Love it, I tried to convey something similar using the term 'falsifiable belief' but I like propositional a lot more. I remember being one of those atheists unable to connect with metaphor outside of propositional belief to such an extent that I couldn't even let myself enjoy the fantasy genre because of the employment of magic systems. Now it is one of my favorite genres, and perhaps my enjoyment of these stories and the lessons within played a large part in helping me to appreciate the value of having faith in the unseen world, or at least being able to connect with the unknowable in a way that is personally meaningful.
To play devil's advocate, I suppose the common rejoinder to your analogy of the squirrel would be that there isn't a consistent, falsifiable method for determining tree disappearance. One squirrel may have a theory about the timber industry, another about alien abductions, a third about trees turning into birds overnight, but without an objective verification process, it's all guesswork and begging. In other words, if truth is beyond the ability of squirrels to test, than it either doesn't exist or may well as not exist, and there's actually no difference, in that model of squirrel epistemology.
"it is not about “believing” something, but about choosing the right object of faith, and then overcoming all the challenges that the world keeps throwing at you, with your inner vision sternly focused on that object of faith."
I liked this. Eliphas Levi said the magician must accept the twin pillars of reason and faith, each are as important as the other. "The definitive alliance of reason and faith results not in their absolute distinction but in their mutual control and their fraternal confluence."
Good to see that the distinction between Faith and Belief is gaining broader attention. My interpretation of Pistis is somewhat narrower than Faith as explained here, not object-oriented but rather an open attitude to others, to new information and experience: Good Faith. I covered this topic in a paper, which is reproduced here: https://michaelkowalik.substack.com/p/transcendental-theology-for-non-believers
That’s it. Used an opening to plug my pet fascination with QBism and its entertaining visualisation of humans (but not dogs) going around collapsing wavefunctions 😊
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PS You may want to offer a non-committal option to buy you a coffee. Just sayin’.
Love it, I tried to convey something similar using the term 'falsifiable belief' but I like propositional a lot more. I remember being one of those atheists unable to connect with metaphor outside of propositional belief to such an extent that I couldn't even let myself enjoy the fantasy genre because of the employment of magic systems. Now it is one of my favorite genres, and perhaps my enjoyment of these stories and the lessons within played a large part in helping me to appreciate the value of having faith in the unseen world, or at least being able to connect with the unknowable in a way that is personally meaningful.
Great stuff, as per usual.
To play devil's advocate, I suppose the common rejoinder to your analogy of the squirrel would be that there isn't a consistent, falsifiable method for determining tree disappearance. One squirrel may have a theory about the timber industry, another about alien abductions, a third about trees turning into birds overnight, but without an objective verification process, it's all guesswork and begging. In other words, if truth is beyond the ability of squirrels to test, than it either doesn't exist or may well as not exist, and there's actually no difference, in that model of squirrel epistemology.
💬 that vast sea of unknown terrain
👌 The preposterous captures the ineffable just perfectly—meet the spiritual realm that defies the best attempts at taming by naming.
Hi Luc, like I said before I found the article intriguing, and so I wrote a response here: https://foliededieu.substack.com/p/the-dead-end-of-religion-without
"it is not about “believing” something, but about choosing the right object of faith, and then overcoming all the challenges that the world keeps throwing at you, with your inner vision sternly focused on that object of faith."
I liked this. Eliphas Levi said the magician must accept the twin pillars of reason and faith, each are as important as the other. "The definitive alliance of reason and faith results not in their absolute distinction but in their mutual control and their fraternal confluence."
Good to see that the distinction between Faith and Belief is gaining broader attention. My interpretation of Pistis is somewhat narrower than Faith as explained here, not object-oriented but rather an open attitude to others, to new information and experience: Good Faith. I covered this topic in a paper, which is reproduced here: https://michaelkowalik.substack.com/p/transcendental-theology-for-non-believers
Way too much of me here, I know, don’t cancel me!! Please?? 😳 Just a link and I’m done. The squirrels seem to have stirred smth quite deep in.
💬 faith has a lot to do with facing resistance from the world.
The world is loose at joints, and pushes back on us when we try to shape it → https://schoolecosystem.wordpress.com/tag/quantum-physics/.
That’s it. Used an opening to plug my pet fascination with QBism and its entertaining visualisation of humans (but not dogs) going around collapsing wavefunctions 😊
~~
PS You may want to offer a non-committal option to buy you a coffee. Just sayin’.