Do you know why understanding the differences in faith and knowledge is so important? Whether you realize it or not, the answer has a major impact on your life. It revolves around the “faith versus knowledge debate.” Let’s examine the facts so that you can make an informed decision about this subject.
To grasp how faith influences reasoning, we must understand how people define the concepts of belief, faith, and knowledge. When you understand the meaning behind these terms, it gives you the information needed to make an informed decision.
Understanding The Differences
Knowledge is often seen as the key to success, but not all knowledge is beneficial. Knowing a lot about something inaccurate or useless is a waste of energy. We live in an age of information overload. So it’s essential to distinguish between inaccurate, useless information and valuable knowledge. Having a lot of data or information about something does not mean it is correct, true, or useful.
Let’s start by differentiating between inaccurate, useless information and valuable knowledge. Information is data. There are five key traits that distinguish between useful and useless information:
1. Accuracy is information free from mistakes and errors, reflecting facts or reality.
2. Completeness indicates that all necessary and expected information is present.
3. Reliability refers to the consistency and trustworthiness of the data.
4. Relevance signifies that the information directly relates to the specific topic or context.
5. Timeliness ensures the data is current and up to date for the period it is needed or used.
Information becomes sound knowledge when it is accurate, complete, reliable, relevant, and current. Knowledge that fits this criteria is the most useful. It is often the culmination of analysis, critical thinking, and the examination of evidence. Science is based on the quest to find answers using this level of data. As discoveries are made, they expand our knowledge. It is the process that builds upon and corrects our understanding.
Three Pillars of Sound Knowledge
To understand this concept better, let’s look at three key pillars of knowledge: breadth, depth, and versatility. Expanding or contracting these pillars affects changes in the five traits of knowledge.
For example, a closed system like organized religion restricts the breadth, depth, and versatility of the data we use.
1. Breadth: While specialization has merit, sound knowledge requires a broad understanding. A broad range of knowledge helps us connect seemingly unrelated ideas. A broad understanding lays the foundation for innovative solutions and a holistic perspective.
2. Depth: Delving deep into a specific field or subject is equally important. Mastery of a particular area provides the foundation to generate groundbreaking ideas. An In-depth understanding of the subject gives valuable insights that others might overlook.
3. Versatility: Sound knowledge is not limited to one particular context. Its versatility enables us to apply knowledge to different situations. This quality fuels creative problem-solving and adaptability. It means understanding data through facts and evidence. This includes both theory and practice.
Understanding The Differences Between Theory and Application
You can have theoretical knowledge of how something is done, but not actually be able to do it. Snow skiing is a good example. It is one thing to have an intellectual understanding of skiing. But it is entirely different when you try to balance while going downhill. Understanding the differences between theory and practical application is essential.
You can also have an extensive understanding of something that has no value. Useless trivia and facts about something may be interesting, but this information is not helpful. For example, you can have a vast knowledge of underwater basket weaving. Unfortunately, this knowledge is of little value in either intellectual or practical applications.
Obtaining a large amount of information about something may not be helpful. In fact, it may be unhealthy. If the data is inaccurate or contains unhealthy bias and prejudice, it is not advantageous to keep it.
Remember, sound knowledge is based on facts and evidence. It is also helpful and useful, not harmful. We see it in everyday applications such as farming. Knowledge built on repeatable and verifiable facts has practical uses..
Information or knowledge that is contaminated or distorted does not produce positive outcomes. For example, we see the results of extremist religious ideologies. Here, bigotry, discrimination, and racism taint values and thinking.
How to Acquire Sound Knowledge
Now that we know what sound and profound knowledge are, what do we need to do to obtain them?
1. Embrace lifelong learning: It is crucial to cultivate a love for learning. It is achieved through formal education, reading, attending workshops, and open dialogues.
2. Seek diverse perspectives: Seek out viewpoints that challenge or expand your own. Engaging in conversations with diverse perspectives broadens your knowledge. It helps you develop a well-rounded understanding of the world. Debates that are based on facts can be enlightening.
3. Emphasize practical application: Apply your knowledge in real-life situations whenever possible. Practical experience enhances your comprehension and allows you to refine your understanding.
4. Test and validate: Whatever you learn, validate it. Ensure it is not only factually stated but also factually correct. It requires keeping up to date on the subject.
Sound knowledge is the roadmap to success and personal growth. It requires seeking understanding, remaining adaptable and open-minded, and testing your findings. We must embrace the opportunities for growth to harness the power of knowledge. This mindset is especially beneficial in the arena of spirituality. Here is where we encounter the ideas of belief and faith.
Understanding How Faith Influences Reasoning
In spirituality, belief, knowledge, and faith play pivotal roles. They are intertwined because of the influence of organized religion. Therefore, it is essential to understand the distinction between faith and knowledge. It helps us understand how religion uses faith in God’s promises as a tool.
