Why Is Faith Considered A Virtue?

[chakka35]

I’d like some Christian to explain, please, why ‘faith’ is regarded as a virtue.

Faith is belief without evidence, more brutally described as blind credulity. Why is that good? Jesus is supposed to have said to Thomas (John 20:29) “…blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed”.

This seems to me to open the gates to making all beliefs respectable. Not only can I believe in astrology, magic crystals, leylines, unicorns and the like but I must be praised for such beliefs in the face of no evidence. Since the pass mark is zero I graduate with flying colours every time. Blessed am I, a place in heaven secured.

Someone please explain.

[Zeuhl]

Is this why some people - despite the absence of any evidence - believe that their football clubs will one day top the Premiership or win the Champions League

[woofgang]

btw jomifli, the last time I checked, i was still female.....

[Epona]

The word 'Faith' has more than one meaning . The three virtues are not 'blind' Faith, Hope and Charity. Faith can mean belief, trust and surety,much more virtuous than the antonyms, disbelief, misgiving and suspicion. My personal interpretation would be that Faith as a Virtue is to give someone or something the benefit of the doubt, not to misjudge or second guess.

[Zeuhl]

Thanks epona

hence the well known prayer:

'Almighty God - we give you the benefit of the doubt ....'

[naomi24]

Woofgang, //naomi, no idea....//

So you’re making it up. Ok.

sandyRoe, //That could be the engine that drives a great deal of charitable works.//

So what drives the engine in people of no faith who do charitable works?

[Epona]

Zeuhl yes exactly what I meant. You are telling God that although you you have no evidence of His presence and that you will believe in Him and follow his teachings, so , in effect, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

[sandyRoe]

The balance between their soul and their intellect is askew. Even though the cold rationality of reason sees to prevail the soul leads them to do good works. A rose by any other name...

[naomi24]

In that statement, the cold rationality of reason seems a bit thin on the ground.

[sandyRoe]

I can think of no other reason why one numbered among the unGodly Goodly would do good works.

[naomi24]

Why can't you? Does that take religion then?

[sandyRoe]

No. It doesn't take religion to do good. But, when they are doing good, the soul of the unbeliever is trying to guide them onto a path that their haughty intellect is reluctant to follow.

[jake-the-peg]

Does your partner have faith in you? trust you to suceed?

Do you think that is a virtue in that context?

Thing is my wife exists - having faith in someone who exists and has been worthy ofthat faith before is clearly a virtue

Having faith in something that does not exist - like Astrology or kissing dice before they are thrown is in no way a virtue - in fact it's crazy.

So the assumptions you come to that question with are clearly rather relevant. To the believer their God is as real as my wife is to me and having faith in God is in no way as crazy as ley lines.

To the athiest it's every bit as daft

You have to get behind the eyes of the opposition in this sort of question and try to see the world as they do.

[naomi24]

//It doesn't take religion to do good. But, when they are doing good, the soul of the unbeliever is trying to guide them onto a path that their haughty intellect is reluctant to follow. //

And you know this... how?

[sandyRoe]

Well, I don't actually know that. I have faith and believe it.

[woofgang]

lol sandy

[mibn2cweus]

Another 'hit&run' Chakka? . . . you old devil you.

[Spoonboy]

Why must faith be seen as a religious thing? After all, it's not like it has the monopoly on it. I have faith in my abilities, but I put that down to what I know I can and cannot do, religion plays no part whatsoever in this.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Haven't read 1st Corinthians 13, then, Khandro?

[vetuste_ennemi]

You're not likely to get an answer from the usual suspects, Chakka. But C.S. Lewis had a bash in one of his books, and, more enertainingly, so did Chesterton in (I think) the marvellous book Heretics. I'll see if I can hunt them down.

[Khandro]

v_e. Yes, like I said; faith and hope simply 'abideth' (no virtue there) it is charity which is supreme and gets the Oscar.