Is religious faith a form of insanity?

Question

Faith, that being the belief of something without any proof or evidence a form of insanity?

Is the scientific method, that being a belief requiring irrefutable proof and evidence, the only valid form of reality?

Answer 1

we are not in modern times anymore, these are postmodern times we live - people care more for experience and sensations, not proof. experience is reality.

Answer 2

No, but asking the same question over and over again and expecting different answer is.

Mark Twain said that Faith is believing something that you know isn't true. That's not insanity - it is a choice. People make that choice for a wide variety of reasons.

In science proof means nothing more than something measurable that gives consistent results and comparing that to the findings of others. That gives you information, but it can be facts out of context or theories built on other theories. They just all agree on the stuff, just like the religions do.

We are all putting the pieces of our own life and beliefs together all the time. Some like facts, some like feelings. Some listen very well, some listen better when they see it written down. The commonality is we all want to know and we all feel very strongly about it. If we can agree to put it into the private sphere of life and then actually respect each other's privacy, then we may be able to move past this.

Peace!

Answer 3

Proof and evidence are not the same thing, BTW. For example, one can have evidence for both a and not-a but one cannot have proof of both. Where proof is lacking (as it is for probably most things in life), then one should try for the preponderance of the evidence.

Does anyone have irrefutable proof and evidence that science is the only valid form of reality? The idea is self-refuting.

And faith might lack proof, but that doesn't mean it lacks evidence.

Answer 4

The scientific method that I disagree with is theory and not proof, fact or evidence. Of course, I'm talking about evolution.

Reality - the quality or fact of being real; a person or thing that is real, fact

Real - existing as or in fact; actual; true; authentic; genuine;

Realism - a tendency to face facts and be practical

Insane - not sane

Sane - mentally healthy, rational, sound, sensible

All of your questions need a qualified judge. I choose God.

Answer 5

Religious faith is a form of craziness.
Spiritual Faith is mans yearning to understand the unknown, and this is valid. It allows man to grow.

One must keep in mind that a person must be a little bit "Crazy", for it's the only thing that keeps them from going "Insane".

Being a Physicist, has not helped me locate the Creator........

Answer 6

This is Dawkin's view. However, Alistair MacGrath, also a professor at Oxford, has written a very good rebuttal.

Answer 7

'But I don't want to go among mad people,' said Alice.
'Oh, you can't help that,' said the cat. 'We're all mad here.'
Lewis Carroll
If you meet one sane human being in your lifetime you are extremely lucky but of course you won't know it because you're nucking futs like the rest of us.
Sanity is over rated anyway

hail ERIS
al hail Discordia
Ewige Blumenkraft und ewige Schlangenkraft!

Answer 8

Sure....just like all those people many, many years ago who believed in something beyond this planet we live on but couldn't prove it yet were complete nut cases ! (Oh wait a minute....I forgot. They were right ! Hm, let me think for a minute....bad example....)

Answer 9

No it is not .
Religion answers the most fundamental question we human being asked . It answers the question of why we live in this planet . About our purposes in life . What is it that we should & shouldn't do in this life .

A person who lives without religion is the one who is insane .

Answer 10

After observing the religious people on this website I would have to say yes. I have seen some truly shocking answers...