The Differences in Faith and Knowledge
Exactly how does faith influence reasoning? Faith is the unsubstantiated and groundless confidence in something. It is the complete trust in something without any sound evidence or proof. Belief is the acceptance of a statement that requires a certain level of faith and conviction. Faith and belief are confidence in things for which there is no credible proof.
A worldview based on faith is self-limiting and inaccurate. It makes one susceptible to other forms of manipulation.
Believing in fiction is different from having confidence in things that happen. If you have evidence, you don’t need faith and belief. For example, we do not need faith or belief to ascertain that gravity works. If we drop an object, we have verifiable confidence that it will fall to the ground. We have confidence in gravity because we can test its effect.
Whereas religion intentionally confuses faith with confidence. This realization highlights the faith versus knowledge debate.
What is sound knowledge to you?
Religious people know deep down that it is the most vulnerable area of their lives. When others question it, they are liable to hit out and feel insulted. They know it is absolutely without proof. Yet, people still commit themselves totally to this belief. They cannot refute it because it is so central to their lives. — John Hurt
To believe in things without proof requires faith. Faith masquerades as truth. It is a comfort zone for many, but it also requires equal amounts of unbelief. To believe in nonsense, you must reject those facts that contradict your faith, it’s why religions teach unbelief is evil. — Guru Tua
The obvious problem lies in confusing real things with imaginary things. It is similar to the differences in faith and knowledge. You can possess knowledge of both tangible and intangible things. But one should not confuse belief in myths and made-up stuff with real things. Memorizing myths as a foundation for your worldview is not sound knowledge. Instead, it is faith in fairy tales.
“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” ― Isaac Asimov
The Faith Versus Knowledge Debate
The argument against faith as a legitimate method centers on the tools used to substantiate it. Faith and belief are the tools of mass hypnosis. For this to work, you need to be exposed to groupthink manipulation tactics for an extended period. This way, you can create a self-hypnosis system to establish mythology as fact. What are these tactics?
Fear and anger are often the most effective motivators. So, religions capitalize on your greatest existential fear of death and the afterlife. They make rewards or punishments in the afterlife a commodity. It establishes the following parameters to override common sense and logic:
1. Belief in an Imaginary Friend (God) along with Imaginary Enemies (Devils)
2. The supremacy of divinely-inspired texts
3. Loyalty to their specific brand interpretation of the myth
Once you accept these parameters, they can program any bias and prejudice. Then, those in control of the programming can add anything else. They can program you to protect your faith and beliefs with violence. This is how faith influences reasoning, emotions, and behaviors.
People kill other people in the name of their imaginary friends and enemies. They justify hate because other religions are evil and ethnic-racial groups are inhuman. The ultimate projection of mythology is when backward beliefs are installed as law.
This strategy works and has worked for eons. It’s a platform on which the metaphors of mythology and superstition are believed as fact. These become elements of your worldview. If you don’t understand the implications of this mindset, you are likely a believer. It’s not your fault.
If you are a believer, then reading this may not be very pleasant. If you are upset, realize you were programmed to react this way. It is part of groupthink manipulation. Yet, you are reluctant to admit you are a victim of self-hypnosis manipulation. Your adverse reaction to this discussion is a response to protect your sacred ground. You automatically defend anything that challenges your beliefs.
What is faith and belief in your life? Do these provide innocent inspiration, or are they mechanisms that install harmful values? Learning how faith influences reasoning provides you with an opportunity. It gives you the power to reject faith in favor of legitimate knowledge.
The faith versus knowledge debate is both an internal struggle and a social conflict. Internally, we experience tension as we reconcile religious faith with scientific facts. Socially, it manifests in the clash between religious tradition and empirical evidence. These debates center on societal issues, such as law, education, and ethics.
Choosing Knowledge or Mythology
Mistaking mythology for facts is an error, no matter how much of it you know. We can learn a great deal about ancient cultures from the way they used myth and superstition. These ancient cults developed sophisticated propaganda and manipulation tools to foster groupthink. With these tools, they convinced people to believe these myths were true. However, this does not qualify as sound information or knowledge.
Sound knowledge is factual, true, logical, and verifiable. Therefore, it is “sound.” Memorizing mythology and superstition is not helpful for self-development. To the contrary, it becomes a barrier to progress.
Why do religious people believe myths are true? Organized religion is powerful. It adopted groupthink manipulation tactics to control its members. Groupthink tactics are effective brainwashing tools. They induce people to believe false and unhealthy ideas. These tactics are not new. They come from the ancient mystery religions of Assyria, Persia, and Babylon. These tactics remain effective today.
