Faith killing: So What?

[_Ceeboo]

When you realize that faith is nothing more or less than gullibility, a statement like that makes much more sense.

Huh!

Faith is nothing more than being deceived or duped?

Poop!

Peace,
Ceeboo

[_Buffalo]

When you realize that faith is nothing more or less than gullibility, a statement like that makes much more sense.

Huh!

Faith is nothing more than being deceived or duped?

Poop!

Peace,
Ceeboo

Well, that's not what I was trying to say. Faith is belief without evidence. In the real world we call that gullibility. If you disagree, I would posit that if you invest $5000 in my ponzi scheme, you will triple your investment in five years. Have faith!

[_Molok]

Faith is one of the many ways that humans deceive themselves. It makes no sense to hope for, or have confidence in an event occurring against astronomical odds, but the irrationality of faith is one of the defining characteristics of our species. We're so full of crap we manage to fool ourselves.

[_Scottie]

The faithful would argue that putting money into a 401k for retirement is an act of faith.

1) That the US will even have a viable economy when you retire
2) That inflation will be lower than the interest accruing in your account
3) That you will still be alive to use the money
4) The company with your 401k money doesn't choose a whole bunch of bad investments and lose it all

[_Buffalo]

The faithful would argue that putting money into a 401k for retirement is an act of faith.

1) That the US will even have a viable economy when you retire
2) That inflation will be lower than the interest accruing in your account
3) That you will still be alive to use the money
4) The company with your 401k money doesn't choose a whole bunch of bad investments and lose it all

But there is at least some reason to believe, besides blind faith, that it could be a wise decision. There is some evidence there. It's a bet - you're playing the odds based on some actual knowledge.

[_Quasimodo]

The faithful would argue that putting money into a 401k for retirement is an act of faith.

1) That the US will even have a viable economy when you retire
2) That inflation will be lower than the interest accruing in your account
3) That you will still be alive to use the money
4) The company with your 401k money doesn't choose a whole bunch of bad investments and lose it all

The difference is that I can find convincing evidence that 401ks do exist. It's much harder to find evidence of a God that I can invest my entire life with.

[_Scottie]

To the faithful believer, it's NOT blind faith.

Ask any believer (myself included, when I was a believer) if they have had tangible experiences that re-enforce their belief in a God.

Mormons especially like to point to priesthood healings, answer to prayers, spiritual promptings, etc. as more than blind faith. To them, this is proof that they are indeed worshipping the correct God in the correct religion and being rewarded for it. And, to be honest, some of the stories I've heard from reliable sources indeed sound VERY faith promoting. Some others are... well, lets just say some people like to give God WAAAAAAY too much credit for less than spectacular events.

[_stemelbow]

Faith is also defined as evidence in scripture. Surely its not to have a perfect knowledge of things but it is also evidence. How so? I'd say faith is evidence in that God gives people reasons to believe through spiritual experience. Its easy to counter that that's just superstition or gullibility, but unless you know, which we can't know unless we somehow go beyond faith, then you are merely making a brazen assertion which may or may not be true. In essence to criticize faith as less than what people claim it to be is to employ faith, or trust, in your own assumptions. Kinda ironic. In essence, we're at an impasse, it seems to me.

[_Quasimodo]

Faith is also defined as evidence in scripture. Surely its not to have a perfect knowledge of things but it is also evidence. How so? I'd say faith is evidence in that God gives people reasons to believe through spiritual experience. Its easy to counter that that's just superstition or gullibility, but unless you know, which we can't know unless we somehow go beyond faith, then you are merely making a brazen assertion which may or may not be true. In essence to criticize faith as less than what people claim it to be is to employ faith, or trust, in your own assumptions. Kinda ironic. In essence, we're at an impasse, it seems to me.

The trouble (for me, anyway) is that there are hundreds (thousands?) of diverse religions all having their very faithful devotees. All of those devotees having a testimony of some sort that reinforces their beliefs in a profound way.

Most of them claim that all the others are wrong. That the other's faith is misguided. Why believe any of them if so many testimonies are incorrect?

What, then, is the value of faith?

[_sock puppet]

The faithful would argue that putting money into a 401k for retirement is an act of faith.

1) That the US will even have a viable economy when you retire
2) That inflation will be lower than the interest accruing in your account
3) That you will still be alive to use the money
4) The company with your 401k money doesn't choose a whole bunch of bad investments and lose it all

I know people that have pulled a million or two out of a 401k for their retirement. That's evidence. No one that has died has reported to me that JSJr or any other Mormon who-ha was there, presiding.