Is belief necessary?

[idav]

I see people make out the words 'belief' and 'faith' as dirty words to avoid. Logic and reason are not the only tools we need to use. Belief and faith are also tools but can and should be based on logic and reason. We simply gather the evidence and believe in what has the greatest probability of being true.

We do this in every day life when we aren't handed the answers and people can be deceitful so we have to read between the lines and use common sense to figure out stuff without having all the truth. Much like a detective needing to figure stuff out without always having all the evidence.

If we had all the answers faith and belief wouldn't be necessary but since we are always learning we sometimes have to make the best educated guess that is possible.

An atheist is guessing based on evidence or lack of just like theists basing their beliefs on the evidence that has been presented to them.

 

[F0uad]

Can you proof to me that you had an great-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand mother? I would say no but you know that she had to exist because you exist its the same way on how religious people look into the creation of everything, universe or beginning.

Maybe you can show us testimonies but so can religious people, maybe you can use logic to explain her existence but so can religious people.

 

[Willamena]

I see people make out the words 'belief' and 'faith' as dirty words to avoid. Logic and reason are not the only tools we need to use. Belief and faith are also tools but can and should be based on logic and reason. We simply gather the evidence and believe in what has the greatest probability of being true.

We do this in every day life when we aren't handed the answers and people can be deceitful so we have to read between the lines and use common sense to figure out stuff without having all the truth. Much like a detective needing to figure stuff out without always having all the evidence.

If we had all the answers faith and belief wouldn't be necessary but since we are always learning we sometimes have to make the best educated guess that is possible.

An atheist is guessing based on evidence or lack of just like theists basing their beliefs on the evidence that has been presented to them.

According to the Greek philosophers, who are considered authorities in this sort of things, every bit of information that's held to be true is believed. So I guess belief is as necessary as information.

Guessing is another matter, though.

 

[idav]

According to the Greek philosophers, who are considered authorities in this sort of things, every bit of information that's held to be true is believed. So I guess belief is as necessary as information.

Guessing is another matter, though.

Wouldn't knowledge be distinguished from belief? So that we don't have to actually know something we believe.

Usually when I say I believe something it means that it is more of an opinion. Though I suppose knowledge is the best way to get a firm conviction of something.

1
a: to have a firm religious faith b: to accept something as true, genuine, or real <ideals we believe in> <believes in ghosts>
2
: to have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something <believe in exercise>

3
: to hold an opinion : think <I believe so>

Believe - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

 

[Willamena]

Wouldn't knowledge be distinguished from belief? So that we don't have to actually know something we believe.

Knowledge is belief that happens to actually be true. We necessarily believe what we know.

Usually when I say I believe something it means that it is more of an opinion. Though I suppose knowledge is the best way to get a firm conviction of something.

1
a: to have a firm religious faith b: to accept something as true, genuine, or real <ideals we believe in> <believes in ghosts>
2
: to have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something <believe in exercise>

3
: to hold an opinion : think <I believe so>

Believe - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

An opinion is distinguished by it being yours, or more specifically you've inserted "you" into the message. Both opinion and belief are held to be unique case, i.e. yours.

 

[MD]

Belief is evolutionarily selective and thus is not only necessary but beneficial

 

[Zantiax]

Belief is evolutionarily selective and thus is not only necessary but beneficial

The twin towers do not agree

 

[mohammad_rayhan]

I believe that the word 'belief' is a dirty word. I have faith that one day the word 'faith' will be avoided once and for all.

i am kidding - i dont want to offend any one =) Have a good day =)

 

[Zantiax]

Was atheist, now a muslim?

hmm

 

[F0uad]

Was atheist, now a muslim?

hmm

Why sad?

 

[Falvlun]

Can you proof to me that you had an great-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand mother? I would say no but you know that she had to exist because you exist its the same way on how religious people look into the creation of everything, universe or beginning.

Maybe you can show us testimonies but so can religious people, maybe you can use logic to explain her existence but so can religious people.

? My existence IS proof that I had a great-ad infinitum grandmother.

 

[1137]

I don't see what is wrong with either. Fideism, yes. Belief and faith, no. As you said in the OP, faith can be based on logical inference and factual evidence. Belief, I see no reason people avoid the world. Everyone believes things, whether they believe the truth or they believe the lie.

 

[Reverend Richard]

.....We simply gather the evidence and believe in what has the greatest probability of being true...

And yet, each of us still reach different conclusions because we each have our own "proof" of what is true. For Christians the proof is in the New Testament. For Muslims, the proof is in the Quran. For Mormons, the proof is in the Book of Mormon. How would you calculate the probabilities using each of these holy scriptures?

Don't misunderstand me. I do believe in God - or at least I believe in a higher power. But I don't believe I need to (or even can) prove it, so therein lies my faith. As I see it, the problem with ALL scripture is that it's at best an approximation of God - and a poor approximation at that. Why? Because in all cases, humans were involved in receiving it whether through recitation, divine inspiration, or interpretation.

For me, God is powerful enough that He (or She) doesn't need our help to make believers of others. So it would be foolish and even arrogant of me to assume that I need to, or must, convert you to my faith. If God wants all of us to be of one faith, whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Jewish, then God would figure out a way to make His desire perfectly clear without resorting to Crusades, Inquisitions, or Jihad. With one breath, God could clarify his wishes to all of humanity, and we could collectively decide whether to believe, or to not believe.

God is God. Religion is an invention of the human mind.

 

[swamplizard]

....enter awareness.

best,
swampy