Is it so hard to admit that religious faith is partially based on irrationality?

Answer 1

No, religious faith is partially irrational.

Answer 2

All belief that requires faith is based on irrationality. Not just religion.

When one states that the world is round, it is irrational if they have not seen it with thier own eyes from space. They just trust the scientists who say it is. The only way to prove it is by seeing it for yourself.

Religions are just authorities. The same as government. They are there to tell us how to live. If you want the illusion of order, you must have rules. That is logical or rational. Inhumane but logical.

Answer 3

It's easy to admit since part of religious faith is based on love and profound respect. There is a rational aspect as well. For example, I love the teachings of Baha'u'llah, as I would love any great educator's who met the same criteria and resonated so deeply, because he has answered and explained life questions, individual and collective relationships, explained history and current events in a way that makes sense to me, and has given humanity a blueprint for a new civilization, for starters. I love his example, his life, and the horrible suffering he bore, his stunning courage and audacity, his amazing mind, among many other things. Of many issues that I had a partial understanding of, Baha'u'llah's teachings deepend and expanded. I experience such joy in learning and putting these teachings into practice that I'll spend my life doing it. In the Baha'i Faith there are no clergy and no myths. A fundamental teaching is that we must independently investigate reality using reason and sound judgment. Science is one of the excellences of human civilization and must inform religion; and religion must not be based upon superstition.

Answer 4

To examine religious faith minutely is to reveal the insiduous nature of 'religion'. All religions do the same thing - 'brainwash' the public into believing in their myths - while it is possible that myths may be based upon some fact, ie. a little of it could be true, but the whole myth cannot be true - because it is so very far fetched, and so very difficult to believe in - religion uses it's various brainwashing methods to coax people into believing. Like with Christianity using it's bible - saying it's the Word of God, that if it's in the Bible it must be true. Because God says so, it is true. Other religions, like Judaism and Islam, of course do the same thing. There is the pretence it is about 'spirituality' about saving souls (as if they need to be saved --- but the definition of a soul, is that it is not 'physical' - and so therefore, why should it be saved?) - but that is a pretence only.

To believe in a religion, you have to discard reason and logic, your common sense. Unfortunately that is what happens when anyone joins a religion and becomes a believer/follower.

Also note - you lose your own sense of personal power (personal choice) and become one of 'them' - giving your power to that church, etc. They grow in size and prosperity in which you contribute towards - oh, they will take some of your money too... maybe it is called a subscription or donation, but they take your money anyway...

Answer 5

Some religious faith is. There is only one truth....and if you don't believe some of the crap passing itself off as TRUTH, then your religion is based to a great degree on irrationality.

Answer 6

The only irrationality I see is within the logic behind the question!

Answer 7

No. I personally don't think that many perfect things in life are rational..love, happiness, joy, etc. I couldn't stand a life that was based solely on what is termed rational. It would be far to cold and sterile. I guess that is why I love art as much as science. Emotion and the mystic are far to wonderful to discount as a valid part of life.

Answer 8

Irrationality is outside science just like God, so when we invented religion to explain what we truly believed was there,we were basically understanding that God was beyond understanding, so I do see where you are coming from!

Answer 9

Rigidity on religious faiths prevents changing with the changed time ,so perceived to be irrational.

Answer 10

It can be hard for those whose faith is weak. If they are weak, they are still convincing themselves and can feel extremely defensive about even the basic premise that faith is based on the unknown and the unknowable - and therefore defies "rational" interpretations most of the time. Sillier yet are those who pretend to create a "science" of their faith: belief is not about proof, belief is about the truth you can feel in your heart and there is no rational or scientific aspect about it.