Merriam-Webster describes Faith (transitive verb) as a firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2): complete trust. 


My question is does faith perpetuate long held beliefs that fly in the face of reason, and if so, how is that different from superstition? I mean no disrespect to “people of faith” but I must admit some confusion when I hear faith championed as a virtue. Throughout history acts of unspeakable horror have been perpetrated in the name of faith. Human sacrifices to gods of every description may seem like distant echos of ancient human existence, but it has not been that long since christians were thrown to the beasts for entertainment in the arenas of Rome for not having faith in the Roman gods. It has not been that long since the crusaders killed thousands for not sharing their faith in Christianity. When people of reason and science dared question the cannons of christianity and their geocentric  view of the earth they were persecuted and many were killed for teaching heliocentric views, some were burned alive for blasphemy. No virtue there. When people of faith look at bones of creatures scientifically dated to be millions of years old and dismiss them as “Tricks of Satan”  I see no virtue there. 

My point is that I feel blind faith has caused much of the pain and injustice in this world. If your able to except on faith alone the teaching of a book written by multiple authors and revised countless times, that is full of inconstancies and factual errors and scientifically impossible stories, is it any big deal to except slavery as’ God’s plan’? If I except on faith that science is only reliable as long as it does not contradict my interpretation of the Bible and I believe the earth is only six thousand years old, then how can I support the teaching of geology or evolution in public schools? If I except on faith that “God hates gays” how can I support civil rights for them? If my faith tells me that I have the truth and only those who agree with me and conform to my beliefs are worthy of eternal life, why should I value those who don’t? 

I would not seek to limit anyone’s right to believe anything they choose to, but if anyone seeks to limit my freedom or my choices based on their “faith”, then we have a problem.