[Chen Kenichi]

Earlier today I dusted off an old copy of The Book of Virtues I own and browsed through the section concerning faith. It announced that faith is not wholly a religious trait, but familiar to any type of faction. When I set the book down, I jumbled around a few ideas in my head, but couldn't really make sense of anything, and decided to post the product here. These are simply the ramblings of a tired man thirsting for perspicacity.

I'll start with a few acknowledgments before moving to my questions. Forgive my lack of transitions, but please contest any of these:

I believe James Madison wrote in Federalist 10 that it is human nature to assimilate into factions. Factions satisfy the need for belonging and appeal to those who share similar beliefs. Factions generally have an idea of how society should be and presume others should adhere to their concept. Many set forth action to change society and end up clashing with other factions in the process.

Faith is the most controlling and controversial "virtue" of them all. Faith can defy logic, reason, and truth. Faith can indubitably affix oneself the right and an adversary in the wrong. If the leading patrons of faith are militant, disaster may check in.

A popular bandwagon to catch a ride on condemns religion for generating abundant strife in the world, even though it supposedly has divine influence. Religion is the strongest proponent of faith, and religious leaders justify wars by means of it. It is in human nature to believe without concrete justification, although education significantly helps contain it.

Now, to create (or at least take steps toward) a utopian society, it would seem humans would have to devoid themselves of faith. Fanatical faith in conjuction with faction confirmedly yields calamity. The most prominent example of faith and faction is religion. But, if the world was purged of all religion, would there be a type of supplementary faction to make up for the absence of it? Or more generally speaking, could humans devoid themselves of aggressive factions altogether? Can a faction exist without the slightest element of faith? Is the alliance of faith and faction the cause of all wars?

[/ramble] Feel free to reply with whatever. I made a duplicate thread at the Catacombs if you ever browse there.
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[Violent Pacifist]

I don't think a utopian society could ever come into being in our world. Faith is one of the things woven into human nature forever. There will always be someone who believes in a god or a better future. There will always be someone who believes that everything and anything that happens does so for a reason. There will also always be someone is ready to abuse these kinds of faith.

Throughout history the world has witnessed dictators build foundations of religions around themselves. Hitler rose to power by spewing force propaganda, and destroying all opposition in his way. Once atop the throne, he promised better futures for his people by purging a specified enemy, Jews, and non-believers of "Nazism". Because of the terrible poverty Germany was currently in, such an act had them estatic about their new leader. Stalin managed the same thing by killing all of his opposition, and "enemies of the people" (communist party members, army members, entire towns, etc.). He re-wrote Russian history so that it looked as if he had played a much larger role in Russia's ascesion to power. Both of these dictators were able to obtain and abuse their peoples' faith with promises that did not follow any logic whatsoever.

To abolish faith from society is impossible. A person/s would first have to come to power in order to unite the people (unless different leaders are acting together, "the people" would have to refer to the world population). However, doing so immediatly creates a faith around that leader. As in any faith/faction, another person will develop ideas of their own, and spread them to others as well. This new faction will either split off from the original, or try to overthrow its predecessor. No matter which way it chooses to go, one faction after another will rise up against the other.

I think the closest our world would ever be able to come to a utopia can be seen in 1984. But the source of that utopia is based on faith for big brother, the ministry, and all the principles they stand for. (What a sad utopia that'd be if it ever came true too )
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We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.

[Pornstar]

[ROOFCUTTER]

I have faith that the lust for power will always win.
I have faith that being born to a settled safe time and a troubled stress time is only a matter of timing.
the act of not having faith is an act of faith in itself.
faith will follow any path.
faith and religion are not only innertwined but have nothing to do with each other.
I find it strange that the drive for control and power is just the result of a chemical reaction during development.
I find the time line of human kind is a large wheel of stages that press us into molds, you have to line your self up just right to hit a comfort zone.

[Mr.Kason Allen]

[Violent Pacifist]

You'd have to kill the entire world to abolish all faith, roof
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We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.