Does faith compromise a person's ability to reason?

[Kilgore Trout]

Choosing not to apply reason to something doesn't necessarily mean one cannot apply reason - it simply means they are not in that case.

 

[Hawkins]

I believe faith distorts a person's sense of reality. People of faith are unable to use their reason to full effect. We see this occuring all the time. I myself experienced it when I had faith. My own journey as a Christian became more and more troubled towards the end, as I tried to use my reason to understand the countless theological, ethical, scientific and philosophical problems that my religion presented. Unfortunately, change does not come easy. Especially when there is the threat of eternal torture. Even thinking about the various problems Christianity presents seemed dangerous to me, as I thought I might be angering god. Religions that promote the concept of eternal torture are evil. Their God is a cruel psychopath. I hope these people will realize that their master is an evil tormenter, and that they have alligned themselves with the side of darkness and become blind followers of an evil being they imagine exists.

You could be right. Yet almost everyone is living on faith to a certain extent. You don't verify scientifically before calling your parents daddy and mom, do you?!

 

[waitasec]

You could be right. Yet almost everyone is living on faith to a certain extent. You don't verify scientifically before calling your parents daddy and mom, do you?!

nonetheless, to classify a person as a daddy or a mom you judge that by what you empirically experience of them. so really, if we are speaking of love, in the metaphysical sense, don't we know we are loved by what we have been shown or proven by actions?

 

[Hawkins]

nonetheless, to classify a person as a daddy or a mom you judge that by what you empirically experience of them. so really, if we are speaking of love, in the metaphysical sense, don't we know we are loved by what we have been shown or proven by actions?

What empirical evidence you got at hand that I am a human to start answering my post?

You swallow by faith that your mom and daddy are actually your mom and daddy, yet sometimes this is subject to error and a DNA test is thus needed, and in this case (that the DNA test give a negative) your theory of "empirically..." is a joke.

 

[waitasec]

What empirical evidence you got at hand that I am a human to start answering my post?

because your ability to improvise

You swallow by faith that your mom and daddy are actually your mom and daddy, yet sometimes this is subject to error and a DNA test is thus needed, and in this case (that the DNA test give a negative) your theory of "empirically..." is a joke.

i guess it's what your definition of what mom and dad mean
if you say it's a matter of DNA...well that can be proven, right? if you say in the metaphysical sense that can be proven as well by how you experience them...they are real. parental love is real by how they show it to you which is your proof that mommy and daddy love you...now if we are talking about god, where is the empirical evidence god loves you? as far as i'm concerned, god is indifferent, therefore a loving god does not exist.

 

[Hawkins]

because your ability to improvise



i guess it's what your definition of what mom and dad mean
if you say it's a matter of DNA...well that can be proven, right? if you say in the metaphysical sense that can be proven as well by how you experience them...they are real. parental love is real by how they show it to you which is your proof that mommy and daddy love you...now if we are talking about god, where is the empirical evidence god loves you? as far as i'm concerned, god is indifferent, therefore a loving god does not exist.

Your argument here aren't against the fact that you and most people call their mom and daddy by faith. And parental love is a personal speculation which is subject ot mistake, that's why in reality some people still finally found that their parents are not their parents. This is not an error of the empirical proof, this is a result of faith as faith (not empirical proof) is subject to such a kind of error.

 

[strikeviperMKII]

Well I think you should distinguish "faith" from Christianity. Faith could mean one's religion, or it could also mean the biblical definition, where God says to have faith. With biblical faith, yes, I think it distorts a person's sense of reality. But I don't think that is the case with religion itself.

They are the same thing. Neither compromises one's ability to reason. The person can do that, but faith does not. Actually, having faith can enhance your ability to reason for the simple fact that it allows you to see a larger picture. The more information that you have, the better your reasonings will be.

 

[outhouse]

I have seen faith as a sick cancer on humanity, in this forum every day and almost every hour of the week.

it closes minds and stops education in its tracks with some people.

this is not up for debate at all, what we should be doing is trying to stop it cold. not debate how bad it really is.

there are still people that believe the world is 6000 years old because of this so called faith.

christianity does nothing to bring in these lost sheep and put a stop the the blatant ignorance.

the only reason its legal is because there are no laws regarding stupidity

 

[outhouse]

I understand this view is rather harsh

but so is ignorance, a mind is a terrible thing to waist.

 

[strikeviperMKII]

I understand this view is rather harsh

but so is ignorance, a mind is a terrible thing to waist.

Quite so. Arrogance within ignorance is even worse.

 

[outhouse]

Quite so. Arrogance within ignorance is even worse.

then go out and teach! the world so people are not so ignorant.

take care of your own faiths problems with YEC that are in la la land

then start on the ignorant who do not understand evolution because of there religious blinders

 

[waitasec]

They are the same thing. Neither compromises one's ability to reason. The person can do that, but faith does not. Actually, having faith can enhance your ability to reason for the simple fact that it allows you to see a larger picture. The more information that you have, the better your reasonings will be.

but is that information based on subjective truth?






hey strike, it's been a while

 

[strikeviperMKII]

then go out and teach! the world so people are not so ignorant.

take care of your own faiths problems with YEC that are in la la land

then start on the ignorant who do not understand evolution because of there religious blinders

How do you teach something that can only be learned? If you've got an answer to that, I'd love to hear it.

YEC?

Those who have eyes to see but do not see are blind by their own choice. Their blinders are their own. No one can remove them for them.

 

[strikeviperMKII]

but is that information based on subjective truth?






hey strike, it's been a while

If you do faith correctly and end up with a different result, I'd like to hear all about it. Thinking that faith doesn't lead to this outcome is like saying eating food won't get you less hungry.

Yes it has. Thought I'd get back into the discussion a little.

 

[waitasec]

If you do faith correctly and end up with a different result, I'd like to hear all about it. Thinking that faith doesn't lead to this outcome is like saying eating food won't get you less hungry.

what do you mean by correctly?

if one has a certain point of view about something how would the outcome be different from what they expected?

isn't changing your perspective the best way to get the most accurate information?

 

[strikeviperMKII]

what do you mean by correctly?

if one has a certain point of view about something how would the outcome be different from what they expected?

isn't changing your perspective the best way to get the most accurate information?

This doesn't really have anything to do with point of view. It is very much like the laws of physics. If you drop something, it will fall, yes? Religion is about getting the courage to actually do the dropping. The rest happens automatically.

 

[astarath]

My ability to reason is why I have faith.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

My ability to reason is why I have faith.

My ability to do math is why I like chocolate ice cream.

 

[waitasec]

Religion is about getting the courage to actually do the dropping. The rest happens automatically.

not necessarily true...
just open any history book and you will see where religion has fallen short only because it depends on the subjective understanding of the many many interpretations of religion. one subjective understanding is that ones religion is the true religion another is the understanding of what religion qualifies as morality.
but maybe we need to define religion...

 

[outhouse]

How do you teach something that can only be learned? If you've got an answer to that, I'd love to hear it.

YEC?

Those who have eyes to see but do not see are blind by their own choice. Their blinders are their own. No one can remove them for them.

YEC young earth creationist