# 1999/4/11

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# measuring belief      #
#   definition of faith #
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# Reference:
# "Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary"
# The Riverside Publishing Company, 1984.

Webster's includes 3 definitions of faith (paraphrased)

  belief is something accepted as true
  faith1 is strong belief
  faith2 is belief not based on logical proof or material evidence
  faith4a is belief and trust in God

I think faith1 refers to "psychological strength" of the decision to
accept something as true.  No reference is made to evidence.  This
strength can be measured by willingness to commit to an action.

I think faith2 refers to "logical strength" (David Kelley, "The Art
of Reasoning", chapter 5).  Note that logical strength measures the
connection between premises and conclusion, so faith2 depends on the
evidence which was considered, and the method used to validate the
evidence.

I think faith4a means a belief that God exists and that he is
benevolent.  Note that faith4a makes no mention of psychological
strength or logical strength.