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.
The book A Prayer for Owen Meany brings forth various themes and questions that can't be answered easily. One of these questions is "Can religious faith exist alongside doubt, or are the two mutually exclusive?" There are several different possible takes on this question may be answered. How a person answers this question is related to their belief in faith.
In Paul Tillich’s 1957 work Dynamics of Faith, he mentions that there are six major components of faith. These six components of faith describe the Franciscan perspective of “faith”. According to Tillich, the first component of faith is “the state of being ultimately concerned”. The second component of faith is that it is supposed to be at the center of all of our personal lives and everything that we do throughout our own individual lives. The third component of faith is that we should have an awareness for “infinite” things such as God himself. The fourth component of faith is that we need to understand that faith can act as fear, fascination, or both of these qualities at the same time. The fifth component of faith is that doubt is a major product that will always exist with faith. The last component of faith is that we need a community in order to have a “language of faith”.
Our faith must go beyond our intellectual aspect that it will transcend to the sphere of the infinite. Faith must not come from others, it must be personal, and it must not come from the teaching of the priest or the church dogmas, it must come from our deep personal relationship with God, which is Absolute, Perfect, Omnipresent, etc. And in the teleological suspension of the ethical or to be in the religious stage, one must embrace first the ethical life which is universal and what usually the society follows and to transcend to the realm of faith, which is necessary to believe in the
The thesis of the Epilogue comes from an unorthodox definition of faith and belief. Belief in the Cartesian World refers to something that has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The key term in this definition
Paul Tillich. “What Faith Is”. The Human Experience: Who Am I?. 8th ed. Winthrop University: Rock Hill SC, 2012. 269-273. Print.
I will explore the relationship between faith and belief. At first glance, most of us will have the same thought that there is no difference between faith and belief. However, if we carefully examine them in detail, we will recognize their differences. Consider the difference in the meaning of “belief” in the following propositions: “I believe it will rain tomorrow” and “I believe 2+2=4.” Our general purpose is to express our thoughts to others and show them what things we want to believe. Shortly, our belief can be changed depending on our mood or our different cultures. When we’re talking about our faith, we must keep it in constancy. We can not say today our faith is this and tomorrow is on another. Therefore, the difference between faith and belief can be express as: faith is constant, and belief is varied. Faith shows “X-experiences and pre-cu...
Faith is something a person must have inside them to be able to succeed. Success and failure are two completely different things, but faith is what separates the two. In the short story “A Fable with Slips of White Paper Spilling from the Pockets” by Kevin Brockmeier, the author illustrates the struggles a man must overcome in society and the obstacles he must overcome when his faith is tested to the limit. In the fable, the author uses symbols of faith, magical elements, and realistic struggles to divulge the morals and struggles of life.
Mackervoy, Ian. "What *faith Should Do." James. Wycliffe Associates, Feb. 2003. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
Today, faith is the cornerstone of all major religious knowledge claims because there is no definitive way of...
Faith is confidence and complete trust in someone or something. Faith makes life richer and fuller, but is questioned in life. In Kevin Brockmeier’s story, “A Fable with Slips of White Paper Spilling from the Pockets,” faith is represented by God’s overcoat. The story shows that everyone has faith because faith makes life richer and gives hope. The main character finds an overcoat at a thrift shop, but he begins to pull out slips of paper with people’s prayers. The moral lesson to this story is one does not know what they have until it is gone. Brockmeier uses symbols of faith, magical elements, and realistic struggles to reveal the morals and lessons about humanity.
Many sources define faith as a belief in something not based upon proof, an intangible trust that a person holds close to their heart despite inconclusive evidence. This notion of faith depicts both ones wishes that their favorite sports team will win a match tomorrow and a hope that they will return safely from distant travels. Many also use this same term – “Faith” – to describe an individual’s given religious beliefs. This notion of religious faith infers that faith in God is something exclusively spiritual and nonconcrete – a belief only supported by inexplicable ideas as opposed to facts and evidence. Yet, as one begins to examine faith further, they come to realize that faith reaches far beyond an individual’s spiritual experience. Although many classify faith as intangible and lacking in proof, religious faith is in fact a concrete reality of life that displays the emotional, physical, and experiential aspects of the human soul. In Proverbs 3: 1-12, the author exemplifies how the emotional, physical, and experiential aspects of faith should play out regularly in everyday life.
Pope John Paul II once said, “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth – in a word, to know himself – so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves.” (Fallible Blogma) Based on this significant and powerful quote, one can infer that faith and reason are directly associated and related. It can also be implied that the combination of faith and reason allows one to seek information and knowledge about truth and God; based on various class discussions and past academic teachings, it is understood that both faith and reason are the instruments that diverse parties are supposed to use on this search for truth and God. There are many stances and viewpoints on the issues of faith and reason. Some believe that both of these ideas cannot and should not be combined; these parties deem that faith and reason must be taken as merely separate entities. However, this writer does not understand why both entities cannot be combined; both terms are so closely compatible that it would make sense to combine the two for a common task. Based on various class discussions and readings, there are many philosophers and theologians who have certain opinions regarding faith, reason and their compatibility; these philosophers include Hildegard of Bingen, Ibn Rushd, Moses Maimonides, and St. Thomas Aquinas. The following essay will examine each of the previously stated philosopher’s viewpoints on faith and reason, and will essentially try to determine whether or not faith and reason are ultimately one in the same.
In today’s modern western society, it has become increasingly popular to not identify with any religion, namely Christianity. The outlook that people have today on the existence of God and the role that He plays in our world has changed drastically since the Enlightenment Period. Many look solely to the concept of reason, or the phenomenon that allows human beings to use their senses to draw conclusions about the world around them, to try and understand the environment that they live in. However, there are some that look to faith, or the concept of believing in a higher power as the reason for our existence. Being that this is a fundamental issue for humanity, there have been many attempts to explain what role each concept plays. It is my belief that faith and reason are both needed to gain knowledge for three reasons: first, both concepts coexist with one another; second, each deals with separate realms of reality, and third, one without the other can lead to cases of extremism.
In this essay we will embrace Nietzsche’s philosophy for the sake of the fact that he proposed that God is dead, life is worthless, and fate ultimately surpasses faith. In the end, he provided for many, an alternative philosophy of life that became life affirming. On the other end, the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche has many diversions, for a countless number of reasons. Undoubtedly, most of those in disagreement to Nietzsche’s philosophy base their objections on a misperceived threat to their unwavering doctrine of religious faith. To make this evident, we begin with one of philosophy’s most argumentative, yet widely misunderstood quotes.
Religiousness A and B, although both based on blind faith differ in the fact that as Kierkegaard saw it, religiousness B allows for one’s own thoughts. It involves having a faith unique to oneself based on the ability to look within the self for truths and answers. It differs from that of the ‘organized’ religiousness A. Those who live the religious life A also hold a very strong faith but have been criticized of being followers of a herd mentality. This is argued because they go to organized church ceremonies given by a priest*. It is believed that those living in this faith do not think or act for themselves. Instead they allow for someone to dictate to them how they should act, behave and think.*A priest is a figure who for centuries has been seen as ‘called upon’ by God to spread His word and show people how to live to please Him.