Gil Shapiro: Faith misleads, doesn’t deliver its promises

Re: the April 23 article “Faith played role in freeing over 100 people.”

Faith, as a method of inquiry, merits discussion.

In a recent guest opinion, Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin claimed that faith “saved” Jews from past tyrants and “will help protect us” from current and future evildoers as well.

In its Sunday edition, the Star often devotes a full page called “Keeping the Faith,” in which contributors extol faith’s virtues.

Religious and political terrorism, weird conspiracies and cults, and even cockamamie beliefs such as astrology are often motivated and justified by faith.

Prayer’s essence is faith.

While reason-based thinkers are understanding and sympathetic to the comfort and hope faith has always played in so many lives, we nevertheless marvel at why so many assent to its premise as a valid and reliable method to inform and gain knowledge (justified and true belief). Faith, as a process, is often misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misapplied.

While having several definitions, it commonly means “firm belief in something for which there is no proof.” (Merriam-Webster)

The Bible claims it is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). And yes, it is also used in a playful sense as in “faith” (hope) that a favorite sports team will win a championship. It is frequently and improperly substituted for “trust.” For example, to say, “I have faith (rather than trust) our plane will land safely” is wrong. Why? Because piloting skill, aeronautical engineering, and air traffic control evince trust, not faith.

It can also be applied disingenuously as when Rabbi Ceitlin touted the enduring faith of the “Chosen People” as the prime reason for their current existence. Did he conveniently forget the millennia of virulent, murderous antisemitism his people suffered — despite their deity’s sacred covenant with Abraham to forever bless them? How did faith in that promise work out during those horrible times? Perhaps the rabbi should temper his enthusiasm for “faith” as a reliable tool for his flock. He should also consider this: It has been theorized that if Jews had lived normal, unmolested lives, their numbers would currently be about 200 million. Today, they number about 15.7 million — just slightly more than before the Holocaust.

The theme of many opinions in the “Keeping the Faith” section of the Sunday Star is that faith is uniquely qualified to discover “Truth” — i.e., a correct understanding of reality. Apparently, no other methods of investigation are needed. Indeed, the writers imply that all facets of the metaphysical question, “What is it all about?” can be answered through faith. If so, then please explain in future articles how anything can be gained from beliefs that lack evidence or proof.

To rationalists, faith is an imposter: It isn’t what it appears to be, and often doesn’t deliver what it promises. For example, prayer, the epitome of faith-based action, has repeatedly been shown to be no more dependable or predictive than chance.

Its design and process are flawed. For example, faith-based thoughts and texts have no mechanisms for self-correction. Also, what justifies self-proclaimed authorities to insist on blind, doubt-free, and unquestioning faith from adherents? — that’s circular reasoning and chutzpah!

So, does “faith” deserve respect and reverence? For many, apparently it does. The word itself imparts a virtuous aura to the recipient. Consider these noble titles: “He is a man of faith” or “This is a faith-based institution.” But why should people or entities who believe things without evidence, or despite evidence to the contrary, merit our esteem?

Reason: the power of comprehending, inferring, or thinking, in orderly rational ways (to provide explanation or justification), stands in strong opposition to faith. While at times faith has gotten lucky and stumbled onto some valuable insights and ideas, reason has had an overwhelmingly higher success rate at getting it right.

To be clear: Reason cannot answer every question. Many are unanswerable. But its rational methodology for seeking answers, and sometimes even more importantly — asking the right questions — is far superior to all other approaches.

So why do people revere faith? Wouldn’t faith be needed only if reason were inadequate to achieve knowledge? People who profess faith claim it alone is capable of “knowing the unknowable.” Rational thinking people will gladly concede that oxymoronic point.

Faith, therefore, has only limited relevance in a (mostly) knowable world. The argument that faith answers the “whys” of life relegates it to the realms of intuition and conjecture.

Faith-based thinking is most often imprinted in childhood when the mental circuitry is unsophisticated and easily fooled. Unfortunately for many, this deception is permanent. Don’t believe me? Ask faith-based thinkers if they ever doubt their deeply held beliefs; and what contrary evidence or proofs would ever negate them? The answers will surely be “No” and “None,” respectively.

People who revere faith should reflect on the undeserved power and influence that its flawed method for inquiry has had on their lives.