What is good about faith?

[PantsOnFire]

For individuals, faith is freedom. One is free from the burdens of examining a majority of evidence or rationlizing a belief.

For the establishment and the authority, faith is a tool. Instead of imposing morals and ethics on an individual basis, all that is required is to garner faith in the origin of all morals and ethics.

For longevity, faith can be passed on from generation to generation.

[thylacine]

[ QUOTE ]
What is good about faith?

I was watching Boston Legal and the judge said something like "I'm concerned about faith being removed from our society."

It occurred to me, why? What's good about faith?


Also I"m talking about religious faith. I don't mean faith in the context of "I have faith in you" or "I have no faith in my wireless network." Two sentences which simply mean "I trust you" and "I can't rely on my wireless network"

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely nothing whatsoever.

[gsaj18]

"Reason can only go so far. Faith has no limits."
-Blaise Pascal

[PantsOnFire]

[ QUOTE ]
"Reason can only go so far. Faith has no limits."
-Blaise Pascal

[/ QUOTE ]
It's the "no limits" part that worries me.

[foal]

According to happiness studies -- and I'm not familiar with the methodology, but they are considered credible in the academic psychology world -- religion is +EV for happiness. That isn't in any way surprising really. You've got a greater sense of purpose and meaning and other psychological benefits that depend on your specific religion.
Religion being beneficial to an individual doesn't mean it will be beneficial to a community or to a community of communities. It could be reasonably speculated that religion has the effect on these more meta levels of exacerbating alienation and/or tension between micro or macro communities and increasing biggotry, thus having an overall negative effect on humanity. It's easy to find examples of the ill effects of religion, both in history and at present. However, similar examples could be produced about many other ways of categorizing people: race, class, political alligience, sexual orientation, gender, etc. So the argument could made that religion is simply another excuse given for this unfortunate side of human nature rather than a cause or contributor to it.
Anyway that judge sounds like a tool.

[roblin]

[ QUOTE ]
According to happiness studies -- and I'm not familiar with the methodology, but they are considered credible in the academic psychology world -- religion is +EV for happiness.

[/ QUOTE ]

EV+ compared to what? compared to atheism? i dont think i have ever met one unhappy atheist. atheist seems to appreciate the life they have more, since they know its the only one they'll get.

most studies claim that
lack of faith -> higher IQ
higher IQ -> more money
more money -> more hapiness
qed.

[foal]

+EV compared to lack of religion. Your anecdotal evidence is not relevent, and is also disproved by this site http://objectiveministries.org/kidz/ (scroll down).

"lack of faith -> higher IQ"

I'm not sure if this is true (especially given your following claims), but it would be silly to think that not having religion would improve one's IQ. Much more likely is that people with higher IQs are more likely to reject religion. It should be this way round (if it's true): higher IQ - > lack of faith.

"more money - > more hapiness"

This is wrong, except when the money brings someone out of overt poverty. I don't know what studies you're talking about, but for anyone who's able to meet their food and shelter needs, wealth is not a predictor of happiness.

[Allinlife]

if you have it it gives you a huge psychological power / the will to go through the hardship.

another thing about faith/religion is that it's intangible therefore we can't get used to it like other materialistic things that bring us temporary happiness.

[KipBond]

[ QUOTE ]
The belief in something greater than yourself can lead to joy and peace. The atheist always has to worry about death, about unfairness, about his own selfish interests.

By trusting in a higher power, we can find grace and love in our lives and leave much of the pettiness of the world behind.

[/ QUOTE ]

In my experience, Christians have just as much worry (or more) as atheists. Pastors preach messages on how to stop worrying. Why do that if they don't worry? They do. About most of the same things atheists do -- plus several others: What is God's Will for my life? What would Jesus do? How can I please God? Should I go into the ministry? How should I pray -- and what should I pray for? Am I reading my Bible enough? Am I witnessing to people enough? Am I sending enough $$ to missionaries? Etc.

I know I have fewer worries now than I did when I was a Christian, for sure.

[foal]

I don't know why people continue piling on this anecdotal evidence about religion not making people any happier when the serious studies on happiness have clearly indicated that it does.

http://www.psywww.com/psyrelig/happy.htm
This appears to be a good basic overview and discussion. As stated, religion can increase happiness in ways other than the religion itself, such as the increased social support that comes with religious involvement.

These studies are obviously not infallible, but they're much better than anecdotes.