Believing vs Knowing

"It does feel like something to be wrong. It feels like being right. Realizing you're wrong is a different feeling entirely." - Kathryn Schulz, Being Wrong, (10 Best Non Fiction Books of 2010)

Many times when discussing ideas with people of faith it becomes blatantly apparent that they confuse just what faith really is (and also what counts for evidence). For example, consider the following actual statement from an LDS person, made during a discussion on the LDS religion.

"It's easy to believe in things that don't require faith; Anyone can do that."

What!?  It's impossible to believe in things which don't require faith, by very definition. Things which don't require faith CAN BE KNOWN. Things which require faith MUST BE BELIEVED. Many people of faith fail to make this distinction between knowing and believing, committing a serious mental error of mistaking belief for knowledge. The first principle of the LDS gospel is FAITH, not knowledge. I don't think this is unique, since faith in a belief is the first principle of any religion.  But many members of many Faiths are very uncomfortable with faith alone (<--Irony), and thus make the leap to "Knowledge".

"Between believing a thing and thinking you know is only a small step, and one easily taken." - Mark Twain

Walking about stating that you know a thing which cannot be known is not faith, it is ignorance; It is arrogance. So go ahead and disrespect your Faith and say you KNOW when what you're really doing is believing, if that's what it takes to feel better about the uncertainty of the human condition, but please be aware that you are not living your religion - you've mentally copped out on faith. LDS theology states that one of the major reasons people are put here on Earth, to live out our days, is to learn FAITH in God. Claiming knowledge is not practicing nor learning faith, it is a mental cheat. There is great incentive within many religions to show forth a fantastic unfaltering faith since this is the main measure of worthiness and position within the group.  Belief is the main measure of acceptance by the god of these religions.  However, quite ironically, a person who acknowledges doubt and uncertainty while yet remaining faithful is practicing much more faith than a person who resorts to "knowing" the unknowable. These "knowing" people have checked out on faith, like a lion tamer performing her act outside the cage.

Daring to be wrong and acknowledging uncertainty are attitudes of FAITH. Faith, by very definition, is NOT Knowing. Certainty in the arena of faith is close mindedness. A close minded person is the victim of their own confirmation bias, as well as a whole host of cognitive biases. It is my opinion that every human being should have the right to an education which includes a sound course in cognitive science.  We as humans need to seriously study the innate flaws in our thinking in order to become aware of and hopefully combat and overcome the ever present fault that lies within EVERY human mind. 

Faith without doubt is not belief, it is the mistake of knowing something which can only be believed at best.

Faith is fine, as long as those practicing it keep it on the chain of doubt.  Many don't, and act according to Twain's insight, taking that small step.  Go ahead and believe things, as long as you keep a healthy dose of doubt mixed into that belief - belief without doubt is not belief, it is a bastard of thought that looks a lot like "knowing".