Epistemological, because is discussing the extent and ways of knowing, but also ideological, because faith holds a privileged place in society, and based on the above discussion, one might go so far as to say that faith's privileged place in society is due precisely to its epistemological function. As a means of expressing a certainty independent of evidence while simultaneously claiming to be free from the requirement of presenting evidence, faith is an ideal concept for use by the powerful to oppress and control others, because it allows one to commit actions in the name of faith that could not be justified by any other means. This is because even though faith itself is unjustified belief, within practically all human societies it can itself serve as a justification for other actions and attitudes, such that those actions or attitudes can claim a "legitimate" justification for themselves even when no such justification exists. With this in mind, one must view Gadamer's formulation of faith as simultaneously an ideological statement which only serves to support faith's privileged, pseudo-legitimate status, because it serves to perpetuate the notion that faith occupies a unique position among truth
This is made all the more obvious when one considers the popularity of Gadamer's work for theologians, and on the other hand, Hume's "great vitriol when he address the subject of religion" (Ebertz 13, Arthos 21, Jordan 691). Hume's standard for proportioning evidence was designed specifically to counter the kind of pseudo-critical religious arguments used to justify faith, which is why it was such a perfect fit for Gadamer's formulation of faith.
Works Cited
Arthos, John. "Who are we and Who Am I? Gadamers Communal Ontology as Palimpsest."
Communication Studies 51.1 (2000): 15-34.
Ebertz, Roger P. "Beyond Worldview Analysis: Insights from Hans-Georg Gadamer on Christian
Scholarship." Christian Scholars Review 36.1 (2006): 13-28.
Hume, David. An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. New York: Forgotten Books,
2008.
Jordan, Will R. "Religion in the Public Square: A Reconsideration of David Hume and Religious
Establishment." The Review of Politics 64.4 (2002): 687-713.
Larmer, Robert a. "Interpreting Hume on Miracles." Religious Studies 45.3 (2009): 325-38.
