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11.4
A review of the concept of faith
 
  The word faith originates from the latin fidus meaning 'trustworthy' and fidere meaning trust. In the English language, two principle meanings to the word faith are:  
 
1. Confidence, reliance, trust. (In early use, only with reference to religious objects).
2. Belief in the truth of the words contained in the scriptures of the religious organisation to which one subscribes.
 
  As you can see by these definitions, the word faith is considered a fundamental principle in the support of all religious devotion systems. If one does not have confidence, trust or belief in the truth of what is written, then historically the religion quickly falls. This has been shown many times throughout human history when worship towards a particular god or pantheon of gods falls upon the failure of either the religious texts or religious leaders to adequately explain.  
  This was the case for the ancient Greek religion in the belief of the Gods, the Egyptians and their religion and a host of others.  
  But what of the word and meanings of faith? Is it aligned to the concepts and understandings we have discussed so far in UCA and ME? Is it of sufficient purpose and value to be considered a key concept attached to virtue? or is the word no longer adequate or relevant?  
  Let us now look at arguments that support/dissolve the strength of the word and its associated meaning:  
11.4.1 The lack of comprehensiveness of religious scriptures  
  No one who has read the Bible can seriously regard the work as a comprehensive history of humanity. There is no mention of the history of different cultures outside the western hemisphere, and little is discussed outside the countries beyond the mediterranean and middle east sectors.  
  Similarly, The Bible does not account vast tracts of human history, even for the regions that it describes. For instance the account of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70/71 C.E. , a focal point of much of the prophecies within the New Testament in The Bible is virtually non existent. The siege of Masada around the same time, a turning point and the uprising against the might of Rome is scarcely mentioned.  
  These are not minor events. The stone by stone destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans and the taking of the most holy of relics of the Jewish faith represents arguably the blackest period in historical Jewish culture. Yet it is not mentioned.  
  Similarly, the Egyptian religious history as well as the Greek religious history show large "blind spots" to their own heritage, let alone the history of others around. Even Roman history, regarded by scholars as one of the more accurate attempts in the ancient world to provide some reasonable objectivity, fails to chronicle properly the wholesale destruction and death of literally tens of millions of people (estimated to be up to 100 million) from Bubonic Plague from 430 C.E. to the early 500's C.E. In other words, the greatest epidemic in human history (in total numbers) is largely left out of Roman chronicles.  
  Therefore, there is no possible way to regard The Bible and other ancient texts as comprehensive history's of humanity, when clearly they are not. Therefore, most religious scriptures cannot be trusted as comprehensive sources of knowledge. Therefore, on comprehensiveness, the second and major definition of faith- being "belief in the truth of the words contained in the scriptures of the religious organisation to which one subscribes", does not hold.  
11.4.2 The lack of objectivity of religious scriptures  
  No one who has read the Bible can seriously regard the work as an objective work, describing the strengths and weaknesses of each argument and point of view such as -the Babylonians arguments for taking the Jews into slavery? and -were there more reasons associated with the arrest and execution of Jesus?  
  No one on considering some of the most crucial passages of the Bible can argue that the texts have not been modified and that some of the key facts presented are at best highly suspect and at worst simply fanciful. These include the arrest of Jesus. The official Bible of the Catholic Church describes that Jesus was arrested by a Cohort (600 trained Roman soldiers). The official Bible says that he was born of a poor carpenter family, yet was well educated, able to attend expensive rituals, and was of Royal lineage. These facts simply don't add up.  
  You only have to turn to any page of the Bible to read clearly that the tone of the text is neither transcript, nor objective. It is subjective. Human author writing from a particular perspective. The argument then is whether this is God's perspective?  
  For the Bible is full of judgments. On this we are told that each and every word is true, when clearly many passages can be pulled to pieces on their specific historical accuracy and many passages can be questioned given the vitriol of the words, being very human, being very bitter.  
  Objectivity is a critical component to the modern notion of truth. Subjectivity is considered an enemy of the concept of truth. Therefore how can highly subjective religious texts that form the basis of so many religions be considered completely truthful? Clearly they cannot by definition. Therefore, on objectivity to truth, the word faith does not hold.

 
  The underpinning concept of "assumed trust" and faith  
  Faith is, in essence the operation of assumed trust towards the truthfulness of religious doctrine. As we have previously discussed, assumptions may in many situations assist us in coping with the level of interaction of dealing with many people in our daily rituals ( i.e. assumed trust in the character of people around us). However, assumed trust in the face of important knowledge such as our origins, methods for living, which most religious doctrines profess, is an extremely dangerous practice. It also opens people up to losing their sense and ability to see things for what they are.

 
  For example, if I tell you white is black and black is white and you believe me on assumed trust, then not only have you believed something that may have no basis of observable truth, but when putting this into practice, you change your sense of perspective. The mind altering nature of believing in things unproven and unsubstantiated has been shown to be one of the most effective means of mind control ( as discussed) in human history. The more fantastic the story, so long as people are persuaded to believe it as being true, the harder it is to shake them from that faith.  
  The end result is, for example, that a great many people reading this book will still regard faith as a critical virtue, not to be questioned or tampered with. No amount of reasoning, no amount of argument will sway them from their faith, or their belief in the religious scriptures they have been taught at an early age are not 100% true.  
11.4.3 The end of the need for faith  
  Enter the book UCA, universal collective awareness. No longer now is faith required and certainly is not considered a virtue. For now we have a model by which all information may be benchmarked. Either information , being other models provide adequate answers, or they do not.  
  If they do not, then there are now alternatives ( UCA) that do. Faith is obsolete. It is no longer required. Instead in its place can now reside the virtue of wisdom. This is an aligned virtue we will discuss in more detail later.  
     
 
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