Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Lapierre  But these propositions aren't self-evident. They are verified through an ongoing lifetime of evidence. No-one is born with that degree of confidence; it is instilled gradually as one learns that all of those statements are valid.
Eventually, as those propositions are proven valid over and over again we might stop questioning them, and so in our mind they appear self-evident. But they are not; their truth is evident through their ongoing validation.
Previously I described faith as a general tendency to believe in things for which there is no evidence. This isn't pure faith but rather a description of a personality trait. Only if a specific proposition becomes the focal point could it be called faith, and only then if the proposition is considered self-evident. (So I agree with you on that, wolfgang)
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For some reason, you are judging all the comments on your particular outlook, and not rational, logical, academic thinking.
The Macquarie dictionary says;
'
1.
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing.'
Despite what you may or may not like to add to that, there is no mention of, or reference to the confidence or trust needing to be learned, verified, supported or validated. By adding your own slant to it, virtually speaking your own langauge, you either ignore the dictionary, or feel it is wrong.
Your statement, 'No-one is born with that degree of confidence.' What evidence are you basing that on? What studies, by who, over what time frame have you found to support it? Or do you just have faith in it?
I subscribe to the school of behaviouralists who believe that we are born with different personalities or makeups. From that stance, your assumption that faith must be learned or verified, is based on your particular makeup and viewpoint. I believe some personality types posess confidence or faith in themselves from birth, and view the world differently from the personality type which would rather act after reassurance. For me, as I said, I have total faith in myself, and always have had. Whether you agree or not is your unsupported choice, based on something other than the meaning of the word 'faith'.
I have learned that it takes all kinds. It is a valuable thing to learn to realise that not everyone is the same, or need be the same. Fear of, or the inability to recognise or enjoy and accept difference among people has created much devastation.
However, personalities aside, thankfully we have dictionaries for this very situation. Perhaps it might help you to consult one, and without bias reassess your translation and understanding of the word 'faith' and its actual meaning.