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Introduction: How to reason
Section 11: Reason and faith
Faith is the false friend that promises and never delivers.
Reason is the honest friend who sometimes disappoints but never lies.
This introduction to the website has taught us how to reason. Why?
Because reason brings us closer to truth.
Faith claims that God exists but only reason can prove whether that statement is true.
Faith is the absence and denial of reason. Faith is guesswork. Faith is emotion
grasping at straws. Faith tells us what we want to hear. Faith is not a
window into the world that surrounds us but a mirror that turns inwards, reflecting only our own desires, longings and fears.
Reason promises nothing but it takes us on a journey and shows us wonders that we could never imagine - the beauty of nature, the vastness of the cosmos, the music of mathematics, the secrets of life.
Faith makes promises, of a better life, of justice, of love. It hypnotises and seduces us. It shows us a world that is always out of reach because it is nothing more than an illusion, a hologram dancing in the air. Faith is the charlatan, the snake-oil salesman who convinces us only because we want to be convinced.
Faith disguises itself as reason. Like a conjurer forcing cards on the audience, faith misdirects us. It shows us the card we want to see; it's magic! Religion shows us the God we want; and so we believe!
Faith shackles us. Many of us are comfortable in our prison; we may even deny that we are imprisoned. And we seldom realise that we have imprisoned ourselves. But when we begin to suspect that faith is lying to us, the shackles begin to fall and reason sets us free.
Faith is the false friend that promises and never
delivers. Reason is the honest friend who sometimes disappoints but never lies.
We have gathered about us the tools to reason. Now it's time to put faith aside and look at the world
around us. It's time to question God.
Does God exist? Before we try to answer that question we
need to have a clear idea of who or what God is. How do we
describe God? What versions of God are on offer?
Not sure what you're looking for?
If there's a word that you don't recognize, it might be defined
here.
If there's a topic you're looking for, check one of the Search
boxes on this page.
If there's something you want to ask, send an
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but we'll do our best.
"They all err - Muslims, Christians, Jews and Magians. There are two kinds of humans - the intelligent, who have no religion, and the religious, who have no intellect." Abū al-'Ala al-Ma'arrī (973 - 1057), Arab philosopher and poet
(Wikipedia)
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If God existed, he would...
admire the beauty of a universe that he did not create
recognize that eternity is meaningless
deny both heaven and hell
disown all men and women who speak in his name
denounce the harm caused by religious "morality"
help the human race to thrive without him
If God existed, he would be an atheist.
What is the difference between science and faith?
science is certain of nothing and requires proof of everything
faith is certain of everything and requires proof of nothing
Which do you trust?
"I know there is no God"
or
"I believe there is no God"
???
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