Leap Of Faith: Surviving The Unknown (2025)

The term leap of faith is a common idiom that encourages people to believe in something without evidence or to attempt an endeavour with little chance of success. The concept, which originated in a religious context, is often used in video games such as Assassin's Creed, where players are required to leap from tall buildings into piles of straw or hay. In real life, however, taking a leap of faith could result in severe injuries or even death.

The video game Assassin's Creed and the Leap of Faith

The Leap of Faith is an iconic move in the Assassin's Creed video game franchise, where assassins dive from tall structures and land unharmed in piles of hay, flowers, or water. It is a free-running precision jump that has been featured in every game in the series. The move involves a vertical leap with a straight stature, followed by a head-over-heels roll in mid-air to land on the performer's back.

The Leap of Faith is more than just a gameplay mechanic; it holds symbolic significance for the Assassin Brotherhood. It is a sacred rite, strengthening their resolve and purging fear from their hearts. Performing the Leap is also a way for assassins to evade enemies and display their fearlessness to their adversaries.

The move was not invented by the Brotherhood but was passed down from the Medjay, the ancient protectors of the Egyptian Pharaoh. Bayek of Siwa, a co-founder of the Hidden Ones (a precursor to the Brotherhood), was the first assassin to perform the move. Over time, the Leap of Faith became a ritual for the Brotherhood, with new members learning the move to signify the completion of their training.

While the Leap of Faith is traditionally associated with the Assassin Brotherhood, there have been instances of Templars, such as Vali cel Tradat and Shay Cormac, who have also performed the move, having been former assassins who defected to the other side of the conflict.

Despite its impressive appearance in the game, a group of British scientists from the University of Leicester analysed the physics of the Leap of Faith and concluded that, in reality, such a leap would likely be fatal. They determined that the maximum survivable height for a fall into a haystack is about 12-13m, and even then, severe injuries would be expected. So, while it may look cool in the game, attempting a Leap of Faith in real life is not advisable!

The physics of falling into straw

In the video game Assassin's Creed, players are encouraged to take a "leap of faith" by diving from tall towers and buildings, trusting that they will be able to walk away unharmed if they land on a pile of straw. But could you really survive such a fall?

A group of physics students at the University of Leicester decided to find out. Gregor McQuade, Michael Walker, Lee Garland, and Thomas Bradley published a paper in the Journal of Physics Special Topics titled "A3_5 Falling into Straw," in which they explored the survivability of such a leap.

The students used measurements of mass, volume, velocity, and cushioning force to create an equation that quantified the dangers of jumping into a pile of hay. They found that the height of the straw piles in the game, approximately 1.5m, would only be able to safely cushion a fall from a much lower height, resulting in a safe deceleration of 25g for a short duration. If the jumper was willing to suffer more severe injuries (100g impact), the maximum jump height that could be safely cushioned by the straw pile increases to 50m.

So, while it may be possible to survive a leap of faith into a pile of straw, it is not without significant risk of injury. As with any fall from a great height, the physics suggests that it is best to avoid taking such a leap unless absolutely necessary!

The biblical meaning of a leap of faith

The idea of a "leap of faith" is a common phrase used in reference to Christians and Christianity. Many people believe that Christians take a leap of faith when they place their faith in Christ. However, this is not a biblical concept, and the term "leap of faith" is not found in the Bible.

The phrase "leap of faith" originated in the mid-1800s and gained popularity in the 1900s. It was coined by Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, who used it as a metaphor for belief in God. Kierkegaard argued that God could only be understood through faith and not through logic or observation. He believed that since God is spiritual, and not physical, one must take a "leap of faith" from material concepts to the immaterial.

While Christians do not take a blind leap of faith when they believe in Christ, their faith is based on Bible reading, talking with other believers, and research. Converting to Christianity involves weighing the costs and having confidence in what is hoped for and assurance about what is not seen. This is supported by Bible verses such as Hebrews 11:1, which defines faith as "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see," and Second Corinthians 5:7, which says, "For we live by faith, not by sight."

The Bible contains numerous examples of individuals who took a leap of faith by trusting in God and His promises. For instance, Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood, Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son, believing God would provide a lamb, and Moses chose to side with the Hebrews instead of staying in the Egyptian palace. These stories demonstrate that exercising faith in God often requires taking risks and stepping out of one's comfort zone, but it is not a blind leap into the unknown.

The history of the term 'leap of faith'

The commonly used phrase "leap of faith" is often associated with the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. However, it is important to note that Kierkegaard himself never used the term "leap of faith" but instead referred to a qualitative leap. The phrase "leap of faith" first originated in the mid-1800s and is derived from the Latin words "saltus fidei".

In philosophy, a leap of faith refers to the act of believing in or accepting something not based on reason or evidence. Kierkegaard's interpretation of his metaphor "a leap of faith" meant "to believe in something or someone based on faith rather than evidence; an attempt to achieve something that has little chance of success". Kierkegaard's definition of the phrase stems from his belief that God was only spiritual and not physical, and therefore, individuals could only understand God through faith rather than logic.

Over time, the phrase has evolved to encompass a broader meaning. It can refer to taking a risk or making a courageous decision despite an uncertain outcome. Leaps of faith often occur during moments of crisis or change, pushing individuals out of their comfort zones and encouraging them to trust their intuition. While taking a leap of faith can be intimidating, it is often necessary for personal growth and opening up new possibilities.

In summary, the history of the term "leap of faith" can be traced back to Kierkegaard's philosophical ideas, but it has since taken on a life of its own, becoming a part of everyday secular conversations and encouraging individuals to embrace risk-taking and trust in themselves.

The psychology of taking a leap of faith

The idea of a "leap of faith" is a common idiom. Typically, it means "to believe in something with no evidence for it" or "to attempt an endeavour that has little chance of success". The term was coined by Søren Kierkegaard as a metaphor for belief in God. In a religious context, it refers to believing in God without observing God – a jump from the material to the immaterial.

However, the "leap of faith" has also been used in popular culture to refer to a literal leap from a great height, as seen in the video game Assassin's Creed. In the game, players are encouraged to leap off tall buildings into piles of straw or hay. This has been the subject of much discussion and speculation among players, with some arguing that it is a signature move that is necessary for the storyline to continue, and others suggesting that it would be more realistic, and improve the gameplay experience, if the player could fail the "Leap of Faith" and suffer injuries or death as a result.

A group of British scientists studied the feasibility of surviving such a leap and published their findings in the Journal of Physics Special Topics. They concluded that it is possible to survive a fall from a great height into a pile of straw, but that severe injuries would be likely.

Ultimately, the decision to take a leap of faith, whether in a literal or metaphorical sense, involves a calculation of risks and benefits. It requires a strong belief in the potential for success and a willingness to embrace the unknown, even in the face of uncertainty and the possibility of failure.

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