Let's talk about fideism

[GrimaH]

My interest got piqued on this peculiar position when I read in a philosophy book I picked up (the first one I've seriously read actually :awesome) that one Martin Gardner, a well-known skeptic, proclaims to be a fideist - a theist who readily accepts that his faith is based on emotional reasons eg. one believes in God solely for the mental security it gives him.
The wiki gave me a rather less flattering impression of the fideist, but the essence of what really interests me is this:

Specifically, fideism teaches that rational or scientific arguments for the existence of God are fallacious and irrelevant, and have nothing to do with the truth of Christian theology. Its argument in essence goes:

* Christian theology teaches that people are saved by faith in the Christian God (i.e. trust in the empirically unprovable).
* But, if the Christian God's existence can be proven, either empirically or logically, to that extent faith becomes unnecessary or irrelevant.
* Therefore, if Christian theology is true, no immediate proof of the Christian God's existence is possible.


Are you one of 'em?

[AbnormallyNormal]

yeah this seems interesting to me too. its kind of like it makes faith almost a sacrifice, like you sacrifice your intellect in order to gain some kind of warm and fuzzy feelings. this reminds me of immanuel kant's ethical ideas, in opposition to utilitarian thinking; that you ought to do what is right not because it beneifts anyone, but simply because it is right. its a sort of austere or harsh way of thinking, but it is appealing

[Seisokumaru]

So God gives Man reason.

Then defines that the only path to salvation shall be to deny said Reason?

What's the lesson? What's the point?

Reason/intellect is the only reason our species isn't extinct. We have no natural weapons, we're ungainly, slow, easily killed by exposure and our posture exposes our vitals to an easy swipe. Why are we the dominant species on the planet? Our reason. It is the only weapon we have against the harshness of nature, the viscousness of predators.

So God created us -- physical cripples and mental giants in terms of the animal kingdom. He created us with a single tool to survive, the greatest tool on the planet. And then he declares that the only who shall be saved are those who forsake that self-same Reason for emotional security blankets?

Seems a little hokey to me.

[Shaidar Haran]

So, fideism is just a branch of agnosticism.

[Saufsoldat]

That stuff sounds interesting and it makes sense :thumbs

So, fideism is just a branch of agnosticism.

No.

[Catatonik]

Alright, an interesting view. It seems a little too Christian-centric for my tastes certainly.

I have self-consciousness, curiosity, emotions AND reason. These gifts practically ennoble us with the task of questioning, examining and growing, spiritually and mentally.

Religion should NOT be about blind faith, or apathetic faith for the case of a security blanket (although I know it almost always is used that way...)

This is certainly not a stance I fall under.

[GrimaH]

Take a look at the people in wars who have been healed miracelisly by getting their legs, arms, fingers, and more blown off. What about the crippled who popped up and walked when a person prayed for them, what about how the blind could see when someone prayed for them, what about how the people with lepricy waaaay back got healed instantly by a person who prayed for them, I'll tell ya, it was God. He healed them all.

Wrong forum, religious ego-stroking is this way (http://www.christianforumsite.com/).
Or any other ways found by googling "Christian website".