On what possible grounds can "having faith" be a good thing?

Question

Would it be wrong to interpret this as "I am not interested in the lack of evidence, or indeed in contrary evidence - I am going to believe what I want to believe anyway, however outlandish. I am going to believe it with extreme fervour and possibly even aggression, and moreover I am going to proclaim that it is a VIRTUE to believe something despite lacking any evidence to support it." ?

This seems a special kind of obstinacy to me. Do it if you want, but how can it be in any sense something to be proud of? Why aren't you defending such a preposterous position?

Just wondering.
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Some people seem to think this is asking "Why is faith worthwhile?" (even if I think it's not). It is not asking that. It is asking, why should people be offered approval JUSTbelieve things without evidence be praised

Some people seem to think this is asking "Why is faith worthwhile?" (even if I think it's not). It is not asking that. It is asking, why should people be offered approval JUST because they believe things without evidence? "They're a good person, they have faith!"

"You mean they just take on trust something they've been told without any supporting evidence?"

"Yup! Aren't they great people!"

My question is, why is that so?

And I don't think it is. Believe what you want, but don't claim that by itself makes you great.

Still, at last we have an answer to the question "Why not ask Don?". If the existence of God had one shred of the evidence that calling 911 will bring out the emergency services, we'd all be believers. That was lovely.
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Answer 1

I believe just as you do. Faith being a virtue is ridiculous. It is simply believing something because you feel that it is true or because you want it to be true. Believing something without or in spite of evidence is seen as a bad thing, but if you condense that definition into the word 'faith' then it's a good thing.

Answer 2

I took a course by a lady Helen hadsell who won contests by simply having total faith that she would win them.she had newspapers clippings of hundreds of things she had won.she had just got back from the first psychic congress in Russia.
this was over 30 years ago.I visualized and had faith I would get something and it materialized into reality.for example when I took that Hadsell Ladys course, at age 17. I was banking at a bank that was giving away 3 tvs.I put one slip into the box to win it.I KNEW i would win the zenith.I even told my father I had won it.I did. a month later.
when I have complete total undoubting faith things happen. many numbers of times.
I saw some people on Larry king show a few months ago who said how having faith brought so much to them.
positive thinking brings about much success. having faith has brought me so very much in my life I could write a book about it.having faith opens a person to a higher type of power.which then can work thru them.
its like in the bible it says that blasphemy of the spirit of God is the only unpardonable sin. which means that a person refuses to have the spirit be with them.
I had cancer the doctor said the tumor was the size of his fist. I gave it to God with total faith when he told me and went back to sleep, at the hospital..the tumor was gone in 3 days
.I wont go into it all. but I have witnessed six major supernatural miracles.
having faith is the most important thing I have every learned.It is a proven fact that having faith makes things happen.being negative does the opposite.read some positive thinking books.
I was an extremely shy introverted child. and when I took classes in mind control and positive thinking I am now a great salesman.
Faith brings about great and wonderful changes.I would be nothing with out my faith.I would not to be the person I am today.I have made some very positive changes in this world.one project I did. is saving over 400 Southern American lifes a year. for 20 years now.and it all had to do with having faith.and following thru with it.
I can not stress enough that having faith is the most wonderful thing a person can have.I learned a lot from my parents about having faith. and praying with faith.and listening for the answer to prayer. and doing Gods will as best we can. but you dont have to beleive in God to have faith. its like the faith of a mustard seed.that simple pure undoubting faith is so pure so real. that faith without one single doubt. is the type of faith we should have.it s not that we have faith so much in a thing or person or even God, its just that total faith.that brings us so many blessings.spiritualy. physically. mentally.
its amazeing the power of faith.I cant recommend having faith enough. you should try it.but you cant have a single doubt or it wont work as well.theres an art to having faith.thats what make is so hard to do.having total faith.but its so simple at the same time.I wish you the best in your life and hope you have a great New Year.and thank you for reminding me of this.I have been a little depressed lately and need to reafirm my faith.

Answer 3

I think that people have the right to believe whatever they want. It is an essential freedom. I know that fairies don't exist, but it's fun to imagine them existing. It enhances the life of the mind, and when you are trapped in your own head 24-7, don't you need some creative private universe, eh? Why does life have to supply evidence to support every little thing about it? Do you have proof of love, or do you have proof of how consciousness works? It's a liberty to be able to believe in something. And, sadly, it is a liberty for people to have the freedom to cram their own beliefs down other people's throats. Maybe you should re-think your question.

Answer 4

Defending a belief with aggression would be wrong. Any belief that merits faith would be one that allows the faithfull to hold a belief in their heart without having to be or be met with any aggression. Blind faith is something that requires a strong faith, and as such has cause many to suffer at the hands of those who are not believers of the faith.

Answer 5

Josh McDowell was an atheist and I believe he is still a lawyer who set out to prove that Jesus was a fraud. His book The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict is not "preachy" but rather presents the evidence he accumulated for the reader to evaluate. He collected evidence from secular, religious, and historical people and sites and from the legal point of view evaluated the findings. Since you seem to be interested in evidence or lack of it I thought this might be an avenue to explore. He did, by the way, come to the conclusion that the claims made by and of Jesus are valid and McDowell is now Christian. His approach is not offensive.

Answer 6

Faith should only be held by those who KNOW for a fact that what they are having faith in, is guaranteed to work. Faith is equivilant to confidence and one can only have confidence in what he/ she KNOWS. The reason i capitalized the word 'know' is because knowledge should be you basis for faith, not belief.

Belief has no connection with knowledge, only assumtions and emotions (which can be mis-leading) and this leaves room for doubt when no evidence is presented. This means that you can believe in anything and be 100% wrong because there is nothing to verify it (the belief) with. It only means that you accepted information as though it is true.

Knowledge, whether accquired through experience, evidence or reasoning, eliminates all doubts when these methods are applied.

Kudamah

Answer 7

Faith can be a "good thing" if:

1) Your faith is well placed (meaning what you have faith in is the truth)
2) Your faith increases your morals
3) Your faith gives you hope
4) Your faith brings you comfort
5) Your faith shows others that you belong to something great

Answer 8

"On what possible grounds can "having faith" be a good thing?""

Have faith that if you dial 999 or 911 there will be help.
Have faith in the stores having food to sell.
Have faith your car will start.

Happens ALL THE TIME!

What evidence do we have that the above listed will result in a positive way!=== Past performace.

Answer 9

There is tremendous amounts of contrary evidence for both arguments.

That tells me evidence will never settle it.

This is a matter of the heart, not the mind. We think its good to be open minded. Faith is like being "open hearted". You either are or you arent.

David

Answer 10

Well if you're profiting from what is essentially a lie, then it is a very good thing for you if people have faith in it. Religious leaders have nothing to gain from people questioning their religion.