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.

[woofgang]

Why did you not accept the answers that you got the first time?
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Society-and-Culture/Religion-and-Spirituality/Question932799.html

[naomi24]

Woofgang, three years is a long time and we've had an influx of new Abers since that last post - so there might well be some different answers now. We shall see.

[woofgang]

personally I think that chakka is feeling bored......

[naomi24]

Really? Why on earth would you think that? You don't know him.

[Zeuhl]

I too would be interested in a religious person's explanation as to why faith might be considered a 'virtue'

I can appreciate that people 'with faith' might value it in others in a self-serving, companionship and 'connection' way

Certainly Faith is a very powerful and useful concept, precisely because it is such an abstract and does not rely on 'tedious details' such as evidence or substantiation

[pixie373]

Who is it that considers it a virtue?

[Khandro]

Perhaps you would care to explain why you think faith is a virtue. I don't believe people of various faiths refer to themselves as being virtuous simply because of their faith, why would they?

[Zeuhl]

I don't know pixie but apparently there are three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity.

[naomi24]

//I don't believe people of various faiths refer to themselves as being virtuous simply because of their faith, why would they? //

I know a few who do - and they do it because they think they are.

[pixie373]

I would imagine that Christians believe it to be a virtue and atheists consider it a weakness.

[Zeuhl]

This web page explains it all

but as they all come under the heading of 'Divine Mysteries' we are probably not meant to fully understand it LOL

http://www.legionofmarytidewater.com/news/news07/april/divinemysteries.htm

[Khandro]

A person becomes virtuous by performing virtuous acts, charity is an act carried out for the betterment of others and gains virtue, but faith and hope are subjective and gain no virtue in the wider world.

[pixie373]

That's interesting, zeuhl. So really - anyone who thinks they're right...should be fine! :-)

[naomi24]

Khandro, But some people, without doing anything particularly virtuous, consider themselves to be so simply by virtue of their personal faith.

[woofgang]

Naomi, know I don't know chakka, but I have faith lol.

Actually i consider my faith to be a gift, not a virtue.

[Zeuhl]

The classic definition appears to be < moral excellence >

/A virtue is a positive trait or quality deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being/


I'm still not sure why believing in a load of stories and ideas that other people have dreamed up is 'morally good'

[naomi24]

Woofgang, who gave it to you?

[jomifl]

His friend

[woofgang]

naomi, no idea....

[sandyRoe]

Could it be considered a virtue because it helps make some believers virtuous? That could be the engine that drives a great deal of charitable works.
It might also make the booking of ones place in paradise a little more secure.