>Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 15:58:21 -0500
>From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
>Subject: Re: virus: Re: virus-digest V3 #63
>
>>Try and step beyond: "Reason good, faith bad, me name Og"
>
>If 'faith' is what continues one on the path to a goal, then 'faith' is
>the 'reason'. Is there not, however, always a 'reason' behind one's
>'faith'?
>
>Simply following because it _seems_ right is what most of us here (well,
>me) think 'faith' is. A blind, practically, and possibly, although not
>necessarily, stupid adherence to a path. There is no inherent reason with
>a paucity of empirical knowledge to dismiss this path out-of-hand. Then
>again, no-one has really shown us any baby hidden in this bath-water....
>
>Again, if 'faith' is your 'reason' - then - which _is_ it? Would not only
>the 'faithful' continue to use the same 'faith'- and are we not really
>talking about 'faiths' that have
>_become_ reasonable due to results? That is, the 'faith' that the sun
>will shine tomorrow? The 'faith' that optimism might produce smiles? The
>'faith' that hard work and practice might produce expertise and
>craftmanship? The 'faith' that a cultural heirarchy can be maintained?
Wade, faith is all that, and still more. And everything in the best possible sense. It is small and large, material and trancendent. It's everywhere and all-powerful. And, it's good...at least, it can be a great tool for good.
But always? Of course not. That is why reason must be it's constant companion. A Yang for every Yin, if you take my meaning.
Reed
Reed Konsler konsler@ascat.harvard.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------