Faith is a measure of irrationality

[ThomM]

You've heard people say it before, "I have faith" or so and so has a lot of faith. What does that mean really? What is having a lot of faith?

It would seem that having a lot of faith is the act of tenatiously rejecting reality. You walk out your house without an umbrella even though you've got big gray clouds in the sky. Is this faith?

If I keep telling myself that something unlikely to happen will, does that constitute faith?

When does faith become stupid? When do adults take responsibility for their own lives? Does someone who believes they can walk on water have more faith than somone who believes they will pass a test?

I remember being in a restuarant and a man came in and said he was a man of faith. He had an incredible sense of superiority. It's sad that a bold statement like that can be said with such gusto in 2014.

I think faith is directly proportional to irrationality.

The word "faith" is not inherently a religious word - it applies in LOTS of non-religious areas - and is not generally irrationality. In fact - it is normally based on Past Experience - which is indeed rational.

So - when you have faith that a person will do what they say - when your past experience with that person indicates that they are good for their word - is simply recognizing that they are more likely to do what they say - than someone who is NEVER good for their word. It is much like the faith you have in your parents when you were a child.

As far as religious "faith" - it is not irrational, When confronted with a world where most people believe that some kind of god (or gods) existed and created the Universe - it is not irrational - especially if YOU have been told by an otherwise reliable source (like a parent).

But - when confronted with the LACK of provable truth in religion -especially when you are educated to question things - it is rational to question what you have been told - and based on the results of those questions and lack of answers - it would then be irrational to continue to accept religion.