Is faith a reliable way to determine what is true?

[sergeantrex]

Title say's it all discuss.

[VAReact]

No.
/thread

[sergeantrex]

I am always puzzled when people of faith speak with certainty regarding their religious beliefs.

[VAReact]

Faith (noun)

Belief that is not based on proof.

(Above emphasis mine)

[sonofeugene]

Faith comes into play when the facts are not there, for whatever reason. Faith can never determine fact.

[sergeantrex]

Faith comes into play when the facts are not there, for whatever reason. Faith can never determine fact.

Then why do we consider faith a "good thing" in our society? Why would anyone speak with certainty regarding their particular religious beliefs and insist that others believe the same?

[eb47]

I think that you have it reversed. Truth builds faith.

[sergeantrex]

I think that you have it reversed. Truth builds faith.

I'm confused EB47, Are you talking about trust?

[eb47]

I'm confused EB47, Are you talking about trust?

More like truth/absolutes. Beliefs and testimonies can be passed down from generation to generation but not personal experiences. Those we will encounter ourselves and find out what it is to be truth. Then faith will be grown. In which direction, that's for you to decide.

[sergeantrex]

More like truth/absolutes. Beliefs and testimonies can be passed down from generation to generation but not personal experiences. Those we will encounter ourselves and find out what it is to be truth. Then faith will be grown. In which direction, that's for you to decide.

Truths and testimonies passed down. Why should I accept that as truth when there are testimonies and "truths" passed down with conflicting beliefs? Seems many different faith disagree what is true with no mechanism for me to determine which is true because it is all based on faith.

When talking about these kind of things it is important to agree on definitions of words. Could you define "truths?"

[MarinRange42]

Title say's it all discuss.

Yes, if you don't have faith in right vs wrong, then your morals need adjustment and you should seek a remedy. That's all.

Or...

Do you not want to trust the faith you have to make your own decisions....

[brando]

Is faith a reliable way to determine what is true? Of course not - it has no mechanism for investigation. History shows us that faith is dogma, essentially a truth that cannot be queried or questioned. That's precisely why "you need to have faith" is used to stop inquiry or counter contrary evidence, an effective social control function, in my opinion.

[eb47]

Truths and testimonies passed down. Why should I accept that as truth when there are testimonies and "truths" passed down with conflicting beliefs? Seems many different faith disagree what is true with no mechanism for me to determine which is true because it is all based on faith.

When talking about these kind of things it is important to agree on definitions of words. Could you define "truths?"

It is also important to read the posts correctly. Who said truth and testimonies passed down? I said "beliefs". Big difference.

[sergeantrex]

Yes, if you don't have faith in right vs wrong, then your morals need adjustment and you should seek a remedy. That's all.

Or...

Do you not want to trust the faith you have to make your own decisions....

So one has to have faith to have morals? I disagree.

[sergeantrex]

It is also important to read the posts correctly. Who said truth and testimonies passed down? I said "beliefs". Big difference.

OK how does beliefs passed down make that belief true?