# Is blind faith admirable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 12, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302 "2012-01-12T17:05:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/1 "2012-01-12T17:05:50Z")
Since [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=638194) has spawned misunderstandings and definition wars, I have narrowed the scope just a bit. I only want _blind_ faith to be discussed here. I am of the opinion that blind faith, especially if it contradicts what I already know to be true through gathered information and personal observation, is useless and should be avoided. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/2 "2012-01-12T17:08:14Z")
Gee, that’s bold. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/3 "2012-01-12T17:10:46Z")
Got anything of value to add? ---
**Author:** ![mishagoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@mishagoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mishagoe)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/4 "2012-01-12T17:11:13Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Since [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=638194) has spawned misunderstandings and definition wars, I have narrowed the scope just a bit. I only want _blind_ faith to be discussed here. > > I am of the opinion that blind faith, especially if it contradicts what I already know to be true through gathered information and personal observation, is useless and should be avoided. If you mean should anyone feel as if they must believe something they disagree with, then the answer is no, one should never be forced to accept a belief that does not seem credible. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/5 "2012-01-12T17:13:35Z")
> [@mishagoe](#): > > If you mean should anyone feel as if they must believe something they disagree with, then the answer is no, one should never be forced to accept a belief that does not seem credible. What I mean are the words that I type. I find blind faith not admirable-what is _your_ opinion of blind faith? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/6 "2012-01-12T17:15:38Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Since [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=638194) has spawned misunderstandings and definition wars, I have narrowed the scope just a bit. I only want _blind_ faith to be discussed here. > > I am of the opinion that blind faith, especially if it contradicts what I already know to be true through gathered information and personal observation, is useless and should be avoided. All religion would be blind faith, since there is no evidence for any of it, wouldn’t it? Religion does help some people ignore their problems. I would say that’s evidence it isn’t _useless_. But I agree it should be avoided. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/7 "2012-01-12T17:17:23Z")
I think you (and folks in the other thread) are applying your own biases and framing the question in a way that does not contribute to any sort of discussion about anything (which is perhaps what **Shodan** is implying). Yes, I agree with your OP. I think that most people of ‘faith,’ and even of ‘blind faith,’ don’t in fact think that their beliefs contradict what they know to be true based on personal observation. Their beliefs contradict what **Czarcasm** believes to be true. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/8 "2012-01-12T17:18:13Z")
I don’t know that this will spawn much of a debate, but I’ve been wrong before. I’m not sure how anyone would defend having faith in something that is unsupported by their own “gathered information and personal observation.” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/9 "2012-01-12T17:19:20Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Got anything of value to add? Who do you think is going to come out in favor of blind faith? Is this the kind of thing you need to resort to in order to feel like you have won a debate? Great, you win. Blind faith in something that is contradicted by personal experience and gathered information is bad. Congratulations, I guess. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/10 "2012-01-12T17:19:20Z")
To address the question in the OP directly, no I don’t find blind faith as you describe it admirable. I also don’t think I know anyone (or if I do, it’s an incredibly small subset of people I know) who has that sort of faith, _even the religious people I know_. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/11 "2012-01-12T17:19:46Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > All religion would be blind faith, since there is no evidence for any of it, wouldn’t it? I disagree with this; by the OP’s definition, my religion is consistant with my personal observation and gathered information. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/12 "2012-01-12T17:20:27Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Who do you think is going to come out in favor of blind faith? Well, I think it’s too bad they only made one album, but I did really like it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/13 "2012-01-12T17:23:08Z")
If someone has a problem with my definition of blind faith just come out and say so, _but only if you are willing to give what you think to be the correct definition_. I don’t care to discuss all the different types of faith being bandied about in the other thread, so please don’t bring them up. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/14 "2012-01-12T17:24:31Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Well, I think it’s too bad they only made one album, but I did really like it. Actually there is a live album also, which came out a bit after they broke up. Nitpicking in revenge for anticipating my post, which was going to be “I really liked the drum solo on **Do What You LIke** ” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/15 "2012-01-12T17:27:41Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Who do you think is going to come out in favor of blind faith? > > Is this the kind of thing you need to resort to in order to feel like you have won a debate? > > Great, you win. Blind faith in something that is contradicted by personal experience and gathered information is bad. > > Congratulations, I guess. > > Regards, > Shodan Go. Away. I’m not playing any “win/lose” game here. The term “blind faith” isn’t one invented by atheists to harass religionists-it is a term used by some of the religious as something to be sought after and cherished, and I’d like to know why. What is good about blind faith? What is bad about blind faith? ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/16 "2012-01-12T17:31:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If someone has a problem with my definition of blind faith just come out and say so, _but only if you are willing to give what you think to be the correct definition_. I don’t care to discuss all the different types of faith being bandied about in the other thread, so please don’t bring them up. I thought I did say so. To clarify, though, I don’t think there is an appreciable difference between ‘faith’ and ‘blind faith’. To quote my (made-up-on-the-spot) definition of faith from the other thread: > [@Eonwe](#): > > Faith is a belief in what will be, that gives emotionally satisfying feedback. I find that a pretty compelling definition, that holds true regardless of the criteria one uses upon which to base that faith. Again, I think that almost no human being holds beliefs in the way you describe them in the OP. I think that people who use “blind faith” to describe themselves use it as a superlative, and not as a delineation between faith and something different. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/17 "2012-01-12T17:34:16Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Go. > Away. How about No? Nobody is going to be able to explain why blind faith is a good thing, because nobody thinks they have blind faith as you have defined it. Put it this way - you obviously have blind faith that God does not exist. Why do you feel that blind faith is good? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/18 "2012-01-12T17:35:36Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I disagree with this; by the OP’s definition, my religion is consistant with my personal observation and gathered information. You’re certainly mistaken, suffering from confirmation bias or mentally glossing over issues. Prayer doesn’t work and I’m assuming you haven’t stumbled across actual \*evidence \*for the divine. Especially the particular brand of the divine you believe in, that happens to have a branch near your house. **On topic:** This brings up a good point. Through things like confirmation bias, people can \*think \*they have good reasons to believe something. So they have a blind faith, but they imagine it isn’t. In some cases having a belief can make your life easier. I’m sure if you have a child dying for instance, it is comforting to believe he will float off to God and live happy forever. In that instance facing reality might make that person’s life worse. So their blind faith would be useful to that extent. But in the long run, living without regard for reality is, I would suggest, a net drag. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/19 "2012-01-12T17:37:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Put it this way - you obviously have blind faith that God does not exist. Why do you feel that blind faith is good? You don’t have to have blind faith to reject a silly creature that has no evidence backing it up. Do you believe in rape-zombies? ---
**Author:** ![mishagoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@mishagoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mishagoe)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302/20 "2012-01-12T17:41:21Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What I mean are the words that I type. I find blind faith not admirable-what is _your_ opinion of blind faith? Admirable is a value judgement. Not sure what you mean by admirable. Having said that, Blind Faith is silly and idiotic. I haven’t met anyone who professes blind faith in anything. But then again I haven’t met most of the people on this planet, so take it for what it’s worth. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blind-faith-admirable/609302.md?page=2)