What is faith?

Rev. · 09-23-07, 06:22 AM

How do you define the word "faith?" I have a dictionary, so I don't need someone to look it up...

Every person has an "internal lexicon," a list of words they use which they understand to mean a certain way. And the way a word is used by a person doesn't always match what is in the dictionary. "Slang" are words with intentionally corrupted definitions such as "gay," "pop," or "wicked." But in other cases, people use a word in a way it doesn't mean, but they don't realize it.

So, I'm interested in hearing what you think "faith" is. What does it mean to "have faith?" And how did YOUR understanding of "faith" develop?

Nemo · 09-23-07, 10:01 AM

Faith is a false preference for what is perceived as the truth. Whether it was a part of our nature as a species from the beginning, no one can say for sure; but what is certain is that it persists.

Kim Jong Il · 09-23-07, 10:09 AM

Faith is believing in something that you can't prove. With Religion, you just have to like...believe...and stuff.

nkgupta80 · 09-23-07, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Jong Il

Faith is believing in something that you can't prove. With Religion, you just have to like...believe...and stuff.

I personally think every thing requires some faith regardless of what kind of life you want to lead. This stems from the fact that we don't know anything about the basic questions of life and existence, and probably never will. With that realization you rely on faith to pursue a particular mode of existence whether it involves a religion, atheistic morality, hedonism, or whatever.

Kim Jong Il · 09-23-07, 10:43 AM

Right on. Faith doesn't need proving, something that which I did not add in my former post. It is a driving force, that some people may use to get through their day, or simply live by.

I find nothing wrong with faith, I'm an Atheist, not an ANTI-theist.

Apostle13 · 09-23-07, 12:36 PM

Faith is to fear, as light is to darkness...

black wolf · 09-23-07, 12:43 PM

Faith is to knowledge, as fire is to wind.

Lachean · 09-23-07, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apostle13

Faith is to fear, as light is to darkness...

Actually its more like: Faith is to truth, as slavery is to liberty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev.

How do you define the word "faith?" I have a dictionary, so I don't need someone to look it up...

Every person has an "internal lexicon," a list of words they use which they understand to mean a certain way. And the way a word is used by a person doesn't always match what is in the dictionary. "Slang" are words with intentionally corrupted definitions such as "gay," "pop," or "wicked." But in other cases, people use a word in a way it doesn't mean, but they don't realize it.

So, I'm interested in hearing what you think "faith" is. What does it mean to "have faith?" And how did YOUR understanding of "faith" develop?

I define faith as "belief without evidence, or often in the face of contrary evidence." I see it as utterly inferior to REASON.

Summerwind · 09-23-07, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lachean

Actually its more like: Faith is to truth, as slavery is to liberty.

I define faith as "belief without evidence, or often in the face of contrary evidence." I see it as utterly inferior to REASON.

I think it depends on what you have faith in. For example; I have faith in my own abilities and tenacity. This is based on facts from my history; though in a current situation it hasn't been proven yet to be so. Or I have faith that the sun will come up tomorrow; it may not (tomorrow could be the end) but I have facts to base the faith on.

Perhaps this is me improperly using the term faith.

Cephus · 09-23-07, 01:46 PM

Faith, as our good friend Mark Twain once said, is "believing what you know aint' true". Or at least, should know, but some people are a bit dim.