Leaps of faith

[davewitley]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "Kathryn Cawte" <kcawte at k...> wrote:
> Religions are based on faith not empirical evidence. The whole 
point of faith is to take that leap of faith without needing proof, 
to take that step off the cliff knowing that someone is there to 
catch you. 

Yes, but what I mean is that, having leapt, you are either at the 
bottom of the cliff or somebody has caught you (well, what often 
tends to happen is that you discover that the cliff was in your 
imagination).

If you are at the bottom, then I think 'wrong' is a fair description 
(though some people just modify their faith to say that the crunch at 
the bottom was all-wise providence - which is more like the kind you 
can never verify).

And if somebody caught you, you are now in the very dangerous 
position of knowing that you are 'right', and have a duty to consider 
the implications for other people.

I think the nearest description of my faith is to say that the cliffs 
have all been imaginary - but the area bounded by them is still much 
smaller than it ought to be - and don't ask me what I mean by the 
word 'ought': I have no basis whatever for such a judgement.

David