Comments on: Belief … Certainty … Proof

By: Jan

Jan — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 17:25:49 +0000

I believe that “Love never fails.” I am not sure that this can be proven.

By: Buck

Buck — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:28:17 +0000

I believe For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

But I can’t prove it.

By: Buck

Buck — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:26:56 +0000

I believe For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

But I can’t prove it.

By: smijer

smijer — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:12:08 +0000

Faith might be an appropriate word in certain circumstances, but I do prefer “belief” for its broader spectrum of meaning and lack of baggage. Better yet would be to have different words for different types of beliefs – those which are tautological, those which are aesthetic, those which are justifiable by observation of the real world, etc… but language doesn’t always conform to our hopes for precision, and meaning doesn’t always yield to linguistic efforts at domesticating it.

By: RW

RW — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:48:16 +0000

One word can encapsulate the actual meaning of the opposite of what one can prove scientifically: faith

You have faith that the experts have correctly identified the charge of an electron.
You have faith that the mechanics have put together your car correctly so that your brakes will work.
You have faith that there probably exists life in some form elsewhere in the galaxy.
I have faith that God exists.

When you believe in that which you cannot prove, it’s faith. It’s just that the word is so often used in the form of religious adherence, folks don’t want to use it….but it’s the appropriate word. And with that in mind, the most powerful word in human language answers your final question: love

Okay, now I’m going to go find a women’s dress store to shop in, since I’m becoming a chick.