Religion

Lordquinton

(7,886 posts)

16. I think we should stop using faith and belief as descriptive words

Sat Sep 15, 2018, 07:33 PM

Sep 2018

They are too ambiguous, and are used more for the moral weight they carry, rather than their meaning.

For example, recently a poster said roughly "x believes in good because of faith, y doesn't believe in God despite a lack of evidence." Belief, in this context, should instead be acceptance. Such as "I accept that God exists" or the inverse "I reject that God exists." And faith should be seen as "accepting something exists despite a lack of evidence."

This erases any semantic ambiguity, and also so one position isn't seen as better than another due to the weight the terms carry, rather than on it's own merit.

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Belief vs. Knowledge [View all] MineralMan Sep 2018 OP

Faith zipplewrath Sep 2018 #1

The word "belief" has multiple meanings. MineralMan Sep 2018 #3

Not sure that's what Dick was talking about though zipplewrath Sep 2018 #5

According to one definition knowledge is justified true belief marylandblue Sep 2018 #2

I posted this in the Religion Group, so I'm talking about the MineralMan Sep 2018 #4

My response was in the context of religion as well marylandblue Sep 2018 #6

Communication is always difficult when world views are so far apart. MineralMan Sep 2018 #7

I agree with you that belief has varied interpretations and definitions qazplm135 Sep 2018 #27

Very true Pendrench Sep 2018 #8

Education and personal experience are both a type of evidence marylandblue Sep 2018 #9

Maybe not argue about a personal experience edhopper Sep 2018 #10

Hi edhopper - very good point. Pendrench Sep 2018 #12

Thanks edhopper Sep 2018 #13

You're very welcome. Pendrench Sep 2018 #14

Yes the scientific explanation of the experience can be prosaic marylandblue Sep 2018 #15

True edhopper Sep 2018 #17

Don't we all act according to what we think our experience means? marylandblue Sep 2018 #19

some of us try to ascertain edhopper Sep 2018 #21

That's not an easy thing to do, it doesn't come naturally marylandblue Sep 2018 #24

This edhopper Sep 2018 #25

very, very few of us do that qazplm135 Sep 2018 #28

True edhopper Sep 2018 #30

but studies show qazplm135 Sep 2018 #32

And edhopper Sep 2018 #33

obviously we are talking past each other qazplm135 Sep 2018 #35

Then we just disagree edhopper Sep 2018 #36

I think some are better than others qazplm135 Sep 2018 #40

More's the pity, isn't it? MineralMan Sep 2018 #31

sure anyone operating at the best of their abilities is better than the alternative qazplm135 Sep 2018 #34

As the poster said, clearly, we TRY. MineralMan Sep 2018 #37

I thought qazplm135 Sep 2018 #39

Hi marylandblue - a very good point about scientific evidence. Pendrench Sep 2018 #11

I think we should stop using faith and belief as descriptive words Lordquinton Sep 2018 #16

Great idea, but unlikely to be implemented. MineralMan Sep 2018 #20

Half their arguments rely on semantic chicanery Lordquinton Sep 2018 #22

Or Allah. MineralMan Sep 2018 #23

I don't know what wave you are talking about specifically qazplm135 Sep 2018 #29

Great link.. Permanut Sep 2018 #18

In a universe that defies description... orangecrush Sep 2018 #26

Who says the Universe edhopper Sep 2018 #38

Just my point! orangecrush Sep 2018 #41

But we can edhopper Sep 2018 #42

True orangecrush Sep 2018 #43

true that edhopper Sep 2018 #44

I am not so hopeful... nt uriel1972 Sep 2018 #45