> Paul Durham
>
> Do you believe that the experience or observation of the supernatural
> would demonstrate that faith can be based on observation?
Yes I do. But there are two notable problems with supernatural observation
First problem is that supernatural observations are not public. If you can
write back on some public supernatural observations I would like to read about
them. The second problem is that they normally happen only once. They can't be
looked at again and again
> John E. Rylander
>
> One quick question: by faith do you mean beliefs that are religious in
nature? > Or beliefs that are not strictly determined by the evidence (e.g.,
perhaps not > held in proportion to the independently empirically confirming
evidence)? Or > what?
Faith is "a conviction which cannot be shaken by contrary evidence."* The
conviction can be religious in nature or not. I am sure many of you could name
some in the scientific field who have shown this characteristic.
I think unshakable convictions are strong in 'isms' - liberalism, conservatism,
nationalism, Mormonism**, . . .
* Quote from Bertrand Russell
** Not to pick on Mormons - I just picked a religion out of my hat.
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