Faith and belief, two misused words

[BirdofPrey]

I don't know about you, but when I read "faith" in various contexts, the sentences strikes me as unclear and uncertain. This is probably due to the fact that the word Faith is one of those words that have many meanings, the right one being picked out in light of the context. However, since these meanings are closely related and interpretation of context is something ambiguous or difficult, this is just ground for misinterpretations, mistakes, misuse and even abuse.

Someone more knowledgeable in the area of semantics might want to lend me a hand ? Greeks have 5 words for what we call love. How about faith ? You're thoughts on this issue ? Common pitfals ?

Dear God, if there is a god, I do not believe in you. Even if you were to exist, which is the reason I recite this prayer, I would willfully reject to worship any god that would have me put aside my rationality, my reason and my integrity of knowledge to have faith in something that defies all logic. If you do exist, I should hope that my faith in myself is reason enough for salvation, but if not I would rather risk suffering an eternity in damnation than live a life in which I cannot respect myself. God, if there is a god, I don't need you.

Amen

This is just an example. But it seems to me that the author is trying to create an antithesis between faith in God and faith in himself, and I see no ground for this, for faith in the first sentence has nothing to do with the second.

[BirdofPrey]

Ooops. I just found this.

http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... php?t=1061

Please don't delete this thread, at least because of the poll.

[David E]

Over the course of many years discussing and debating religion I've concluded that believers like to keep the meaning of the word faith vague, open to interpretation so that they can jump between multiple meanings whenever it suits their rhetorical purposes.

[McCulloch]

No one yet has been able to help me to distinguish between faith and gullibility, other than to imply that faith is virtuous and gullibility is not.

[BirdofPrey]

Over the course of many years discussing and debating religion I've concluded that believers like to keep the meaning of the word faith vague, open to interpretation so that they can jump between multiple meanings whenever it suits their rhetorical purposes.

It would be great if we could stop them from doing that ! How could we confront them ?

Great posts.

50 views and 4 votes ?! Please pick your option !

[David E]

Usually I just point out explicitly the incoherence in their own statements.

For example when they've said they believe because they have faith and then say faith is trust in God I point out that they are saying:

I believe God exists because I trust God.

But to trust someone already involves the belief that they exist so it can't be the reason they believe the person exists---that's incoherent nonsense.

That's just one example of the most common thing I encounter. It all depends on their actual statements.