I'd rather have wonder instead of faith.?

Question

Isn't faith just believing without reason, or even in the face of contradictory evidence?

Answer 1

You worded your position and that of others, elegantly. Thank you.
You missed logic.
The whole issue is epistemology or the philosophy of knowing. Religion requires faith coupled with tradition, nothing more. Faith is trust in religious leaders and in the book they promote, whatever book that may be.
Science is based on an empirical epistemology as well as reason and logic, none of which is required by religion. Science studies the measurable natural world and is the domain of the curious and intellectually adventurous. Also the domain of engineers and technical folks.
Science produces advanced medical diagnostics, medicine, computers, pollution free wind power generators, and iPods.
Religion, particular those with origins in the Middle East, foster wars, murder, terrorism, greed and strife.
Science settles arguments with further research that anyone with the equipment can copy to test the data, test the theory.
Science grows and expands.
Religions with absolute books are made obsolete by science.
Keep the wonder brother.

Answer 2

If one has contradictory evidence to mine, then that makes my evidence contradictory to his. So the evidence then has to be wieghed. This is what the courts do.

Faith is not blindily accepting something, rather quite the opposite. English lacks the word for it, but if you can imagine a word for the nown faith, then you might understand what I am talking about. The Greeks used the word "pistes" for the word faith, and the word "pisteu" for the word we traslate "beleive". Beleive doesn't capture the essence of the greek, but it is as close as we can get. I can beleive in Santa Clause, but that doesn't mean he is real. The word in the Greek carries weight of proof, not just mere ascent. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the "evidence of things unseen."

Like in a murder, there might not be any eyewitnesses to the murder, but you take the pieces of evidence and attempt to construct a model for how things happen and convince a jury beyond resonable doubt that the murder did (or didn't depending on the side) happen according to the model. The jury has faith that the prosecution is right or the defense is right, although none of them were eyewitnesses. That is the essence of faith.

Answer 3

faith in meaning, is trust, or trust in something or someone. So when u ask a question, u expect an answer, right? U are trusting one/or several people for an answer that is, or will be forthcoming. faith as well as a trust, takes work and or works to make it happen.faith is the end result of many things/results. And to say that faith is without evidence, is an incorrect and misleading question.

Answer 4

Yes

Answer 5

I think you need to ask the differnece between faith....and "blind faith". Having faith doesn't necissarily mean that there is no evidence. If I say I have faith in you, does that mean there is no evidence you can do whatever it is I have faith in you about??

Answer 6

That's an accurate description, yes. Doesn't make much sense when you break it down, does it? It only seems good because people claim it's a "virtue". If naivete were said to be a virtue... well you see where I'm going with this.

Answer 7

Yes. Very simple. Forget what you know about everything. Believe in a "divine being" who forgoes proven science and you will be saved. Sound comforting to me....oh wait. I must make penance now...

Answer 8

do you believe the sun will come up tomorrow?If yes why?

Answer 9

since is no reason or belief we just are living in the moment and no purpose and god bless you

Answer 10

yes. most intelligent question i've seen all day. good job!