Posted by 64bowtie on October 9, 2004, at 16:26:47
In reply to Faith, posted by rayww on October 5, 2004, at 17:31:21
1. Belief: information held confident based solely and completely on testimony. (the reason the courts don't allow heresay or feelings as testimony... toooo capricious)
2A. Faith: a belief held confident regarding the truth, value, or trustworthiness of any people, place, thing, idea [nouns.....lol].
2B. Faith: a belief not dependent on the support of empirical evidence.
2C. Faith: a loyalty or allegiance (as in, to the Monarch or King).
2D. Faith: a theological virtue; a secure belief in, and the virtuous subjugation to, the will of an absolute being.
Since a belief is a tool to make our lives more efficient by not requiring a complete re-evaluation everytime we come upon a dilemma, a belief wouldn't be a good thing to elevate to a status of anymore than it already is. Making a belief a goal or an end, makes a belief something that it isn't and can really never be.
Faith, however, is a different issue. Using the tool nature of beliefs, a belief works perfectly in creating faith. Faith can be an end and a goal. The underlying beliefs can't and won't be, no matter how hard we diligently manipulate the information.
Hope that all makes sense...
Rod
poster:64bowtie
thread:399313
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20040914/msgs/400794.html