Does the Bible Contradict Itself?

[spockrates]

Your answer is actually the one I've given during conversations with those of such certain beliefs. I have to admit that I admire how sure they are of themselves, but I wonder if such a complete absence of doubt makes one more susceptible to deception, rather than less so.

When you discredit reason, and replace it with faith, why do you need to doubt what you believe? The whole thing about using reason is that you do doubt.

Agreed! Without reason, one's faith is blind. By faith, I'm speaking merely of trust. For example, someone might accuse you of being a harsh person who cares nothing for those seeking truth.

"Look how Napoleon abuses anyone who asks questions, or expresses any doubts that what he say is true! I feel that he could not care less about you!" such an uninfomed critic might say after reading some of your posts and taking them out of context.

"Not true!" I'd reply in your defense, "Napoleon might have his off moments, just like I do, but I have faith that he really does care. I believe in him; and if you'd give him half a chance, you'd become a believer, too!"

Now in this case, I'd say your critic's faith is blind. Rather than based on the full facts, it's based on a hasty judgment. My opinion, I believe is based on reason and a better grasp of a more objective and complete conception of you, which is closer to the truth.

Would you say, then that (at least in this example) faith is not antethetical to reason? One might say reason reveals the truth to us, but faith puts trust in what reason reveals, don't you think?