Faith

I am reading a new book. It is filled with philosophical conundrums. The introduction compares philosophy to religion. The argument is that the former can be justified where the latter cannot. Over the years I have read this assertion in reference to many areas of study. Every group of thinking individuals places their interests above religion. They argue that faith is unscientific and therefore less than worthy of serious consideration.

It is true that religion and faith are intertwined. While many intellectuals disapprove of religion in its many forms, they also by proxy, damn the concept of faith as well. This is patently unfair. No matter what one believes in, no matter the area of science or humanities, faith is part of the equation. Belief in what we espouse is a given or why else would we think it or say it?

Faith is not solely a religious concept. I have faith I will wake up in the morning and that wild elephants will not trample me once I do. I am simply tired of being told that logic and reason are somehow concrete and yet faith is the lifeboat that the simple minded hang on to. No matter what we do or think or say there will always be an element of belief.

Believing in yourself and in your abilities is not a human failing. All of these brilliant minds in various fields should know this. Why is it so dangerous to mix what one can prove with what one cannot? Seeing and believing, no matter how persuasive the argument, requires some amount of faith. This should not be a dirty word.

I am not trying to prop up religion nor defend it from attackers. My assertion is that faith is universal. Are we so cocksure that our ability to think and behave reasonably is infallible? Of course not. What we learn so often changes or is replaced with new information. There are always limits to what we can and do know. The best we can do is take things with a grain of salt and be prepared to change our minds.