damodevo joins AFA Forums

[BlueDevil]

Welcome to the forum and I hope you find it of interest to you.

Originally Posted by damodevo

You are referencing a dictionary which gives the common vernacular understanding of a term, which is, what you have highlighted but that isn't the classical Christian understanding of Augustine, Aquinas etc.

Faith is a trust and commitment indeed but it is done only once one has sufficient reason to believe in the existence and nature of that object. This is the classical Christian definition.

The definition Mr Black has cited (ie Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.)is the usual definition of faith in the context of atheist/theist discussions and is widely accepted. It is used in that fashion exensively in atheist literature. You will find that this is the way the term faith is understood on this forum.

I am curious to know what word you would use to describe "belief that does not rest on logical proof"? You may of course define faith however you please, but you will find it necessary to be explicit as to your definition each time you use it if that definition is at variance from the usual definition that people apply on the forum.

I guess the important point is that for any meaningful discussion it is necessary that all parties are using the same terms in the fashion, otherwise the discussion is doomed to failure.

[Seamus]

I'm a philosophy postgraduate though probably going to defer for a little while...

That's perfectly OK,we allow just about anyone to join.

One of the biggest dickheads and dead cunts I ever met was the head of the philosophy department at Adelaide while I was studying there. He was a soft determinist ,who enjoyed reducing female students to tears.

My point; a lot of people here have been to university,are fairly bright and neither impressed nor intimidated by sophistry.

[damodevo]

I am curious to know what word you would use to describe "belief that does not rest on logical proof"?

I suppose, in line with what you have said, you have to stipulate what definition of faith you are supposing. I am not saying that definition isn't broadly used but it isn't the traditional understanding and probably stems to Søren Kierkegaard's fideistic definition of faith which is more in sync with your definition.

But no disagreements about the stupidity of some academics. Sometimes stupidity is measured in advanced degrees...

[damodevo]

Impressed by all the warm welcomes here...especially to someone who has diametrically opposed philosophical views.

Thanks!

[Darwinsbulldog]

Hi Damodevo,

May the force be with you!

[Fearless]

Hi Damodevo, welcome to the forums

I'm more impressed by you to be honest. Many visitors with opposing views can get quite vicious right off the cuff, it's nice to be able to ease into respectful discourse.

Your views/beliefs may be challenged whilst here, but try not to take it personally

I hope you get something out of your time here

[simonecuttlefish]

Hi Damodevo. It's easy to feel swamped or 'ganged up on' based on the shear number and speed of replies you may get. This generally dies down, but you could imaging, I hope, the response I might get if I was to go to a forum designed as a place for charismatic Christians to hang out and suggest there is no proof for the existence of an historical Jesus, that speaking in tongues is delusional, or some other point of view that runs counter to the underlying philosophy of the ideas help by many of it's subscribers. Relax, take a deep breath, and let the dust settle.

Many people here have opinions of a particular nature, and it's to be expected that they may wish to find out where new board members stand in relation to their own positions on some subjects.

For what it's worth, I also 'believe' that the term 'faith' means different things to different people, and that there is often a disconnect when attempting to define this term. I also personally think that 'debates' about topics involving the terms spirituality, faith, belief and many others, are not clearly established right from the beginning, thus resulting in conversation streams that never actually intersect, but rather zoom off tangentially.

So please don't feel bullied. Most of us here have at one point been directly challenged by other members to spell out our positions on something or other.

I hope your time here can be of some value to both yourself and the forum community at large.

[Blue Lightning]

Welcome, damodevo!