RE: Theists, what does faith mean to you?
August 7, 2015 at 4:58 pm
(This post was last modified: August 7, 2015 at 5:05 pm by Simon Moon.)
(August 7, 2015 at 4:07 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote:(August 7, 2015 at 3:41 pm)Simon Moon Wrote: Here's one of the problems with your analogy about your husband loving you.(my bold)
Most outsiders would probably be able to tell that your husband loves you. We would most likely see: him showing you affection, treating you with respect, taking you out, sharing child rearing, taking care of you when you are sick and much more.
There is demonstrable evidence that he loves you.
No such similar types of evidence is demonstrable for the faith you have for your god. All we have is your word that you have had some sort of experience. That tells us nothing more.
And more importantly, it should cause you to question why there isn't the same kind of evidence for your god, as that of your husband's love. Especially given the errors and faulty perceptions the human mind is known to produce.
It seems to me you are using 2 different definitions for the word 'faith'.
But I don't need other people telling me that he does to know he does. It's not like I wouldn't know it unless others had told me. If we were the only 2 people on earth, and there was no one else to "affirm" that he loves me, I would still have just as much faith that he does.
You are correct that it would be much easier to show someone else evidence that my husband loves me than it would to show someone else evidence that God exists. It's something they kind of have to experience for themselves to a certain extent. But the question wasn't about being able to prove my faith to others, the question was about what faith meant for me and why I believe what I do.
Although when you say this: "No such similar types of evidence is demonstrable for the faith you have for your god." It's not really true, considering there are many other Christian people in the world who can attest for the same thing.
[Bolding mine]
Yes, and there are 1.5 billion Muslims and 1.1 billion Hindus that have the same kind of faith in the existence of their gods that you have for yours. They have personal experiences with their gods, their gods are said to have performed miracles, etc.
You could be able to observe a loving Hindu couple, and be able to tell that the husband loves his wife because of the same kinds of behavior your husband exhibits toward you.
Yet, you would observe the faith they have in their gods and see no evidence for their gods existence. Their personal experiences would be completely unconvincing to you. You would still walk away not believing in their gods.
I'm not sure why you are unable to see the difference in the way you are using the word 'faith' for you husband's love and the existence of your god?
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
