LOYALTY b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs
synonym see BELIEF
- in faith : without doubt or question : VERILY
Main Entry: 1hope
Pronunciation: 'hOp
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): hoped; hop·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hopian; akin to Middle High German hoffen to hope
intransitive senses
1 : to cherish a desire with anticipation
2 archaic : TRUST
transitive senses
1 : to desire with expectation of obtainment
2 : to expect with confidence : TRUST
synonym see EXPECT
- hop·er noun
- hope against hope : to hope without any basis for expecting fulfillment
Main Entry: 1love
Pronunciation: 'l&v
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English lufu; akin to Old High German luba love, Old English lEof dear, Latin lubEre, libEre to please
1 a (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties
2 : warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion
3 a : the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration
4 a : unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2) : brotherly concern for others b : a person's adoration of God
5 : a god or personification of love
6 : an amorous episode : LOVE AFFAIR
7 : the sexual embrace : COPULATION
8 : a score of zero (as in tennis)
9 capitalized, Christian Science : GOD
- at love : holding one's opponent scoreless in tennis
- in love : inspired by affection
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It is ironic that each of these words seems to mean close to the same thing and really, they are all based on something that can not be indentified by one of our senses. We can not touch, smell, feel, hear, or taste faith, hope and love. However some of us think that we can and many wax poetic in the attempts to describe those sensations. What these words rely on is trust. Utter trust. The belief that something is real without being tangible.
Main Entry: 1trust
Pronunciation: 'tr&st
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse traust trust; akin to Old English trEowe faithful -- more at TRUE
1 a : assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something b : one in which confidence is placed
2 a : dependence on something future or contingent : HOPE b : reliance on future payment for property (as merchandise) delivered : CREDIT
3 a : a property interest held by one person for the benefit of another b : a combination of firms or corporations formed by a legal agreement; especially : one that reduces or threatens to reduce competition
4 archaic : TRUSTWORTHINESS
5 a (1) : a charge or duty imposed in faith or confidence or as a condition of some relationship (2) : something committed or entrusted to one to be used or cared for in the interest of another b : responsible charge or office c : CARE, CUSTODY
- in trust : in the care or possession ofa trustee
Do you see the pattern???? One word can not be defined without the other and this leads to the complexity of each concept.
Faith
Hope
Love
Trust
hmmmm.......
ckays1967 at 7:23:00 PM PDT Link to this entry
This entry has 6 comments: (Add your own)
and you can't have any of them without LOVE.....
~jerseygirl
http://journals.aol.com/cneinhorn/WonderGirl
Comment from cneinhorn - 8/18/04 2:07 PM
you're wonderful.
Comment from judithheartsong - 8/17/04 1:03 PM
Thanks, Chris.
V
Comment from deabvt - 8/17/04 7:55 AM
Cynthia gets it.
Comment from ckays1967 - 8/16/04 8:06 PM
You are way too deep for me. I guess I just "feel" and never think about any of the others.
Give Charley a hug for me. I think of him often also and know how he must feel watching and caring for you.
a
Comment from dallas0406 - 8/16/04 7:42 PM
Isn't a belief far more profound than a fact?
Comment from sistercdr - 8/16/04 7:34 PM
