This post definitely has problems, but given the fairly interesting discussion it appears to have prompted, does not seem to deserve being in the minus-double digits.
I think the central point is that the practical value of faith is more of an empirical question than a logical one. The central problem, of course, is that for a real person to accept some propositions on faith requires a (likely significant) dent in their overall rationality. The question is not about the value of faith, but about the tradeoffs made to obtain it; a complexity which is not really addressed here, and which may prove so entwined as to be impossible to arrive at deliberately.
In other words, once you’ve chosen a certain amount of rationality, many paths of faith are closed to you. Conversely, once you’ve chosen a certain amount of faith, some levels of rationality are closed to you.
This post definitely has problems, but given the fairly interesting discussion it appears to have prompted, does not seem to deserve being in the minus-double digits.
I think the central point is that the practical value of faith is more of an empirical question than a logical one. The central problem, of course, is that for a real person to accept some propositions on faith requires a (likely significant) dent in their overall rationality. The question is not about the value of faith, but about the tradeoffs made to obtain it; a complexity which is not really addressed here, and which may prove so entwined as to be impossible to arrive at deliberately.
In other words, once you’ve chosen a certain amount of rationality, many paths of faith are closed to you. Conversely, once you’ve chosen a certain amount of faith, some levels of rationality are closed to you.