I have faith in logic!

Faith: a firm belief in something for which there is no proof.
Logic: the science of reason.
Reason: statements conforming to/ agreeing with fact or known truth offering explanation or justification.

Given those definitions, it seems contradictory to say "I have faith in logic." But when a family member said the following:

...You've lived long enough to know that some things just don't make logical sense. If it can be figured out, why would you need faith? When you come right down to it, everybody has something, or things, that they believe "by faith". Even you..."

Of course, I use this blog as a tool to counteract such statements without offending anyone and without the fear of completely alienating relatives with my objections and rationalizations. Thus my rebuttal...

The first thing that came to mind after reading that was “I have faith in logic." After further thinking about it on the way home and throughout the evening, I have concluded that that statement is a contradiction, but the English language as I know it does not allow me to quickly and clearly express how my sentiments toward Logic.

Logic is undeniable and always correct. You (as the person using logic) may be wrong, but it is not the fault of logic, it is your use of the science, you are the human error behind the format, this is called a fallacy.

I do not know of anything that "...(doesn't) make logical sense." Perhaps my understanding and application of the logic is incorrect, but that does not make the topic of debate in discord with correct and accurate logical analysis.

As my family member correctly states "If it can be figured out, why would you need faith?" That is indeed the question to ask. I do not need faith, I do, however need logic to base my opinions and conditional statements on! Faith itself can be based on a logical need for understanding in cases where the capacity for that understanding is lacking. It is why magic shows are so fascinating to children, they see the rabbit come out of the hat where they were sure there was none before, and they have faith that magic just happened! Their understanding of the trick is not there and thus the faith what makes up for the gap between what they originally saw and what happened next. If all children were shown logically how it is done, it would ruin the trick for them since now they have an understanding and do no longer need of the faith to believe in magic. If I showed you how the universe works and how life was created, basically the magic of the universe, you would no longer need faith, just like that child you now know how and why that rabbit came out of the hat.

Just because science and logic \does not know the answers all right away does not give reason for faith just to fill the gaps in knowledge. If anything, it should be a reason against faith since science is showing to be correct, the fact that I am writing this on a computer, putting it online and you are reading it is a testament to logic and science.

A popular argument is that I have faith in the scientist, as if the scientists were the magician and what they are showing me is their brand of magic. This is a fallacy in the sense you are assuming that I think every scientist is correct and I would take their word right off the bat without regard to experimental analysis and debate over findings. I admit, some of the science goes over my head, but that does not mean I have faith that they are correct in their theory or findings. It means I am relying on those who are professionals that have studied and have been taught the intricacies of the science in question to criticize and try their best to prove false, using science and logic, what the other scientist said. If enough of the scientists that know what they are talking about agree then I consider it, try to understand and make my own personal assessment given the data presented to me. If you want to say that all scientists are in cohort with each other then you have resorted to conspiracy theory and have just excused yourself from debate.