Tópico: Faith... What is faith?

[ronysalles]

this is a letter I wrote to a friend who reacted against my way of seeing the concept of god. It was written in December, last year:

Faith… What is faith?
   

In a country like this where 99% of people believe in a kind of supernatural being is perfectly normal attributing anthropomorphic aspects to the good things of life. Love, for instance, is usually seen as God (God is love). It happens because most of people agree that love is the most important thing we can have. There are many things which are taken as god: respect for others, family relationship, friendship, marriage, freedom, happiness, altruism, hope, forgiveness, self-control etc.

If all of these things can be seen as “manifestations” of a god, I can say from the deep of my heart that I believe fervidly in God. The only difference between me and a religious person is that I don’t believe there is a person (anthropomorphism of the feelings) out there watching over me. Therefore, I don’t see any good reason for religious people take me as a strange person just because I see “god” different from them. Maybe I could consider that as a kind of discrimination. But I am prepared to encounter these types of response; after all, I make part of the minority; it has always been this way. I understand it all.
   
If someone asks me, “do you believe in any kind of SUPERNUTAL being?” I simply answer by saying: “no, I don’t. I’m sorry; I have to be sincere.” But if someone asks me, “do you believe in love?” I simply answer by saying: “yes, I DO. I love you (e.g. you reader); I love my friends; I love my family; I love Nature; I love every single good thing in this world. I have to be honest about it.

So, I do not see nay reasonable reasons to be seen as a weird person.

What is the difference between believing in any kind of ghost or in a god? You know; if you ask someone about a great deal of beliefs, no matter what god may be – angels, spirits, gods, saints, ghosts and so on – in general, people are quite confused at giving a rational and universal acceptable answer. Some believe in ones and disbelieve in others. What is the difference? Try to define what a spirit is. It’s nonsense, that’s my opinion, but I respect yours.

I, as a skeptical person, have to be sincere; for me, all of these things do not go beyond mind – out of mind, not any of these entities exist. And faith, in my opinion, is an appeal to give these beings a certain dose of credibility. “It’s necessary to have faith to believe in such things”. That’s what religious people say.

Nevertheless, what these people often do not understand is that the world is made of religious people and nonreligious people… I’m sorry Brazil will take a long time yet to change this mentality.   

Anyway I thank for your existence. You exist. I know you; at least that’s what my “faith” tells me. I believe in you. Maybe you are the material representation of a god or goddess to make me see him or her.

A hug! May every good thing bless you!

A Happy Sun’s Day!

 
Ronysalles

[bia]

my personal opinion?
people want to believe that there is someone out there looking out for them, they need to find a reason to accept all the badness and the sadness, and gives someone the credit for their happiness and success. people need comfort.
that's why i agree with "Religion is the opiate of the people", despite i dislike Marx, and disagree with almost everything related to him, when people find church they get resign, they find this comfort. religion shows them who's the guilty of their suffer and happiness, don't matter who's this guilty is: themselves or a mysterious, glorious and the most important, not touchable being name God.
i think almost like you, i believe in love, in goodness, in respect for people and for laws, and i think 'God' is everywhere, and God is love, and respect. and because i respect people i forget they charge me to go to church, to be a religious girl, to think like the majority, i respect their believes and hope someday people will respect mine.

and faith? i really believe God is in that, i have faith on people, on love, on respect, that's what makes me keep trying, despite nothing proves me right, despite everything that is good being reduced to nothing gradually. that's why i have faith.

[iceman]

I think "faith" is a disguised symnonym of "fear" in most cases.

Anyway, it is a good question!

[Lightman]

Faith is a failed try of humankind control your own fate.

[Digão]

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13983-religion-is-a-product-of-evolution-software-suggests.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_origin_of_religions