The ability to think rationally is vital in determining facts from fiction. Reading and studying fiction will do you no good in the practical world. It becomes harmful when you think fictional stories and characters are real. You pay the price when you confuse the difference between belief and knowledge.
The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read. ― Mark Twain
The demonization of legitimate science is a growing subculture. Its roots come from Western organized religion. It is a tactic to keep paying customers. It opposes sound knowledge. Isaac Asimov says anti-intellectualism is a thread winding its way through our culture. It is nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.”
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. ― Daniel J. Boorstin
Imaginary Friends and Enemies
Western theology is based on mitigated dualism, which uses good and bad gods as opposing forces. The first hurdle to accepting mythology as fact is accepting the concept of God. To get people to accept this, one must overlook the contradictions; this is why indoctrination starts early in childhood.
The carrot-and-stick method is effective. The carrot is the afterlife in heaven, where one enjoys various benefits depending on the sect. For example, in Christianity, it is a mansion; in Islam, it is a harem of virgins. Then, if this isn’t enough motivation to accept the doctrines, there is the prospect of Hell. Hell is a place of eternal torment for unbelievers.
The main selling point of this scenario is having faith in God’s promises. He promises to reward the followers and condemn unbelievers. The benefits also include promises of health and prosperity if you are willing to pay the price.
You are taught to live by faith and belief while supporting the religion financially and with social activism. To make this system work, people must be indoctrinated in the knowledge of the religion. They want you to accept false knowledge or faith as a substitute for facts and evidence. It’s how they keep you a paying customer.
The Power of Religious and Political Indoctrination
Organized religion uses faith and belief to override your natural skeptical mindset. This is how believers accept myth as fact. It sets a dangerous precedent. Once you substitute myths for facts, you are susceptible to other misdirections.
Religion employs the metaphor of God to establish its authority. There are three ways to approach the subject of God: faith, experience, and reason. Some people choose one, and many use all three.
Making healthy decisions is critical in today’s world. You cannot afford to make a mistake that could jeopardize you or others. One of the primary challenges we face is striking a balance between what we can prove and what we believe to be true.
All over the world, belief in the supernatural has authorized the sacrifice of people to propitiate bloodthirsty gods… And justifies the murder of witches for their malevolent powers. — Steven Pinker
The argument is that knowing about things for which there is no valid proof is still knowledge. The claim is that “knowing stuff” that isn’t factual is still sound knowledge. Then, they use circular logic to assert that knowledge of fiction can perform the same as facts. Circular reasoning requires faith because facts cannot substantiate their claims. Thus, it is necessary to distinguish between facts and knowledge about myths.
Many religions employ metaphors to convey complex concepts. Eastern religions, such as Hinduism, use anthropomorphic beings to describe the elements of nature. However, they do not believe in the actual existence of Shiva or Laksmi. They understand that these personifications are tools that help them remember key concepts. The problem arises when you mistake myths for facts.
Confusing legends and myths with facts and evidence is the battleground. These two worldviews define the faith versus knowledge debate.
The so-called Christian nations are the most enlightened and progressive. But in spite of their religion, not because of it. The Church has opposed every innovation and discovery from the day of Galileo down to our own time… Every step in astronomy and geology has been opposed by bigotry and superstition. The Greeks surpassed us in artistic culture five hundred years before the Christian religion was born. — Mark Twain
Conclusion
Understanding the differences in faith and knowledge reveals the mechanisms behind religious indoctrination. Learning how faith influences reasoning shows us the power of its mind control tactics. When we see these tools, we have the power to reject and overcome them.
We must acknowledge how religious faith drives the actions of many and shapes our worldview. It serves as the bedrock upon which we construct our perceptions of reality. We must strive to shift our cultural focus from faith to facts.
Our spiritual beliefs should be grounded in sound knowledge and understanding. It helps us avoid falling prey to the myths prevalent in our society. Every day, we choose between the path of knowledge and the path of faith. Which path will you choose? What is faith and belief in your life?
References
- Faith and Reason. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP).
- What Is Data Quality and Why Is It Important? Alation (Explaining data quality dimensions).
- Different personal propensities among scientists relate to deeper vs. broader knowledge contributions. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine (PMC).
- Faith, Fact, and Behaviorism. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine (PMC).
- Atheists, Agnostics, Spirituals, and Christians: Assessing Confirmation Bias within a Measure of Cognitive Ability. Brill (Publisher).
- Manipulation: Methods employed by Cult and Religious Leaders to Exploit Followers. Augustana Digital Commons.
- Conceptions about the mind-body problem and their relations to afterlife beliefs, paranormal beliefs, religiosity, and ontological confusions. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine (PMC).
- Mind–body dualism. Wikipedia.