Faith Vs Knowledge

[max-greece]

Thank you all for your responses. It was a genuine question. I am not emphasizing the "claim" element too much here - as in claim knowledge - I am more interested in the justifications for the knowledge as it appears to fly in the face of faith.

Right now I am working on the assumption that people that claim such knowledge genuinely believe it to be true - regardless of any real explanation there might be.

My understanding is that God is supposed to withhold that knowledge - which is the point of his demanding faith.

So as to not presume the foundation for your understanding, why do you claim that God withhold's this knowledge and that He demands faith?

Now that's a good question - I thought it was the whole basis of Christianity - that faith is required. I might have gotten that wrong but wasn't it the whole point of the Doubting Thomas story - that he believed with evidence (and therefore knowledge) and what Jesus wanted was belief (or faith) without that evidence.

Also interesting are the claims that once belief has been established the knowledge comes next. I find this interesting as it doesn't happen for everyone. One of the more famous Christians who never got that knowledge confirmation was, apparently, Mother Theresa.

This raises the question - for those on the forum who reckon that they do have personal proof/knowledge/evidence what have you - why you and not her?

Further, if you genuinely believe and never get that confirmation is it not then safe to assume God doesn't want you?