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Originally Posted by SATCHMO
On some level and in certain circumstances there is a resignation to accept and trust that which lies beyond our own current understanding. You can use the mundane analogy of stepping on an aircraft to take a flight. None of us would consider it justified to inspect the entire aircraft ourselves to see that it is structurally and mechanically sound before agreeing to take the flight. In this we are engaging in an act of passive or, in the case of some individuals, active faith. It need not be believing in things which do not apparently exist in time and space, but rather, if you have adopted any view of reality that is beyond 100% certainty, and you utilize that view of reality in some way to navigate through life, you are exercising faith.
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There is a pretty big difference between the idea of trusting the aircraft and acknowledging the existence of a god. There is evidence pointing towards the idea that the aircraft is safe. There is no evidence of god.
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I am not acting as a proponent or opponent of atheism or humanism. I think people should adopt whatever worldview that allows them to navigate reality with the highest degree of happiness for themselves, while causing the least amount of harm to others. For some that is Christianity; for others it is not (including many self-professed Christians). For some that is Islam; for others it is not (including many self-professed muslims). For some that is atheism; for others it is not (including many self-professed atheists), etc. etc. ad nausea.
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Why would religion make people happy? What does a religion have that understanding does not which enables one to be happier?
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how is that possible? are you somehow infallible? maybe a little on the omnipotent side instead?
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If I am wrong, that has little to do with the potential of the human mind to be right. I affirm the potential for it to be right, not the fact that it will always be right.
The mind validates itself. You cannot know whether something is or isn't without knowing itself. You mind has to have the capacity to know in order to know whether you do know or you don't know. By saying that you don't know something, you still affirm the validity of the human mind's potential to know.