Why is faith considered a virtue?

I've heard many religious people speak to or allude to the idea of faith (as opposed to faithfulness - which is a different kettle of fish) being virtuous, and I've seen atheists acquiesce to the idea on account of conditioning (by aforementioned religious people). Yet I rarely hear any explanation for WHY.

Anyone care to weigh in?

 

It seems like you know the actual answer to your question but are trying to create a semantic argument.

 

Actually I have no idea. From where I sit, faith seems like a liability. ie, I know where I stand on the matter, but I'm curious to know what theists (or those who know theists and their arguments) believe in this regard. No one seems to want to explain precisely why it's virtuous. Are you willing to do so?

 

Faith is a virtue only unto the religion which one subscribes. Because instituionalized religion requires willful ignorance, and that is basically what faith is.. willful ignorance.

 

It depends on the faith. Not all faiths are virtuous. Personally I have never heard "faith is a virtue". I've heard "Patience is a virtue. Empathy is a virtue. Self-Control is a virtue. Loyalty is a virtue...etc

 

How does it depend on the faith? Faith describes ones connection to something it doesn't define the thing it's connecting one to. The thing one has faith in might not be virtuous but that is not what she is asking. What makes faith virtuous?

 

Virtue means a high moral and ethical standard. A Baal worshipper had orgies rolled babies into fires. An ISIS militant will chop off the head of Christians. The Aztecs killed children to appease their gods.

You can't label faith virtuous. you can say a person has virtues that might come from a faith. Or you might say a person holds no virtues because you dont agree on the definition of what is virtuous.

 

Again you can say what they have faith in isn't virtuous but we are not talking about what they have faith in we are talking about the faith in-an-of-itself, specifically religious faith as explained in the OP. Are you saying that religious faith is a virtue or not?

 

How can you lump all faith together and call it virtuous? Logically to do that is an intellectual catastrophe. Can you lump all national governments, from the totalitarian ones to the free states...and call them all good governments?

 

Your analogy is absurd.

Religious faith is the belief in something for which there is no evidence. Is this behavior virtuous or not?

 

Faith in something before a scientific experiment verifies that the idea is correct is called a Hypothesis.

All science advancement requires some one with faith in an idea to go ahead, spend time and money, and let's see the results when and if it is proven.

 

I agree with you. I'll go even further to exclaim that atheism is also a religion by your definition, because it's a belief in something for which there is no evidence.

An atheist's belief is that God doesn't exist. Yet, they have no evidence to prove such. Therefore, it is a religion.

 

Yep,...
you are against hypothesis.

In fact, you don't even believe Facts later, when one can see the results have proven the idea out.

 

?
Religion has been proven correct,though.

Religion has consistently said that sexual promiscuity destroys lives, families, societies, and finally, nations.
We have a long record of this happening.

In this age, the stats are available for before it becomes too late to save America.

- - - Updated - - -

?
What about ideas in Science which are called Hypothesis????

 

I wouldn't say "religion" proves this correct. Rather, I'd say Christianity does. There are many religions that believe sexual promiscuity is OK (I.E. Islam).

 

Atheism is not a religion.

Faith is not a virtue in and of itself, but can lead to virtue.

Faithfulness is a virtue only if you are faithful to something good.

The bottom line is the vast majority of religious people see the world in a way that actually brings people together and makes the world a better place. However the anti-religion crowd have plenty of evidence to say religion is not a virtue. I think that this is not something that is black and white but so many want it to be.

 

?
Islam opposes sexual promiscuity.
Islam demand invisible Homosexuality, and the end of nakedness in women, and marriage as the only place for sexual activity.
Thee is no porn in Islam, (except the West and the Internet).
Dancing and romantic songs are banned.
What are you saying here??

 

Or it's not in any way shape or form. Atheism isn't a claim, it's the rejection of one. My rejection of the claim that Leprechauns exist is not a religion either.

 

Religious faith is the belief in something for which there is no proof, how would you know if your faithfulness to this belief is virtuous or not? Because it does something good? What is something good? Is killing people who leave this faith something good? How about genocide? The oppression of women?

The believer is the one who gets to decide and if the believer is basing their opinion on subjective experiences and a complete lack of evidence and facts, i.e. faith, how does one determine what is good or not and therefore how can one know if their faithfulness to this belief is virtuous?

 

You cannot reject a claim without first claiming that rejection. Either way, you're still making a claim.

For example: You're claiming Leprechauns don't exist.

 

Do you believe having 4 wives is promiscuous? Do you believe having sex slaves is promiscuous? If you do not, then you're 100% right and I am 100% wrong.

 

No I am not making a claim no matter how you try to twist your argument around, I'm rejecting a claim, period.

 

No it is not

You can't...... it is subjective

You missed the point and this is exactly what I am talking about.

There are some culturally accept views on good and not good. Perhaps my view is too simplistic here and language use is not precise enough. But the point I was hoping to make is that.

1. Faith is not in and of itself a virtue.
2. Being faithful to something that makes the world better is seen as a virtue (but you are right it is totally subjective)
3. Atheism is not a religion.

 

LOL.
You can't reject a claim without first claiming that rejection. Otherwise, you'd just not speak.

 

Hypothesis are basically educated guesses. With a strong emphases on "educated". Ignorance is just the opposite of educated. So I am not see what your point is here. Please elaborate.