Series | Book | Chapter

226753

Faith and the validation of beliefs

José M. Musacchio

pp. 163-175

Abstract

Faith, in one sense, can generate testable hypotheses which, once empirically verified, are essential for scientific progress. In contrast, religious faith cannot be tested, so it has no truth-value and its conclusions are incompatible with science. Theologians have been unable to formulate the criteria to find truth in religion, because religions are unverifiable. Religions are also contradictory, because they have been invented by different cultures. Religious fundamentalists and right-wing politicians support the teaching of the independence of religion from science. Living in a group requires rules to keep harmony, so there is little doubt that our moral sense originated not from religious faith, but from adapting to live in larger groups. Religious belief is generally not a free choice, but a consequence of early childhood indoctrination. Stressing religious faith as the way to find spiritual and supernatural truths is the most effective way to introduce schizodoxic beliefs in society. Moreover, extreme religious faith promotes the development of sects and cults that produce serious personal and social confrontations.

Publication details

Published in:

Musacchio José M. (2012) Contradictions: neuroscience and religion. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 163-175

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-27198-4_10

Full citation:

Musacchio José M. (2012) Faith and the validation of beliefs, In: Contradictions, Dordrecht, Springer, 163–175.