A comparison that's on my mind tonight...

Blind faith is a redundant term. Faith is faith.

Right, education is the key...

So I guess I shouldn't believe the body of science when it comes to molecular biology or what-not, I should spend a coupla decades studying at university before I give them any credence? Or maybe I should just ask a priest.


What has religion ever done for humanity besides divide people?

 

It gave us waterboarding.

 

It has also united people It has influenced societies in lots of ways really.

Personally I find there's a difference between having faith while using critical thinking skills and absolute blind faith. The term blind faith may sound redundant indeed but it isn't around for ages for nothing. It emphasizes on a certain kind/way of having faith. Perhaps you disagree with the wording but at least you know what I ment (hopefully)

 

While I don't agree with the idea of science as a religion, I do think you make a good point about certain things being kept from the general population.

 

Unfortunately, it's probably also killed as many people throughout history as it's united.

 

People kill people. When looking objective at historical religious wars you will see many of them had more earthly motives. Not saying religion hasn't caused a lot of suffering as well but you were asking me if it had done anything else. Then I answered it. Then you give me the statement we all already know. This is a good example why so many people are tired of these kind of discussions. It always ends with the same obvious generalisations. But in the end it is not so apparent at all how our society would have developed without. It has a complex history and a lot of influences. But religions really don't wage war against eachother, even if one might have a line in a text somewhere that says kill the infidels.

 

With all respect, yes...people kill people but it has definitely been done for religious reasons throughout history. Hell, there have even been instances of one group of people invading and slaughtering entire towns of people of the same religion just because of a slight difference in interpretation. And when people with hidden agendas use religion to rile common people into war....the people actually doing the killing are doing it for religious reasons regardless of the unknown agenda or misinterpretation of text, etc.

 

What does that mean?

 

Yes, we all know atrocities has been carried out in the name of religion. I'm not denying that, we all know it already. It's almost always done so with other motives, such as oppression and/or propaganda. Would there have been no such things without any religion? We can't say with certainty at all, but my guess is probably just as much.
Anyway, was this the direction you wished the thread to go in when you made it?

 

I believe in faith AND science. I have faith that if I fall off a roof, the scientific theory of gravity will kick my ass. Perhaps permanently.

Science= -1-The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation and theoretical explanation of natural phenomena. (seems handy.)
Science=-2-Knowledge; especially knowledge gained through experience.

Faith=-1-A confident belief in the truth, value or trustworthiness of a person, idea or thing.
Faith=-2-Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.

Just a reminder. So there ya' go. Pick your belief. One or the other or both.

Personally, since I am a biological entity among other biological entities, I'll go with observational, ever changing science. When I change from my present form--if I'm able to exist in another form, I'll see how that goes. Although, the dearth of empirical evidence for the latter has been non-existent, that's obviously the way it's supposed to be. If we were meant to know the nature of our place in existence and the nature of EXISTENCE itself---we would. So, let's enjoy the short ride we have in our sentient forms and what will be will be.

 

I didn't really have a direction in mind. It's just interesting to hear peoples thoughts on the subject. Sometimes someone will toss something out there that you have to consider and reconcile with what you currently think. And I should say....I'm not one of those people who is staunchly locked into his belief. I'm more than happy to consider new information when it presents itself.

 

Well, that's only normal

 

You would think so but there are people who refuse to acknowledge anything that challenges their views. I know a few of them and I can't stand talking to them.

 

I know a few of them too. It's generally only on one or two subjects so if you can avoid those they appear to be not too bad.

 

I have faith that there are things science has yet to discover.

 

Science really only gives us confidence that given specific criteria, we observe specific probabilities.

That is important to remember, science is always tentative and never absolute. Given that, there are many who revere science as much as any religious zealot reveres their particular belief system.

My view of faith is more of a verb than a noun.
Faith is in reality action based on a position of confidence concerning whatever the subject of that faith is.
Abraham had confidence in Gods promises based on prior experience and acted in accordance with that confidence.
I have confidence in my cars brakes and therefore use them to stop my vehicle with a great deal of confidence or faith.

The term "blind faith" is lame and really isn't a precept presented in the Biblical religions, even though that is the arena in which it is most commonly "used".

If memory serves, the Biblical God always put stuff out there in a "I'm gonna do this and after you see it you will have more confidence or faith that what I say in the future can also be met with the same confidence or faith." manner more so than just the "DO IT!!!" manner which seems to have become the defacto way of considering it.

So if the true Biblical concept of faith is taking action based on prior experience and the confidence engendered by that prior experience then it is pretty parallel with modern sciences methodology of developing faith based on observed probabilities.

Don't mean to take this into some Bible talk or crap, but that usually is the religion in mind when terms such as "blind faith" get thrown around.

And I won't even get into how science is more and more tipping towards the realm of religion with our increasing knowledge concerning quantum physics.
They are starting to get into some rather "esoteric" concepts concerning the nature of reality, consciousness and what "we" actually are.

 

i'm curious. do you practice religion? do you have religious faith?
(my gut says no)

what about science? do you reject science because it is too similar to religion?

(i still maintain that they aren't very similar)

 

And many of those things you will probably never be told about.

 

Am I religious? I am very much NOT religious, and I have deep-seated reservations pertaining to all forms of organized religion. However, I am open to the fact that there is more than can be explained than by science alone, especially when the flow of scientific information released to the general public is controlled like all other forms of information. The problem is many people have unwavering faith in the system that they're being kept in the open. I am annoyed by this type of thinking and find it to be gullible at best.