Bad Faith - in Theology

In Theology

Various commentators and translators have discussed being of two beliefs or faiths in being double hearted or double minded. Webster's Dictionary equates bad faith with "being of two hearts". "Double hearted" is translated also as "double minded", or “of two hearts” or "of two minds" or souls, two beliefs, two attitudes, two loyalties, two thinkings, two beliefs, or being as two souls at the same time. It was originally used as a pejorative in the Christian Bible. In Psalms 119:113, one translation is “I hate double-minded men, but I love your law”.

It is related to self-deception, where one Biblical translation is that a person "perpetually disagrees with himself". "Taking the Lord's name in vain", bad faith justifies actions known to be wrong by claiming a direction from God or religious authority to take unethical positions or untrue beliefs, when a person should know otherwise It is related to hypocrisy. It is associated with divided loyalty, when translated as “I hate those with divided loyalties, but I love your instructions.”

The Catholic Church does not consider everyone with heretical views to have bad faith: for example, people who earnestly seek the truth and lead exemplary lives.

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