Is Faith Blind?

[tariqkhwaja]

Assalamualaikum.

I believe a major problem with Theists the world over is their belief that reasoning does not go with faith and that faith is blind. So, for example, many Muslims talk about "Eman" or "Faith" or "Strength of Faith" simply to be the ability to believe in that which is unseen and whose existence and correctness can not be proven. Muslims conclude this from the Quranic statement of "belief in the unseen". However, the unseen may be proven and the Quran consistently reminds us by telling us "will they not ponder" or "will you not ponder".

I would agree that the truth is not as evident as the sun is during the day. A certain degree of "covertness" exists preventing its clear recognition. However, this mist is there to distinguish the honest from the dishonest and is removed for those who put sufficient effort in search of the truth.

The Promised Messiah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, explained this phenomenon in his book, The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam. Explaining the Quranic verses 102:2-9 he stated:

In these verses God Almighty has clearly set forth that for the wicked the life of hell begins in a covert way in this very world, and if they would reflect they would observe hell in this very life. Here God Almighty has indicated three types of knowledge, namely knowledge by certainty of reason, knowledge by certainty of sight, and knowledge by certainty of experience. This might be illustrated thus. When a person perceives smoke from a distance his mind conceives that smoke
and fire are inseparable, and therefore where there is smoke there must be fire also. This would be knowledge by the certainty of reason. Then on a nearer approach he sees the flames of the fire and that is knowledge by the certainty of sight. Should he enter into the fire, that would be knowledge by the certainty of experience. In these verses God Almighty says that knowledge of the existence of hell as a certainty can be acquired in this life through reason, its knowledge through the certainty of sight will be acquired in Barzakh, the intermediate state between death and judgment, and on the Day of Judgment that knowledge would become a certainty by experience.

[Saint Tigeress]

Is faith blind? I think it can be very blind. The degree of blindness varies. Have you watched Silent Hill? I loved the illustration of blind faith in that movie, it was gnarly. The best example of blind faith I can think of that explains how I view it is "faith healing," or whatever the heck it's called. There is a doctor 5 minutes up the road, your daughter is in excruciating pain and dying of some curable disease, but yet you wait for God to heal her. If it doesn't happen your faith wasn't strong enough. That is blind faith. You are so blinded by your "faith" that you cannot see the blessing right under your nose, it must be the devil tempting you to stray or some nonsense... Saying a prayer and giving a blessing and having faith in the potential assistance it can offer is rational faith, blind faith is just relying on God for everything instead of helping yourself... being lazy. That's my opinion.

I know in Islam there is complete submission to Gods will, but I honestly don't know how that would work into the scheme of helping yourself v.s. God helping you or a combo of both, so don't take any offense. I wasn't referring to the Islamic nature of submission, since I don't know much about it, but moreso thinking of extremely fundamental christian variations.

[cardero]

Is Faith Blind?
Not necessarily, but that doesn't mean that every person is going to have the same eye glass perscription.

[MEMNOCK]

I think that blind faith is a large problem with the world as we know it. People just believe what they read in a book(no names mentioned, take your pick), and then declare that its the truth and to hell with making any effort to understand GOD. Blind faith is what the name implies....blind followers...The world doesn't need programed robots, it needs human beings to open their minds and spirit to their own universal path... I don't know why im ranting, human beings are herd animals....well, I can dream can't I...

[YmirGF]

Originally Posted by tariqkhwaja

The Promised Messiah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, explained this phenomenon in his book, The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam. Explaining the Quranic verses 102:2-9 he stated:

In these verses God Almighty has clearly set forth that for the wicked the life of hell begins in a covert way in this very world, and if they would reflect they would observe hell in this very life. Here God Almighty has indicated three types of knowledge, namely knowledge by certainty of reason, knowledge by certainty of sight, and knowledge by certainty of experience. This might be illustrated thus. When a person perceives smoke from a distance his mind conceives that smoke
and fire are inseparable, and therefore where there is smoke there must be fire also. This would be knowledge by the certainty of reason. Then on a nearer approach he sees the flames of the fire and that is knowledge by the certainty of sight. Should he enter into the fire, that would be knowledge by the certainty of experience.

Allusion rejected. The simple fact of the matter is that where there is smoke, quite often there is no fire, therefore this amusing illustration fails on that count alone. To state, "where there is smoke, there is fire", is a demonstration of inherent ignorance.

This ignorance is clarified in the final portion of the text.

In these verses God Almighty says that knowledge of the existence of hell as a certainty can be acquired in this life through reason, its knowledge through the certainty of sight will be acquired in Barzakh, the intermediate state between death and judgment, and on the Day of Judgment that knowledge would become a certainty by experience

Any person who promotes belief in the reality of "hell" is unworthy of any further serious investigation of their opinions.

[tariqkhwaja]

Allusion rejected. The simple fact of the matter is that where there is smoke, quite often there is no fire,

Yes, exactly, half glass full or half glass empty. The point being that the smoke gives enough reason to believe there might be a fire. It gives enough reason for further investigation. In this world there is enough reason for the existence of God, heaven and hell. Enough, at least, to encourage further investigation into the possibility.

[Nehustan]

Having been reading Mishkat Al Anwar this moring I am minded of the 'veils' hadith...

"God has seventy veils of light and darkness; were He to lift them, the august glories of His face would burn up everyone whose eyesight perceived Him"


...so I'd put that blind is better metaphorically as opposed to blind rather in actuality. The juxtaposed position is that one who claims to have 'seen the light' is likely to be be blinded in one way or another. When it comes to a claim of anything other than a subjective truth it may indeed be an a pardoxical metaphor, 'And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?'

[gnostic]

Originally Posted by saint tigeress

There is a doctor 5 minutes up the road, your daughter is in excruciating pain and dying of some curable disease, but yet you wait for God to heal her. If it doesn't happen your faith wasn't strong enough. That is blind faith. You are so blinded by your "faith" that you cannot see the blessing right under your nose, it must be the devil tempting you to stray or some nonsense... Saying a prayer and giving a blessing and having faith in the potential assistance it can offer is rational faith, blind faith is just relying on God for everything instead of helping yourself... being lazy.

Very astute example.

I think faith is blind, when the person have enormous faith in religion or god, but lack common sense..or even more importantly lack of sense of reality.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by tariqkhwaja

Yes, exactly, half glass full or half glass empty. The point being that the smoke gives enough reason to believe there might be a fire. It gives enough reason for further investigation. In this world there is enough reason for the existence of God, heaven and hell. Enough, at least, to encourage further investigation into the possibility.

What is the [sufficient] reason for the existence of heaven and hell?