Freethought & Rationalism Archive

beastmaster · 01-06-2003, 09:05 AM

"Leap of faith" is a concept much in vogue in modern Xianity. Anybody know the origins of this phrase? Does it come from the Bible? From theologians? From skeptics? Is it a modern phrase or does it have older roots?

Thieving Magpie · 01-06-2003, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by beastmaster
"Leap of faith" is a concept much in vogue in modern Xianity. Anybody know the origins of this phrase? Does it come from the Bible? From theologians? From skeptics? Is it a modern phrase or does it have older roots?

I am not aware of any specific origins - but I think it's a fairly common (maybe even universal) idea/phrase. I personally believe everyone is forced to take 'leaps of faith' in order to believe almost anything. Science can prove many things, for example, but you must first have faith in the scientific process if you are to consider it worthwhile to pursue.

In short, believing in the Christian God requires a 'leap of faith' but so do many other things. I do not believe it is a purely Christian phenomenon, but is a rather natural one. When a dog buries a bone, it has to have 'faith' that it will continue to be where he put it for some time afterward, though it may not be. Some faith is more reasonable than others, surely, but everyone has it.

beastmaster · 01-06-2003, 09:33 AM

Thanks for the reply Magpie, but unfortunately it leaves the question unanswered. I am looking for the origins of the phrase "leap of faith" rather than the origins of the concept. Who said "leap of faith" first? In what context? When? Sorry if my post was confusing.

Thieving Magpie · 01-06-2003, 08:10 PM

Right on. Pardon me for my apparent inadequacy.

Psycho Economist · 01-07-2003, 12:07 AM

Well, I've seen it most-often w.r.t. Kierkagaard's notion that true believers must "mature" beyond the limits of reason.

But I'm not above checking Google...

Where I find a lot of ID and creationist sites saying macroevolution is a "leap of faith" and as such darwinists are big hypocrites.

So I'll check the O.E.D. through U of I.

Nada.

Anybody got a good dictionary of Philosophy lying around? I give up.

beastmaster · 01-07-2003, 10:16 AM

Thanks, PE, I tried Google and came up blank too. I figure someone here has to know.

My baseless suspicion is that the phrase originated in one of the *heretical* Christian sects, perhaps the Fideists of 13th Century France?? "Leap of faith" just strikes me as too irrationalist to have come out of the mainstream pre-modern Christian thinkers.

Toto · 01-07-2003, 10:49 AM

The phrase definitely started with Kierkegaard, the Danish Christian existentialist. (I believe it was a chapter heading from his book "Fear and Trembling".) It describes the chasm between reason and belief - the only way to belief is through a leap of faith, as Abraham had to have made when he was prepared to follow God's word and sacrifice his son.

But of course now everybody uses the phrase.

Google Kierkegaard and "leap of faith" and you'll find things.

beastmaster · 01-07-2003, 12:38 PM

Yep, looks like Kierkegaard's the one. Thanks a lot Toto and PE!

Psycho Economist · 01-08-2003, 10:23 PM

Ah... Kierkegaard, not Kierkagaard... no wonder google didn't work well for me.

Oresta · 01-09-2003, 01:08 PM

Toto:

Quote:

The phrase definitely started with Kierkegaard, the Danish Christian existentialist. (I believe it was a chapter heading from his book "Fear and Trembling".) It describes the chasm between reason and belief - the only way to belief is through a leap of faith, as Abraham had to have made when he was prepared to follow God's word and sacrifice his son.

Specifically, K.'s phrase was "the dreaded leap", a delicious phrase that has a nice ring to it. No?

01-06-2003, 09:05 AM	#1
beastmaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Madrid / I am a: Lifelong atheist Posts: 885	Origins of "Leap of Faith"? "Leap of faith" is a concept much in vogue in modern Xianity. Anybody know the origins of this phrase? Does it come from the Bible? From theologians? From skeptics? Is it a modern phrase or does it have older roots?

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01-06-2003, 09:33 AM	#3
beastmaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Madrid / I am a: Lifelong atheist Posts: 885	Thanks for the reply Magpie, but unfortunately it leaves the question unanswered. I am looking for the origins of the phrase "leap of faith" rather than the origins of the concept. Who said "leap of faith" first? In what context? When? Sorry if my post was confusing.

01-06-2003, 08:10 PM	#4
Thieving Magpie Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 253	Right on. Pardon me for my apparent inadequacy.

01-07-2003, 12:07 AM	#5
Psycho Economist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 854	Well, I've seen it most-often w.r.t. Kierkagaard's notion that true believers must "mature" beyond the limits of reason. But I'm not above checking Google... Where I find a lot of ID and creationist sites saying macroevolution is a "leap of faith" and as such darwinists are big hypocrites. So I'll check the O.E.D. through U of I. Nada. Anybody got a good dictionary of Philosophy lying around? I give up.

01-07-2003, 10:16 AM	#6
beastmaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Madrid / I am a: Lifelong atheist Posts: 885	Thanks, PE, I tried Google and came up blank too. I figure someone here has to know. My baseless suspicion is that the phrase originated in one of the heretical Christian sects, perhaps the Fideists of 13th Century France?? "Leap of faith" just strikes me as too irrationalist to have come out of the mainstream pre-modern Christian thinkers.

01-07-2003, 10:49 AM	#7
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	The phrase definitely started with Kierkegaard, the Danish Christian existentialist. (I believe it was a chapter heading from his book "Fear and Trembling".) It describes the chasm between reason and belief - the only way to belief is through a leap of faith, as Abraham had to have made when he was prepared to follow God's word and sacrifice his son. But of course now everybody uses the phrase. Google Kierkegaard and "leap of faith" and you'll find things.

01-07-2003, 12:38 PM	#8
beastmaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Madrid / I am a: Lifelong atheist Posts: 885	Yep, looks like Kierkegaard's the one. Thanks a lot Toto and PE!

01-08-2003, 10:23 PM	#9
Psycho Economist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 854	Ah... Kierkegaard, not Kierkagaard... no wonder google didn't work well for me.

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