Proof vs Faith... Does it Matter?

This hub is inspired on a post by a fellow hubber. Some answers can be longer than others. A few of them become new hubs. The issue at hand is if one should get rid of faith and belief altogether in pursuit of factual answers. This is my reaction to that matter.

Proof is a stamped piece of paper with numbers written on it. Proof is for those that need it. Some rather walk the path feeling, or by pure instinct.

There are rational numbers and irrational numbers... They coexist in this organized chaos or chaotic organization we call Universe.

Some can’t walk without proof, some rather do without. Those that need proof should not be bothered by those that do not... and viceversa. Speaking of proof, just don't know what dictionary are you relying on for the definition of "paranoia" for that matter... Not that it matters.

Some call it "paranoia", others call it delusion... Others refer to them as loonies... A few call them believers. A selected crowd take these folks as visionaries.

All that we see today came from something that wasn't. The visible comes from the invisible. Somebody had this idea of the Sun being the center of the Universe, because that is what he saw, and that was enough proof. For centuries, everyone followed.

Until one started questioning, a woman, making circles in the sand. They called her what? Delusional or Paranoid? How could she be referring to something that no one could see? This woman needed a diagnosis.

Thousands of centuries before her, in a primitive tribe in Africa, an old folktale story went on about a star where every living creature and everything that we know came from.

This tribe, centuries ago, did not have telescopes, but pinpoint with almost technological precision the celestial body that science finally came to confirm in recent years. Now they don’t call them barbaric, now the scientists are left to wonder in amazement.

Some had this idea that bad spirits made children sick. Other started thinking that maybe it was the water, or the milk. People ridiculed him. The water looked just fine. There were no microscopes then, many died before another was able to see any further.

Do you have children? Not meaning to get personal but have you seen this movie “Horton Hears the Who?” Well, seems like I am the crazy elephant and you are the kangaroo! I mean, her slogan fits you perfectly “If you can’t see it, and if you can’t hear it, then it doesn’t exist”.

Can you see your mind? Can you touch your thoughts? Can you hear your feelings? How heavy is your mercy? How tall is your love? How deep is your pain? Some put a price tag on fear... What is that evolving inside of you? Of us? I can feel it but I cannot see it... But something tells me is there, somehow that something guides me... One sits still and something is there... Is it the voice of delusion? Or is that what connects us with the whole? Math and sciences emerged from philosophy. We are One. All is connected. Same elements in us are in the stars. Old tribes said it centuries before, we come from the stars. Science confirmed it recently. Faith is part of being human. Some have their faith in facts and figures... Others have their faith in stories... And that keeps them going.

The world runs fueled by ideas, delusions (or “paranoia” if one insists on the term). Economics, financial statements, estimated earnings, analysts reports, security, national defense, feeling safe... the national budget... George Washington never said a lie... The Twin Towers collapsed symmetrically straight down in 10 seconds flat after aircraft side-way impact... All fairy tales with nice gnomes in the form of uptrend graphics and embedded illusions in the form of numbers and fantastic statistics. Tells of ends of worlds and food shortage and we not been able to fit because there will be 9 billion of us. Yet we laugh at our children believing in Santa Claus. Why not let them believe that Jesus chatted with the Devil?

Did you know that during the Great Depression the national debt was cut in half? Just like that, all forgotten... They could do it now, of course they could. But they rather feed us stories.

How about the news? Those are truly mythical stories! The President addressing the country? Politicians debating? The speculation over gas prices? Self-fulfilled prophecies? Some fairy tales are indeed costly. Especially when you find such high amount of believers buying into them!

The human body is about 65% water. Did you know water responds to emotions? Well OK, not emotions but music! This has been scientifically proven, check out the video here! We talk about facts, yet we do it with passion, and we get aggravated when people don’t see it our way, or frustrated when we can’t get our point across or assume postures... pure emotions. The stock market is nothing but fear and greed in motion.

We are emotional creatures in a fragile case of facts and figures.

This is why laughter, or connecting with another in an emotional level is so important. Patch Addams, that funny doctor portrayed by Robin Williams, against all odds, faced the mockery of his peers because he felt he was right, that laughter has healing power.

Look into what we have in common, indulge in our humanity. This is the key to Stephen Colbert success! He took the truth and made it truthiness, and people bought into it, because it made them laugh! Well, does that did, anyhow... That is exactly the point, some will and some won’t. And that is OK.

That was not the purpose of my original article, but since the issue was brought up in regards to what should matter, faith or proof, my answer is, “do as you will and do not be bothered”.

I want to walk on the water with my eyes closed and my arms wide open.

So others will resort to label those that don’t see it their way. This is as old as Humanity itself, and is the closest to call anybody “chicken”. Kind of high school if you ask me, but all the same, pure emotion at play.

Religions, myth, superstitions, folklore, speculations, “recent studies show” and pharmaceutical ads all fit for the human psyche. We have a need to believe, we have a need to confirm the ground we stand, our paradigms, our theories... or better yet, our innate feelings, doubts and primal instincts.

Now there is proof that not only the Earth gravitates around the Sun, but the Sun also gravitates around who knows, one could only speculate, right? Or dream it, or make a movie about it! And who knows, maybe that dream turns out to be right. Some scientist decides to challenge the movie and voilá, more proof for those that remain by the trenches awaiting for it.

Even Einstein would give you some points for your diagnosis, I would still agree with him that “Imagination is more important than knowledge”, or better yet "the concept of a soul without a body seems to me to be empty and devoid of meaning".