Is Faith Blind?

[tomspug]

Blind faith is as you put it so plainly, faith without reason. However, it is a common misconception that faith REQUIRES a lack of reason. That is simply not true.

Just because someone is a skeptic doesn't mean that they have no beliefs. They may constrict OBSERVATION to nothing but the facts, but there are plenty of skeptics that "believe" in morality, God, the soul, etc. When it comes to faith, reason is a matter of believability. If there is less proof or more proof is no measure for the degree of faith. In fact, it is easy to imagine that someone who believes something, who then encounters a situation that supports their beliefs, INCREASES in faith because of it.

So reason, then, is irrelevant to faith. Faith is a matter of personal conviction and how one chooses to deal with that conviction. That is all.

[shahid]

Of course faith is blind. The Holy Quran says that the Holy Prophet Muhammad was the LAST prophet despite this Tariq believes in the advent of another prophet. If faith was not blind he would not believe this!

[Charity]

I believe that blind faith is when there is no sufficient evidence or reason for believing that something will happen. That is what faith is in reality. Belief without tangible evidence.....Only a few people would not use common sense along with their belief....Myself believing that if someone is sick that God will heal them, but it may in all probability be by the use of a physican and medicine as part of a miracle through belief in God.....
Anyone can believe that there will be a positive outcome in a situation when all the odds are in our favor, but faith, or "blind faith" when there appears to be no hope in sight.

[tariqkhwaja]

Of course faith is blind. The Holy Quran says that the Holy Prophet Muhammad was the LAST prophet despite this Tariq believes in the advent of another prophet. If faith was not blind he would not believe this!

Man, what answer can I give to that? Please go to Muslims Only: Finality of Prophethood of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and have a look at why reasoning dictates that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) can be followed by Prophets. If you do not understand some argument that I made let me know there.

[tariqkhwaja]

Anyone can believe that there will be a positive outcome in a situation when all the odds are in our favor, but faith, or "blind faith" when there appears to be no hope in sight.

Nope. There should be some backing for that faith. There should be some reason. If there is a reason only then faith can be truly strong.
See human nature has been found to be such that it yearns for reasons. A lot of the world is turning Atheist simply because Theists do not have reason. These Atheists are, in that sense, honest. The stealer who steals but says he believes in God. If he really knew Someone would hold him accountable would he have stolen? If a police man is standing over you would you dare steel under his nose. Only if you are smart enough. Would a child who truly loves his mother disobey her when she is watching. He might not disobey her even when she isn't watching.
Human nature demands reason. So it is reasonable to accept that God who is supposed to love us provided enough reason. Our lack of faith in God is visible through the amount of times we act against our beliefs. The firmer the faith, the firmer the act. The blinder the faith the greater the hypocrisy.

[Charity]

If the doctors tell you that your loved one is dying and that there is no hope, or no chance for survival. Therefore you really have no basis, no reason to believe that they will make it.....But you keep up the faith and claim the promises of God. You keep holding on to that faith and miracleously your loved one survives.....Therefore your faith sustained you.......Blind faith sustained you, because you did not have even a thread of hope to hang on to............

[tariqkhwaja]

If the doctors tell you that your loved one is dying and that there is no hope, or no chance for survival. Therefore you really have no basis, no reason to believe that they will make it.....But you keep up the faith and claim the promises of God. You keep holding on to that faith and miracleously your loved one survives.....Therefore your faith sustained you.......Blind faith sustained you, because you did not have even a thread of hope to hang on to............

No you did have a thread of hope. A thread of reason. And that thread is past experiences or prophecies or dreams from God where many others were fulfilled. That is the hope you have ... that God has more power than all the doctors in the world. And that hope is strengthened due to your past experiences when God saved you from the stickiest of situations.

Prophets and their companions went through such turmoil and suffering. What made them stay on their path? Blind faith? Of course not. The Prophets and their companions had already experienced or seen miracles. They had experienced revelations. And experienced prophecies come true. And this past experience that showed Divine interference is the reason.

The Quran says about the hypocrites:
"And when a party of them said, 'O people of Yathrib, you can possibly make no stand against the enemy, therefore turn back. And a section of them even asked leave of the Prophet, say, 'Our houses are exposed,' whereas they were not exposed. They only sought to flee. "

And, yet, about the believers:
"And when the believers saw the Confederates, they said, 'This is what Allah and His Messenger promised us; and Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth.' And it only added to their faith and submission."

Unfortunately, most Theist clergy would have you believe that revelations and miracles are no more. Those clergy have not experienced these things so they try to fend the masses away from them. But I tell you the truth that if you pray to God and humbly beg Him to show you such signs that you may have stronger faith then He will. The God that used to speak still speaks and the God that used to show miracles still does. Evil has not reduced its presence, then why should goodness?

[Embrace]

Blind faith? Believing in something profusely although no evidence supports it?
Yes that is blind.

[darkendless]

Originally Posted by tariqkhwaja

Unfortunately, most Theist clergy would have you believe that revelations and miracles are no more. Those clergy have not experienced these things so they try to fend the masses away from them. But I tell you the truth that if you pray to God and humbly beg Him to show you such signs that you may have stronger faith then He will. The God that used to speak still speaks and the God that used to show miracles still does. Evil has not reduced its presence, then why should goodness?

My problem with miracles and faith is people see what they want to see, they hear what they want to hear, they attribute fortune to God's will and they continue to pray for lost causes. Thats how blind a lot of faith is.
I would confidently say that 75% of people who claim to have had a God vision lied, or saw only what they wanted to see in their dreams.
I would also confidently say miracles are what you make of them, they just don't happen without reason.