I got into a discussion with a christian friend of mine about faith. He claims he knows atheist that have lucky underwear, and believe it actually helps.
He said: "okay say 2 people are going into a war. One guy wears he's 'lucky scarf' around his right arm, the other guy kissing a cross for good fortune. How are those not the same thing?"
I said because the one with the scarf doesn't worship the scarf, he doesn't think that the scarf created the world, he doesn't think that the scarf will send him to eternal paradise if he wears it, etc. and that it wasn't magical. It only gives him confidence.
He then asked me to explain where the confidence comes from, and I had a hard time explaining it because to me there was really nothing else to say.
so I need suggestions. What is the difference between faith in god and lucky underwear? And how do I explain the confidence part?
He said: "okay say 2 people are going into a war. One guy wears he's 'lucky scarf' around his right arm, the other guy kissing a cross for good fortune. How are those not the same thing?"
I said because the one with the scarf doesn't worship the scarf, he doesn't think that the scarf created the world, he doesn't think that the scarf will send him to eternal paradise if he wears it, etc. and that it wasn't magical. It only gives him confidence.
He then asked me to explain where the confidence comes from, and I had a hard time explaining it because to me there was really nothing else to say.
so I need suggestions. What is the difference between faith in god and lucky underwear? And how do I explain the confidence part?
"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful with out having to believe there are fairies at the bottom of it to?" -Douglas Adams.
