"Faith," like many words in English, has more than one meaning. Take a look at:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/defini...ctCode=all
Because of the various definitions, people often speak past each other. The proper solution, of course, is to ask each other, what, precisely, does one mean by ones terms?
For a discussion of 2 (which is essentially belief without evidence), take a look at what William Kingdon Clifford had to say at:
http://ajburger.homestead.com/files/book.htm
If you are thinking of 1, there is a difference between trusting someone or something with evidence that the thing one is trusting is actually trustworthy, and trusting it without such evidence.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/defini...ctCode=all
Quote:faith
noun
[MASS NOUN]
1 Complete trust or confidence in someone or something:
this restores one’s faith in politicians
2 Strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof:
bereaved people who have shown supreme faith
2.1 [COUNT NOUN] A particular religion:
the Christian faith
2.2 [COUNT NOUN] A strongly held belief:
men with strong political faiths
Because of the various definitions, people often speak past each other. The proper solution, of course, is to ask each other, what, precisely, does one mean by ones terms?
For a discussion of 2 (which is essentially belief without evidence), take a look at what William Kingdon Clifford had to say at:
http://ajburger.homestead.com/files/book.htm
If you are thinking of 1, there is a difference between trusting someone or something with evidence that the thing one is trusting is actually trustworthy, and trusting it without such evidence.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
