> Sodom wrote:
> >
> > Tim Rhodes wrote:
> > >
> > > On Fri, 17 Oct 1997, chardin wrote:
> > >
> > > > Prof. Tim wrote:
> > > > > If the prophecies were all wrong, and the future was not
> > > > > "revealed" in the bible, and there was not Christ (this is
> > > > > hypothetical, remember), would you still be a Christian?
> > > > > Why or why not?
> > >
> > > > I could not possibly be a Christian as you hypothesize.
> > >
> > > Too bad. Your reasons for believing are the same as the ones
> > > you say are the errors of science. You believe as a security
> > > blanket rather than because it is the "right" way to live your
> > > life. That is sad. There is no differnece between you and the
> > > scientists you deride. You just have differnt colored blankets
> > > to hold as you suck your thumb in the darkness.
> > >
> > > Very sad indeed.
> > >
> > > -Prof. Tim
> >
> > Geez Tim, you are on a warpath today. I do agree however with my
> > origianl comment a week and a half ago. Faith is based on fear of
> > the unknown. Whether it is deliberate or not. I would probably
> > make a good Christian because I do think many of the things Christ
> > is supposed to have said are good. Love, compassion, affection,
> > forgivness - all of these are values I hold dear. But I like them
> > because I see the benefits they bring and the emotional response
> > my mind rewards me with, not because someone told me to. If it
> > weren't for the divine part, if Jesus were just a philosopher like
> > Socrates, then I would probably convert.
> >
> > Sodom
>
>
> Why does faith = fear of the unknown grate on me so much!!! I think
> I will look it up in the Oxford English version when I am at the
> library. I have to pick up that book on consciousness and request
> Richard's book.
>
> Sodom, this is not your problem, it is mine. I find faith a
> perfectly good word. Is it possible for us to agree that fear of
> the unknown = fear of the unknown (which I agree is not somehthing
> to be desired while fear is needed as long as there are nuts out
> there :0)...) and faith = faith?
>
> I do not know if this will help, but it might cut down on the number
> of posts I am feeling compelled to make that do not seem to further
> the quest for the meme.
>
> Marie
Marie, those who state that faith = fear of the unknown are speaking
for themselves. If you have a friend whom you love dearly and your
friend asks you for a loan or for something else of value, your other
friends may think you are a fool if you do it. But, based on your
relationship with your friend, you decide to go ahead and do it. Now
is your "faith" fear of the unknown? No, you are basing your
decision on what is known against that which is not known. Those who
would object to your "faith" they are the ones who fear the unknown.
What if your friend renigs? Doesn't pay you pack? Wrecks your car?
My "faith" is based on what is known and then I can "trust" for what
is not known. There is no fear involved.