Is patriotism a matter of faith?

Answer 1

no,
from the greatest patriot ever...

And what country can preserve it's liberties, if it's rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms....What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.
—Thomas Jefferson, 1787
Letter to W. S. Smith

The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.
—Thomas Jefferson, 1787
Letter to Abigail Adams

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
—Thomas Jefferson

...whenever any form of government becomes destructive...it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it...
—Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Independence, 1776

Answer 2

Yes. See,we have to properly define the terms. Patriotism is : the romantic love of country. Faith is the ability to believe beyond what you've experienced. One cannot love without faith, so you can't have patriotism without faith. I think it's a mistake to put ones faith in a country, that's why I'm no longer a patriot. But, everyone has the right to love what they want in their own way.

Answer 3

At this point in our society - I would say yes. Those of us that still believe that there is a shred of what this country was founded on are the patriots. The ones that have lost this hope are the ones that are against the war, afraid all the time and spouting hatred. I feel sorry for them. I wish they could come back from the dark side.

Answer 4

Existentially speaking it is a matter of choice. However, the need for faith usually implies that the thing believed in is intangible or there is no scientific basis for it. Maybe because borders are an artificial human construct we have to believe in them before we can choose to be patriotic.

Answer 5

It's a faith in the belief that if you live up to the terms of the social contract you have made with your fellow citizens, you will be both rewarded and protected. Part of that contract, such as in theocratic societies, is to share a faith in a divine being, and that can become another aspect of patriotism, but it's not the primary aspect.

Answer 6

It is basically a 'primordial' self defence and self affirmation concept.Ever since the tribal ages.
In modern patriotism individuals self identify into the enlarged group of the country fellows. This way patriottism becomes also a guideline in life.
Sounds like a faith.

Answer 7

I think to some extent in order to be a great patriot you must have faith. In your leaders, that the path they are leading you and your country will ultimately be the best thing for you and your fellow countrymen.

Answer 8

I can understand the patriotism of say a 'frenchman' , if I was an American I would be embarrased about the Right Wing Christian stuff going on, and I am ashamed of Blair -as an Englishman.

Answer 9

"Patriotism is a feeling of love and devotion to one's own homeland (patria, the land of one's fathers)."
It is worshipping a flag rather than God.
Another MALE invented, Pied Piper's song to attract a following- a group of people that will die for one man's Ego.
"Levels of patriotism vary across time and among nations. Typically, patriotic acts and feelings are greater during wartime or when the nation is otherwise under external threat. It is less well understood why nations vary in their levels of patriotic feeling. Among modern societies, many have observed a difference between the United States, where symbolic patriotic expression is ubiquitous, and the nations of Western Europe, where symbolic patriotic expression certainly exists but plays a less important role. Various theories have been advanced, often related to the relative ages of the countries, and the historical perspective of European countries given the violent nationalism they experienced in the 20th century."
"In addition, many politicians have exploited patriotism in attacking their opponents, accusing them of betraying the nation. In the view of many, the nature of these comments harm political discussion and provide less opportunity for deliberative democracy to flourish, because it appeals only to a visceral negative emotion (that is, angry patriotism), rather than to voters’ reasoned views on policy."
"Throughout history, patriotic feeling has often been linked to religion. At various points in history, particularly in time of war, various relations of religion and patriotism have prevailed."
"In one variant, patriotic participants in a war acknowledge that the enemy worships the same god, but judge that this god is on their own side, thus providing the external justification for patriotism noted just above. This is perhaps a fair characterization of the attitude of many of the participants in the American Civil War or most of the fronts of the First World War. Another variant is for each side to worship different gods, acknowledge that the other side’s god exists, and believe that their own god is superior. This may have characterized the conflicts between the ancient Israelites and their Canaanite opponents, as narrated in the Old Testament. Yet another version of religious patriotism is the belief that a god or set of gods is on one’s side, and that the god or gods of the other side simply do not exist. This view often characterized the beliefs of the European powers during the colonialist period, when their armies often fought against pagan opponents."
I can keep cutting & pasting, but the link below will give you a broader viewpoint.

Answer 10

No not faith...it appeals to ones need to belong to something "greater than ones self". Similar to faith but not the same....no.