Every now and then, I think of a word that needs to be added to the English language. Sadly, these words generally fail to catch on with anyone but me. This is a new one, though, that absolutely has a place, though admittedly it might only fit in with some specialized conversations. The word is unrational.
"Rational" is used to describe an argument that is internally, logically consistent AND generally fits into a view of the world based on sensation and objective observation. Faith clearly is not a rational thing, because it requires that one suspend what they see in the world.
"Irrational" is considered the opposite of rational. That is, it FAILS to meet the standards of being logically and internally consistent, and does not fit into that objective outlook on the world. One might think that faith is an irrational thing, but I contend that it is not. Irrationality has another component that is often overlooked, in that an irrational argument ATTEMPTS to meet he same criteria a rational one does, but fails in the effort. If a rational argument is a winning one, then an irrational argument is a losing argument.
But does faith fit into that category? It seems to me that because faith requires the suspension of the standards by which a rational argument is judged, it can’t be considered either rational OR irrational. If the rational wins the argument and the irrational loses it, what do you call something that’s playing by a different set of rules entirely? Ultimately, I think that’s why it’s so challenging to have a discussion about faith and belief on anything approaching logical, rational terms. That doesn’t make religious belief wrong (though I don’t share it myself), but it does make it hard to talk about with someone who isn’t already predisposed to believe in the first place. If your criteria is rational in nature, you’re not going to be convinced by a religious argument, and likewise if you’re inclined to a religious viewpoint, the fact that it’s not logically consistent isn’t likely to convince you that you should give it up. Debating an issue while using different criteria for judging the discussion is an exercise in futility, even if it is entertaining.
So there it is. Faith, I dub thee unrational. 
