Why is Faith needed?
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- Published on Friday, 11 November 2011 06:57
- Written by John Draper
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Where there is no doubt, there is no need for faith. We know that we need food to live, it is not a matter of faith. There are many other things that we know so resorting to "faith" says that we have at least a degree of doubt. We know that when we need faith , it's not provable - it's not even a sure thing. In addition, when pushed, we get defensive when asked why we believe when we are really not sure.
Being defensive can bring on aggressive behaviour. If you argue with someone and he gets aggressive it means you have made him doubt. He is thinking that maybe he is wrong. Faith and being defensive go together. Another characteristic of doubt is that you want to convince others that you are right. You want to convert them to your opinion.
So why am I writing this? Am I trying to convert you because I doubt atheism? It's true that I am human and subject to the same pressures. I am certainly a tad uncomfortable that I seem to be in a minority - it would be better (for me) if everyone agreed with me.
But doesn't that prove my point? It's human nature to want to be in the majority - even if it means needing faith to accept things that, deep down, we doubt. The difference is that not everyone gives in and allows emotions to make them have faith contrary to all the evidence.
So next time you say (or think) that "I believe X because I have Faith" be aware that you are conceding that you have at least some doubt. There are many religious people (theologians, priests, pastors, rabbis, imams) who have written about the need to pray for God to give you faith! Doubting and even doubting faith are human traits.
In fact doubting is a kind of questioning of accepted "facts" that has led to many major scientific advances. It has been proven to be a good thing and it's best that it not be squished by faith.