What Is Faith?

Carl Sagan being interviewed on Charlie Rose, PBS, May 27th 1996. Perhaps the singular quote that Sagan said that influenced me the most as a scientist...

[CoolWorldsLab]

For the record, I'm not really interested in this quote as a critique of religion, although I think Sagan probably did intend it that way to some extent. To me, the power of this statement is that as scientists (and humans!) we have to always ask ourselves whether our beliefs are being informed by compelling evidence or not. If they are not, then we should indeed withhold belief. It's OK to remain on the fence about issues lacking good evidence!

[TheDisabledGamersChannel]

I got to meet Carl Sagan many many years ago, always and forever will be my favorite person in his field, a truly great guy.

[AFMMD-q]

In my opinion one of the top 5 very best educators of all times, Dr Sagan’s work ensures his immortality, a beautiful mind in every sense, he is sorely missed.

[ajhoward]

Hume. Sagan was the first place I remember hearing Hume spoken aloud as a kid and I remember it crystallizing all of my nascent thoughts on skepticism and the nature of beleif. Made me think more about the mechanism of epistemology. Made me read even more into the subject. Made me the person I am today...and the father who raised his Son to question everything and only apportion his beliefs to the evidence. So thanks Carl. We've got it from here.

[EthenBergen]

I grew up in a very religious home, no longer am, but the problem is people practicing a religion have plenty of "evidence" to support what they have faith in as being true. So to them this argument means nothing

[jasonfanus]

We miss you Carl. I hope you found what you were looking for.

[eamonnsiocain]

‘Faith’ is a term which covers many mutually exclusive meanings. Sometimes it hides under unquestioned premises; eg, that ‘all Reality is subject to Empirical evidence.’

[ElonMuskOfficial._.]

Hebrews 11:1 (CSB): "Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen."✝️

[BenjaminSpencer-mk]

I've read some of his work and grew up watching him on TV, Majority of people think he was atheist but what I read he actually was a theist, agnostic but still had a belief in something but just unable to give it a name

[youngjung]

I would argue faith is believing when there is incomplete evidence, not a complete absence of evidence

[MrKarmapup]

This is how I feel about the existence of Aliens.

[davidmcdonald]

That is a definition of Faith for some people, including Sagan.
Another definition of Faith for some people is found in the Bible book of Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." To phrase this in a way similar to Sagan, 'Faith is EVIDENCE in the absence of OBSERVATION'
Interesting to think that this bible definition of Faith, aligns with many Experimental proofs.

[bodhionultimateride]

Why then all of you insist to have faith that we humans are all the same. For on the contrary the evidence is overwhelming that there’s a huge difference amongst us.

[JohnDelong-qmiv]

Carl spent his entire career telling folks wha to believe

[accidental-traveller]

When you have the evidence, then its called KNOWLEDGE.

[jacekmarczyk]

When there is evidence, belief is irrelevant. You accept the evidence.

[Tadwitetrash]

Please come back carl.

"The science" has been taken over by paid actors.

[SqwarkParrotSpittingFeathers]

Believing in the undetectable dragon in the garage is a mistake too.

[johnhoelzeman]

That really doesn't sound like a good definition. I have faith in my friend to keep a secret I told them because theyve kept my secrets in the past. Faith can be held with or without evidence, is what im trying to say. Its like saying evolution is going from fish to mammals. Sure, thats one way evolution is expressed, but it isnt the only one. Faith simply means trust, and sometimes one had trust without good reason, and sometimes it's with good reason. When it comes to faith in God, some have it without any evidence, and some have it with evidence.

This definition doesnt seem to have been well thought-out, and seems to be based on a bias

[Релёкс]

The hardest part about that though, is to recognize that there is no evidence instead of holding onto empty confirmations, and likewise to recognize that there is evidence instead ofblindly rejecting it.