Why Is Faith Considered A Virtue?

[chakka35]

I’d like some Christian to explain, please, why ‘faith’ is regarded as a virtue.

Faith is belief without evidence, more brutally described as blind credulity. Why is that good? Jesus is supposed to have said to Thomas (John 20:29) “…blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed”.

This seems to me to open the gates to making all beliefs respectable. Not only can I believe in astrology, magic crystals, leylines, unicorns and the like but I must be praised for such beliefs in the face of no evidence. Since the pass mark is zero I graduate with flying colours every time. Blessed am I, a place in heaven secured.

Someone please explain.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Ah, Khandro's mate Polkinghorne must have defended the concept (probably after redefing it first). I'll check him out too.

[chakka35]

mib- when did I ever run? I always respond to my responders. Not necesarily immediately, perhaps, because (a) I have other things to do, and (b) I like to hear others chat at length before coming back. In this case naomi is doing such a splendid sweeping-up job that I'll hold back until tomorrow. Cheers.

[Octavius]

Jake the Peg seems to have it spot on in my view.

The virtue in this context is theological virtue. Why is that good? Because on the religious path, placing faith in God is virtous in the eyes of God and leads that person to salvation.

Looking at it from the outside (as Jake has said) and comparing it to moral virtue is not going to help you understand this very much - if you really want to that is.

[Khandro]

Octavius; You seem to be claiming a distinction for 'theological virtue'. I personally see no difference between it and moral virtue and neither did St Thomas Aquinas who said; // It would seem that the theological virtues are not distinct from the moral and intellectual virtues. For the theological virtues, if they be in a human soul, must needs perfect it, either as to the intellective, or as to the appetitive part. Now the virtues which perfect the intellective part are called intellectual; and the virtues which perfect the appetitive part, are called moral. Therefore, the theological virtues are not distinct from the moral and intellectual virtues.//
I believe the OP; 'Why Is Faith Considered A Virtue?' to mean just that.

[naomi24]

I never understand why people quote Thomas Aquinas as an authority. He said some pretty daft stuff in his time, including this:

//As regards the individual nature, woman is defective and misbegotten, for the active power of the male seed tends to the production of a perfect likeness in the masculine sex; while the production of a woman comes from defect in the active power.//

Nothing like continuing the traditions of the church. Silly old devil!

[modeller]

//No. It doesn't take religion to do good. But, when they are doing good, the soul of the unbeliever is trying to guide them onto a path that their haughty intellect is reluctant to follow. //
It occurs to me it is more virtuous to do good when you are not looking for any reward, divine or otherwise. Than doing it as an expected part of your
faith. I've met many of the latter.

[atalanta]

I'm surprised anyone ever managed to read what Thomas Aquinas wrote - his handwriting was awful.
But, back to our muttons, as the French say -
I tried to believe, for many years, I did really.
But my brain kept getting in the way.

[Khandro]

naomi; keep on reading, you might find some good bits as well.

[modeller]

I don't think I've ever done anything virtuous in the whole of my life but I do enjoy helping people and animals if I can. I don't care who or what they are. It's as simple as that.

[Khandro]

St. Thomas Aquinas was the greatest medieval philosopher, and all you can say is his handwriting was bad, are you a teacher? :-)

[pixie373]

Sounds fairly virtuous, modeller?

[jomifl]

Belated apologies woofgang, an unchivalrous oversight on my part. I must try be more gender concious without being sexist in the future...:-(

[jomifl]

Some wonderful circular arguments here, Sandy is spinning like a top!

[jomifl]

I was baptised a christian so qualify to answer the question though I'm really an atheist. Faith is considered a virtue because it is in the interest of religion to propagate this lie which only serves to promote blind obedience and 'rewards' reluctance to ask questions. The 'rewards' are illusory as anyone of whom the church has no further use will discover.

[naomi24]

Khandro, //keep on reading, you might find some good bits as well.//

‘Good bits’, it seems, equate to bits that suit your own agenda.

//Sandy is spinning like a top!//

Nothing new there.

[Khandro]

naomi; //‘Good bits’, it seems, equate to bits that suit your own agenda.//
I'll definitely say 'Amen' to that.

[birdie1971]

Atalanta - “... I tried to believe, for many years, I did really. But my brain kept getting in the way.”

Outstanding answer!

[sandyRoe]

How is it spinning to say that the souls of some of the goodly UnGodly strive, through good works, to set their temporal hosts on the path to salvation.

[naomi24]

Khandro, //I'll definitely say 'Amen' to that. //

Thassa boy!

[goodlife]

Some say a cynic is one who never sees a good quality in a man, and never fails to see a bad one.