If I believed something based on faith in a non-religious context, wouldn't that be delusional?

Question

If I said I believed life is actually a big computer program like a giant video game, in which we are just characters, made by an advanced alien race for their entertainment, someone would ask why I beleived that. If I said I believed it because I had faith in it, I'd probably be thought of as crazy. My faith-based belief would be an irrational assumption or delusion. And it definitely be a hard sell to convince people that I was right.

Of course, my example is a bit ridiculous. But when I've questioned religious people, it seems that the reasons for their beliefs usually boil down to faith as well. And they seem to take pride in that. When put in a religious context, why is faith-based thinking seen often as okay or even praiseworthy? Why the paradigm shift?

Answer 1

It would depend on whether your faith is rational or irrational, for example gravity is a universal principle, but each individual can only observe gravity within a limited portal of vision at any time, it is possible that everything else outside of your direct experience is floating in mid-air, so acceptance that gravity is existing in a universal sense requires a leap of faith, this is a rational standard of faith.

The paradigm that you propose above is somewhat of a watershed for science fiction enthusiasts but is an irrational worldview that would require a singular leap of faith of world record breaking proportions to accept.

Can this example be compared to the faith of the Theist and is the faith of the Theist considered rational?

Without drawing innumerable references to denounce Theism by comparing the possible existence of an absolute being to the tooth fairy and santa claus etc, which is gross scepticism, the question must be raised that as we are existing, there must be a source of that existence or is it possible for something that doesn't exist within something else to manifest from the original supposed source without being present in the first instance, this is again an irrational conclusion.

Hypothetically if that something, namely us, was a componant part of something superior, namely a Supreme being or God, wouldn't it be rational to conclude that the original source of our existence had a personal componant, as personality is individually our most important feature, then it would be rational without falling into the self deluding minefield of anthropomorphism, that Personality was also a componant part of that supposed Supreme entity.

Then the conclusion which gives birth to rational or reasonable faith, is the acceptance that if there were a Supreme person, then that Supreme person would have Personality and would be able to communicate that to me, with the right approach.

Of course this hypothosis can continue to the point of self realisation, perception of spiritual reality and due revelation of the Supreme, whatever your mindshift, the fanatical sentimental ravings of blind faith orientated organisations can be as unappealing as the gross materialistic skeptics of modern day hedonism.

I invite you to discuss these thought provoking issue's with an open mind to the possiblities of experience:-Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari ([e-mail])
www.spiritual-revolutionary.com

Answer 2

If i'm listening to you properly; you sense that having faith in believing that we stay in a huge on line interest is ridiculous. faith has some especially ridiculous memories also. the in worry-free words answer i visit imagine of on your question right this moment's that faith has been round because the start of time, so it really is ingrained in our minds to a aspect that individuals have a tendency to trust it as reality. Jesus grew to change into water into wine Jesus walks on water The parting of the pink Sea the stainless theory of Jesus God taking a rib from Adam to make Eve those were some Biblical memories that i merely won't be able to seem to trust i do no longer completely understand the paradigm shift that you observed, so i visit't say something about that.

Answer 3

A friend of mine who worked in the field of mental health once knew a man who was convinced that lesbians were somehow invading his mind through electrical outlets in an effort to somehow take over the world. No matter what was said to this man, he could not be convinced that this was false, even though he had absolutely no evidence to support his assertion. That's the definition of faith. He's the most faithful man I know of.

Answer 4

Because giant computer programs made by advanced alien races do not speak to a person's soul.

God speaks to my soul. This is my "proof." To you, it is just my crazy faith, because you haven't had the experience.

When you have the experience, you will know. And you will be placed in the same position as I: answering questions about faith whose answer is, "I know because I see." Nobody can prove me right, and nobody can prove you right. The evidence is personal, between a person and God.

Answer 5

What you do think most politics is? Non-religious faith, often without any rational basis for the belief.

And your analogy about the video game actually describes the religious belief of some individuals, so it's not that far-fetched.

Answer 6

the thing about it is christians can have faith in God because as a believer its easy to have faith in God because He has revealed himself to me, in ways that convinced me there is a God.its also something that is very hard to try to explain to a nonbeliever. I mean i haven't seen Him with my own eyes but i have seen Him with my heart, He has opened my eyes with the truth and i can only hope and pray that He will do the same for u, but He can't if u don't let Him

Answer 7

If you called your imaginary video game a religion, you would be recognized as a prophet by many people.

Karl Marx opined that religion is the opium of the masses and he was correct. Religious druggies accept anything to satisfy their craving for escape from reality through religion.

Please note the answers indicating their "faith" makes them "feel good." Which is the same reason heroin addicts inject heroin. It makes them feel good.

Answer 8

100% Correct man.

Religious people sure are confused.