Question for the atheists...what is faith?

Question

I'm asking this question specifically for the atheists. I want to know if atheists understand the concept of faith as in the Biblical fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and suffering)? What do you understand about the concept of faith?

Answer 1

"The substance of things hoped for in the evidence of things not seen." Heard that on "The West Wing." Unsure whether i am atheist, agnostic, humanist or human. Definitely spiritual.

Answer 2

For those who are not Christian, the concept of "faith" can be both positive and negative.

Negative - You believe something blindly, even if the issue believed in has been proven incorrect. Often to your own peril.

Positive - Faith can be considered a form of optimism. The individual has an internal "felt sense," that informs then that no matter what, they will achieve what they need to achieve - or - that somehow everything will turn out well.

Both the positive and negative assessments of "faith" are correct depending on the outcome. :)

I love the "tag line" given by Geoffry Rush in the film "Shakespeare in Love." When the character that Rush plays is presented with a set of circumstances that seem insurmountable, his answer about the outcome is always positive with his final line, the repeated "tag line" being, "It's a mystery!"

Faith in yourself or faith in something greater is, without question, "A mystery!"

Answer 3

Faith is confidence or trust in a person or a thing. Faith is belief that is not based on proof. Faith is not strictly a religious word. Why dont you stop wondering so much why we dont believe and keep studying your fairytale book. It seems like all the religious people here are looking for one good answer so they'll stop believing as well. It's like you are all begging to be convinced. Yes, I understand the meaning of the word faith.

Answer 4

Faith is the trust and confidence that one has in something based upon some logical reason. For instance, I have faith in the belief that the fire department will come quickly in the event that my home catches fire and I give them a call. I don't have proof that they will do so, but based upon the past history of the fire departments and their well-known decency this faith is warranted.

On the other hand, it isn't faith but rather fatuous stupidity to "faithfully" wait for the Great Pumpkin to rise from the pumpkin patch on Halloween.

Answer 5

Interesting answers. It seems to me that if God is faithful and exist, it would not be hard to have faith nor would I need to be hopeful as I would know where I was going and would have the support of God -- but as prayers are not answered, miracles don't occur, life is a travail, and God doesn't exist having faith and hope are all that there is for a theist. To put it differently the need for faith is probably the best proof of the non existence of all and any gods.

Answer 6

Faith has three general implications which can be implied either exclusively or mutually ;

To Trust:
Believing a certain variable will act or has the potential to act a specific way despite the potential influence and probability of known or unknown change.
To have faith in ones spouse that he/she will keep a promise of commitment
To have faith that the world will someday be peaceful
To have faith in a person to pay you back
To believe without reason:
Believing impulsively, or believing based upon personal 'hopes'
To believe with reason:

Believing in some evidence that points to a greater fact
In either case, Faith is based upon the interpretation of the intangible (feelings, emotions) instead of the scientific tangible.

However the terminology of the word 'faith' in modern times is often used synonymously with religion.

Answer 7

Faith is believing in the absence of evidence for your belief.

There is no "fruit of the spirit" because there is no God, but you can make these things up all you want and believe in them, despite having no real reason for doing so.

I understand that it is an individual's choice of parameters in which to explain life, based on their perception of the world, and yet the parameters themselves influence ones perception. It is an interesting cycle.

Answer 8

faith
n.
1. Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
2. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. See Synonyms at belief, trust.
3. Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance: keeping faith with one's supporters.
4. often Faith Christianity The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will.
5. The body of dogma of a religion: the Muslim faith.
6. A set of principles or beliefs.

Answer 9

It's a matter of trust, that what you believe is true, you don't need to have proof, you just believe. It's a decision. An atheist has faith too, just in other things.

Answer 10

I have no problem with your concept of faith, I do however have concerns about Christianity as a belief system.

Answer 11

Faith is a belief in something that can`t be proven or explained .It is for the weak minded who don`t want to face the fact that life ends when we die .It is also a tool to control ones mind and heart ,and have them react by way of guilt.