Why is religious faith different from common ignorance?

Question

If there were any good reason to believe something it wouldn't need to be called faith.

Be honest, if you can, when answering and read what you've said before clicking submit.

I don't want stupid answers.

OK, Professor. Change common ignorance to willful ignorance.

I know it's easy to agree with this but this is here to solicit answers which give some reason to justify the respect demanded by the religious faithful. I do not respect ignorance.

Answer 1

Perhaps because with ignorance you are wrong because of a lack of information; but with religious faith you are wrong because someone has fed you ignorance as if it were truth.

Answer 2

Ignorance is to act without prior understanding of that subject (from one point of view)

The articles of Faith are believed by those to be fact, and therefore they act in clean conscience knowing they are not acting in ignorance. (however counter-intuitative that seems to an on-looker)

Scientists no longer use the word faith, however all science, all physics and chemistry and biology is based on fundamental principles the scientists called assumptions: they operate scientifically assuming these assumptions are not changing and fully understood...The first atomic bomb was detonated not knowing what was going to happen, they could analyse the probabilities of yield, but did not know...that was a silly thing to do now wasn't it...some could say that they unleashed the greatest destructive force man has created out of ignorance for the power of the atom...

There is no difference between religious and scientific faith in this respect....

I am very much a non-believer....but I recognise that an argument on faith and ignorance is a very tricky one...almost all human activity is based on ignorance one way or another

Answer 3

Interesting question. I think there is a difference. The ignorance comes from outsiders who do not understand a particular religon and choose to make sweeping generalisations and comments without research or facts. I have one muslim parent and one christian and feel quite blessed to have first hand knowledge of both religions, especially in the current social climate. At the end of the day i think religious faith is a personal choice based on personal beliefs and common ignorance is something i would attribute to people who use the tabloid press to help them decide how to vote!!!

Answer 4

It's not any different at all.An ignorant-man knows god.
god isn't confined to upper or lower case,or class, god is faith
in what you know. Someone asked me about the No. of stars and the odds of life, Superior and advanced well the odds are overwhelming that life does exist and we would be an ignorant bunch if we even had a doubt.
I don't know that there is a devil,UFOs,aliens because I have never seen nor been convinced of there existence.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS A GOD
and I've never been shown any
proof.!!
oh wait I'm sorry.... I don't need proof !!!!!!!

That within it's self is proof "FAITH".. if you're waiting for god to prove his existence then you've missed the show???? and it is quit a spectacular discovery.
That's what know.

Answer 5

Religious faith is in something outside of this physical world. Obviously you don't need faith in things in this world, you either know they work or they don't, or you can find out. Ignorance is viewed more about how simple-minded one is in the world - it doesn't take faith to understand that stepping out in front of moving vehicles will get you squished.

Some people, though, take their faith so far that they somehow lose their intelligence and will step out in front of a moving car thinking their God will somehow stop it from hitting them.

Answer 6

...The object of one's religious faith is the difference. Who is the object of the Christian faith? It is Jesus Christ, a real, historical figure, witnessed by secular historians as well as Scripture, made some very unique claims about Himself. He claimed to be God - and you must decide whether He is a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord as He said. He leaves you no wiggle room, and you cannot get away by saying "He was just a good man" or "He was just a man of His times". Is He God or not?
...Have you carefully reviewed the evidence for the Christian faith and the Bible? For the objective seeker, there is plenty of evidence there - I have had many questions answered in a logical and satisfactory way.
...You must also understand that God says that without faith it is impossible to please Him - He doesn't owe you or me an answer for every objection we come up with. Hebrews 11:6 says,
"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him."
...In John 20:29 Jesus says this: "Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."
...I think common ignorance is when one doesn't know any better. When one knows better, and refuses to believe, that is an eternal mistake.
...I do wish you a blessed eternity in Heaven. I pray the you will come to Christ and believe on Him as your Lord and Savior.

Answer 7

First of all, it's call faith exactly because there is no scientific proof of what it teaches, otehrwise it would be called science!

And talking about science and ignorance, do you know that many top level scientists do actually believe in God?

Faith can't be explained. You either have it or not. It's not about ignorance or education. You will find believers and atheists among people with all levels of education.

Answer 8

Religious faith comes with an instruction manual. Common ignorance doesn't allow any excuses.

Answer 9

Faith is the means to knowledge which cannot be attained any other way. The real question is - How is lack of faith different from common ignorance?

Answer 10

Sometimes there are no difference. Sometimes common ignorance is covered by saying it's religious faith.