BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Philosophy Is Blind faith a good idea?

I THINK WE HAVE TO BELIEVE IN SOMETHING AND LOVE SOMETHING IN ORDER TO BE HAPPY AND HAVE MEANING IN YOUR LIFE, SOMETIMES THOUGH I THINK MAYBE WE MIGHT BELIEVE IN SOMETHING THAT MIGHT NOT BE TRUE LIKE SAY�RELIGION� WE FIND COMFORT IN IT AND WOULD RATHER NOT QUESTION WHETER OR NOT ITS TRUE NOT SAYING ITS NOT TRUE, I BELIEVE THE CORRECT OPINION ON THE RELIGION VS SCIENCE ARGUMENT IS NOT HAVING ONE NEITHER SIDE HAS REAL SOLID PROOF I ADMIRE THE SIDE OF SCIENCE FOR NOT SIMPLY ACCEPTING SOMTHING AND BLINDLY FOLLOWING PERSONALLY IM MORE INCLINED TO BE ANTI-RELIGION ALTHOUGH I WAS ONCE A REBORN CHRISTIAN AND WHILE I TRULY BELIEVED IN IT I DID SOME CRAZY THINGS TO GET OTHER PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IT TOO (

I believe to do anything blindly, without reason, without question, without a search for "truth" (however you want to define that) is sheer folly.

As I studied the human body, the specialized systems, the mechanics of the endocrine system, the vascular, lymphatic, skeletal, nervous systems, how all these separate systems depend on each other, I have to believe in some kind of genius. Maybe omnipotent power. Either way, it's safer to believe in a religion and possibly go to heaven, than not and possibly go to hell...

Believing in anything, no matter what it is, because it is safer seems like the worst reason to me. Believe what you will, but, please, believe it because you have examined it, examined yourself and your reasons for that belief.

Of course, our systems are interdependent, our families, villages, cities, states and countries are interdependent. This makes no presumption of any omnipotent power. The world must be that way to survive. And we made it so

DSNNM: Suppose, for the sake of discussion, that there is a God (whether or not you currently believe is immaterial to the discussion as we're assuming a theoretical position). If God asked you, why do you believe in me, do you believe he/she/it would prefer you to answer:
(a) because... I don't really know why... I just do
(a) someone said I should
(b) I'm afraid I might go to hell (or suffer some severe fate, etc.), if I don't
(c) because I have been told of you, have searched for you, have questioned and debated the value of you, and believe with all of my heart/soul/whatever that you exist and have a place in my life.

LYNN B.
I would answer "Because I have seen your miracles."
I couldn't say what answer would be prefered.
PONDLADY
I have a hard time, thinking we were an accident of any kind. I would rather believe that once the genetics were in place, free will took over. I would rather believe that we were designed to evolve to where we are now. That having a conscience and being able to love was a part of that design. Although mankind is able to "create life", we cannot create the components that are needed to create that life. Blind faith is never really blind. All the answers are there, you just need to ask the right questions. Some people say, we are only given what we can handle, and that those that fail, chose to do so. God or no God, the sugestion of one instills inspiration to succeed and that is "the safe way". Without an answer to "Is this all there is" what would inspire us to do right by others, help victims of hurricanes, raise our children, or even get up in the morning? Sorry for being so winded...

We see the sun rise and set. That was once a "miracle." But now we've accepted/believe that its merely a result of the orbit of the planets.

Whether you are seeking to find "God" or seeking to find the link between pigs and elephants, the way a quest to belief works is this: We've seen or been told about it, we've questioned and debated why it happens, we've gained understanding, we assign it a personal value and finally we come to full acceptance/belief.

To leap from "seeing" to "believing" without also exploring, questioning and growing has little value. What would you gain by it other than the ability to say to someone "I believe."

The greatest philsophers of "God" (Jesus, Mohammad, whomever--pick one, it doesn't really matter) tell us that blind faith is dangerous. We are instructed, if we are believers, to seek understanding and to question our realities--not to follow like sheep.

Is "God" necessary for "moral" behavior? No. We create our own morality, based on personal and societal norms and values.

Is "God" necessary for inspiration? Again, no. Many people find inspiration in simply being alive.

Whether or not "this is all there is," to me is unimportant. We live, we die, the world goes on.

Ah, the old "argument from design" followed by the coup de grace of Pascal's Wager, eh?

Hiya folks, I've just taken over as Philosophy editor and I see we've got some lively philosophising going on already. I think I'm going to like it here.

Bear with me for a month or so till I get the site re-organised a bit. I'll post again soon with my plans for the first phase of that but I wouldn't be surprised if it includes the father of modern western Philosophy... whoever that might be. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

The greatest Gurus Of India have said that never accept any body as your Guru without finding out first. Do not go by words alone. Have no blind faith.

Ticker,
So you are saying you once were saved and now you're lost?