[JohnGalt2341]

So... I was watching the Florida Republican Debate and the question was asked "How would your Religion affect your Presidency?" or something like that. And Rick Santorum said "I believe in Faith and Reason." He said some other stuff too but I found this statement perplexing. It made me wonder... if you are guided by Faith... why do you need Reason? Or... if you are guided by Reason... why do you need Faith? I find it very intriguing. More than likely he was just trying to get some votes but it seemed sort of odd to me. There might be a logical explanation for believing in both but it's sort of hard for me to fathom.

Let me give an example... Santorum is guided by Faith and he believes in Virgin Births and Talking Snakes and the Earth is approximately 6,000 years old. Yet, he also says he believes in Reason which would make him a complete moron for the first belief. Am I the only one that found his statement to be contradictory?

[Chi_archie]

too broad, subjective, and relative to answer in this example


need to operationally define what his "faith" is internally..(which is impoossible) and then define for our purposes, what "reason" actually means?

make it simple.

Lets start with this. Do you believe in and have faith in "cold"? if you hear it is gonna be 5 degrees outside, what would you reasonably wear if you went outside?

[JohnGalt2341]

Do you believe in and have faith in "cold"? if you hear it is gonna be 5 degrees outside, what would you reasonably wear if you went outside?

I usually use a thermometer. My only faith is that the thermometer has always been accurate in the past so I trust that it is currently accurate as well. OR, I listen to a weatherman that has been fairly accurate in the past. OR, I step outside myself and use my own Reason to decide that is is cold outside. When it comes to cold weather(I grew up in Minnesota btw) I don't need much faith to make my decision on what to wear. If the Pope(or Jesus himself... I know some people claim to talk to Jesus. I've never been fortunate enough to talk to him) told me it was going to be 95 and sunny in Minnesota on January 27th I would likely not believe it since it has never been 95 and sunny in January in Minnesota since they have been keeping temperature records. Long story short... Faith would have virtually no influence on my decision on what to wear.

[YouMama]

He means he believes in faith (either because he has brain washed since birth and is scared to challange it, or he is scared of ceasing to exsist after death) but he has enough reason to know religion is full of unbelievable shit, so he has to say it that way or he wont get elected

[ericthegangster]

Santorum is a nutjob. He stands no chance.

[Chi_archie]

No such thing as cold..... It's a term to describe the absence of heat...all the way down to zero kelvin. About 273 Celsius. We still have faith in the semantically challenged operational definition though now that we defined them. You read that it is 0 on that thermometer and put your coat on due to the absence of heat. So now that we know how to break it down. Which idea that you assume Rick is faithful to, do you worry about specifically in terms of reason.

[MonkeyF0cker]

No such thing as cold..... It's a term to describe the absence of heat...all the way down to zero kelvin. About 273 Celsius. We still have faith in the semantically challenged operational definition though now that we defined them. You read that it is 0 on that thermometer and put your coat on due to the absence of heat. So now that we know how to break it down. Which idea that you assume Rick is faithful to, do you worry about specifically in terms of reason.

Children of rape victims are "gifts of God."

[Emily_Haines]

Bachman spoke to god and god told her that she would win. All these religious freaks are full of shit and bad for the country.

[JohnGalt2341]

Which idea that you assume Rick is faithful to, do you worry about specifically in terms of reason.

I've experienced "cold weather" even if it is a subjective term. If you are outside in Sub-zero temperatures with little or no clothing long enough you will eventually die. That's a fact.

Here are some things that I personally DO NOT have Faith in: Virgin Births, Talking Snakes, Anyone walking on water(unless it is frozen of course), anyone turning water into wine, anyone returning from the dead after they've been dead for several days, people getting turned into pillars of salt, etc etc... basically... anything in the Bible or any other book the defies the laws of nature. Rick Santorum has "faith" in these things. I do not. Do you see the difference?

[Snowball]

Children of rape victims are "gifts of God."

and you think they belong in trash bags.
how thoughtful.

[Snowball]

Galt, all Christians and Muslims believe in the Virgin birth of J.C.
that's over half of the Earth's population.
http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

[MonkeyF0cker]

and you think they belong in trash bags.
how thoughtful.

Yep. Right along with the rapist.

Very thoughtful that a woman should have to not only live with the trauma of being raped but a CONSTANT reminder of it the rest of her life every time she looks at the kid.

Thank you, Jesus. LOL. Religious people are insane.

[MonkeyF0cker]

Galt, all Christians and Muslims believe in the Virgin birth of J.C.
that's over half of the Earth's population.
http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

300 years ago, 99.99999999999999999999999% of people thought the Earth was flat. That means a lot.

[benjy]

300 years ago, 99.99999999999999999999999% of people thought the Earth was flat. That means a lot.

While your example is not true your point is valid.

[nyed1010]

too broad, subjective, and relative to answer in this example


need to operationally define what his "faith" is internally..(which is impoossible) and then define for our purposes, what "reason" actually means?

make it simple.

Lets start with this. Do you believe in and have faith in "cold"? if you hear it is gonna be 5 degrees outside, what would you reasonably wear if you went outside?

faith can have various meanings, but we all know the context in which Santorum(a well documented religious nutjob) is speaking here. In the religious sense of the word, faith and reason is a concrete example of an oxymoron.

[MonkeyF0cker]

"Mommy, who is my daddy?"

"Well, son. Your daddy is a stranger that kidnapped me while I was walking home one night, beat the shit out of me, tore my clothes off, and inserted his penis into me against my will."

"Thank you, Jesus."