Re: virus: Faith and Reason

William Roh (bill_roh@coneco.com)
Wed, 12 Nov 1997 15:00:38 -0800


Marie L. Foster wrote:

>
> Main Entry: 1faith
> Pronunciation: 'fAth
> Function: noun
> Inflected Form(s): plural faiths /'fAths, sometimes 'fA[th_]z/
> Etymology: Middle English feith, from Old French feid, foi, from Latin
> fides; akin to Latin fidere to trust --
> more at BIDE
> Date: 13th century
> 1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : LOYALTY b (1) : fidelity to one's
> promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
> 2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the
> traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm
> belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
> 3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction;
> especially : a system of religious beliefs
> synonym see BELIEF
>
> Can we agree that we all accept the first meaning of faith?

i can agree on definition #1

>
> I have no stake in the second definition. I could care less about the
> second definition as it simply does not matter to me if you believe in
> God or not. You are perfect as you are and I am also perfect as I am.
> An hour from now I will be different, but still perfect as will you.

#2 this is a common definition, and how I most often define the word. I
agree with both, but usually think of the first one. I would seldom
question someone's faithfulness to their family. but i would use the
word "loyalty" or "belief in".

> David... you being the owner of this list, how do you vote? Up down on
> definition 1? Whatever you decide. If it is down, then I will stop
> using the word faith, and use loyalty, etc. instead.
>
> Now if loyalty is wrong thinking... well then I guess I probably am in
> the wrong room.

i think you are very valuable here, and do not think you are in the
wrong room. Just my opinion.

Sodom