The most important aspect of answering "Is faith irrational?" is to ensure that we understand what the current working definition of "faith" is. I never bring up faith unless my interlocutor does so, and when they do, I ask them to tell me how they define it, and then work from that definition. If I don't take that important step, then the interlocutor almost always accuses me of "using the wrong definition of faith".
Well, Bill Maher stops way short in his indictment of faith per se; he should have included the rest of culture, politics, media, education, and society at large by accusing them as well of 'the purposeful suspension of critical thinking', don't you - uh - think?
Hate to say it, but I don't think we will have a majority of critical thinkers out there until we all become humble skeptics about the onslaught of truth claims that bombard us daily from a variety of sources. We're more inclined to stay in our comfort zones of groupthink (algorithm think?) than spending the time and effort for individual investigation.
Of course, we may lose a few friends and colleagues along the way, but I don't think Christ was a team player, was he? Didn't nearly all of his disciples abandon him at the cross (Mark 14:27)?
Let's not give any more fodder to the critics of our Christian witness by talking drivel. Know what you believe, and articulate why you believe it!
The most important aspect of answering "Is faith irrational?" is to ensure that we understand what the current working definition of "faith" is. I never bring up faith unless my interlocutor does so, and when they do, I ask them to tell me how they define it, and then work from that definition. If I don't take that important step, then the interlocutor almost always accuses me of "using the wrong definition of faith".
Well, Bill Maher stops way short in his indictment of faith per se; he should have included the rest of culture, politics, media, education, and society at large by accusing them as well of 'the purposeful suspension of critical thinking', don't you - uh - think?
Hate to say it, but I don't think we will have a majority of critical thinkers out there until we all become humble skeptics about the onslaught of truth claims that bombard us daily from a variety of sources. We're more inclined to stay in our comfort zones of groupthink (algorithm think?) than spending the time and effort for individual investigation.
Of course, we may lose a few friends and colleagues along the way, but I don't think Christ was a team player, was he? Didn't nearly all of his disciples abandon him at the cross (Mark 14:27)?
Let's not give any more fodder to the critics of our Christian witness by talking drivel. Know what you believe, and articulate why you believe it!