Questions For You Non Believers

[Angrboda]

I think this sort of "faith" would be worlds more compelling than the "it's twuuu it's twuuu it's twuuuu" variety. More like "Okay, it may not be - I certainly can't prove to anyone that it is- but I can't exactly control all of the things I believe (or don't), however - the reason that I would like for it to be true is thus, and thus, and thus"

(trying to imagine a "reasonable faith" is, to me, extremely difficult. I can't eve say that It's possible for me to do so..but I can imagine a faith (no reason required) that avoids making unreasonable claims.)

This raises the question of what separates a faith that doesn't feel the need to make claims - or even more, to get others to believe those claims - and one that does. (There are now in East Asia, and historically through East and West Asia, faiths that, largely indigenously, aren't about making claims and getting others to believe them. I think of local and Taoist gods in China, Shinto in Japan, and local gods and folk religion in India, not to mention the vast panoply of African, Slavic and Scandinavian traditions. Wee folk, anyone?)

I wonder if it is a necessary part of some faiths, bound up in the meaning of that faith. I also see that it wouldn't take but a slight push or small breeze to move one from one of these poles to the other. If that happens, then what is driving that movement.

I read Brian37's list and couldn't help but think that for some religious, say Christians, there isn't a mirror list of good things it would be inappropriate for you to keep to yourself.

Dennett in a Youtube video talks about a project that interviewed a half dozen or so "atheist clergy" - clergy who had lost their faith, yet remain in the closet as practicing clergy. It's all they know how to do, be a priest or pastor. What are their options? And if those are "out" in the confidentiality of this project, how many more are purely closeted? And if that's true of clergy, might it also be true of the laity as well, for a portion of them?

(ETA: I think it's telling that Christ was king of the Jews, and the most beloved of Jews, aside from Levi and the other priestly tribe, were the kings such as David and Solomon. Being a member of the Abrahamanic faiths seems to imply a strong political element, one concerned with binding and ruling people.)