The Meaning of Faith

FAITH is a strong word. Its utterance can evoke powerful emotions and spark lively discussions. But when one tries to probe deeper into its subject matter, the need for a clearer definition emerges. The question that drives people's interest sounds ironically simple: What does it mean to have faith? Many philosophers have dealt with the concept of faith. Evidence of this can be found in Kirkegaard's Fear and Trembling and Nietzsche's The Gay Science. These works present the reader with engaging attempts to answer the aforementioned question.

Nietzsche introduces various notions of faith in his book. Only one, however, represents true faith. He asserts that "Few people have faith in themselves. Of these few, some are endowed with it as with a useful blindness or a partial eclipse of their spirit" (Nietzsche, p.229). To understand the concept of "useful blindness" one must learn about certain distinctions Nietzsche makes. Specifically, a fundamental distinction is made between the universal and the individual. To the universal he attaches "healthy common sense" and "rationality"(Nietzsche, p.130). Although these may sound like desirable elements of human nature, Nietzsche argues that they are to be regarded as oppressive. From his perspective they restrict individualism. Nietzsche supports this claim by maintaining that people in the universal submit to a "law of agreement"(Nietzsche, p.130). This law of agreement he defines as "the discipline of the mind that mankind has received"(Nietzsche, p.130). The quotation shows that instead of questioning this given "rationality" many people accept it blindly. Being disciplined to give up one's autonomy leads to the transformation of the individual into " a mere function of the whole"(...

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... Kirkegaard offer an influential explanation of faith. A thorough analysis of the terms and categories they use to arrive at their conclusion as to what it means to have faith in oneself is enlightening. From what has been said, one can infer that they put great emphasis on the nature of communication between individuals. In Kirkegaard's terms, the absurd is the only way one can think about another person because that is the only way not to devaluate that person. Similarly, Nietzsche stresses the vitality of dissatisfaction - dissatisfaction that encourages people to acquire faith. The sacrificing of Isaac and the will not to deceive, not even oneself are concepts that seem contradictory in the universal yet are paradoxical in faith. To conclude, faith is an "essentially human passion"(Kirkegaard, p.121) that honors concepts such as mutual understanding and love.