Atheists, would you, however begrudgingly, admit...?

Question

That you have faith in something?

Not God. There would be little point. I'm not talking religion. I'm talking about other things. For examples there are plenty of things to have faith in, like science, medicine, humanity, black holes , physics(different from science because well, it's not really), motor oil, toothbrushes, laundry detergent and anything else that we aren't quite sure how it works but does.

I understand that God is not an explanation to you, that is my point. Would you ever admit to having faith that the things you don't understand just work?

^_^ Drinks are, once again, on me if neccessary.

I'm going to bed, thanks in advance for anyone who answers me.

And i did seach the old questions, I couldn't find anything that really answered me. It was all "Does it take MORE faith to be an atheist" and stupid crap.

Answer 1

I think they hav more faith than they realize, and they are just stubborn and don't want to admit it.

Answer 2

There is difference between faith and belief .
I don't have faith in my motor oil . I believe it works well because of studies I have read , and through personal experience .
Faith would be if I needed oil for my car and the only thing available was something that didn't quite look right coming out of a bucket in the back of a garage . The mechanic , who I don't know , says : "This is the best oil you an use." but offers no proof and no name brand that I have previously evaluated to some degree .
I have a choice to put my faith in this substance , which may wreck my engine , or wait until I can get hold of motor oil I can evaluate either thru reading about it , depending on the manufacturer's claims and reputation , or through personal past experience .
Now a Christian might say they had good personal experience with "god" oil . But others haven't . And how do you know you couldn't have a better experience unless you study ,and maybe try, the other "oils" !
So the differece between faith and belief is your open-minded evaluation of the available options . Of course if you are under mental disability such as stress , peer pressure , or being under the control of your parents you may not be capable of engaging in open minded evaluation . And some people grow up with such a fear of change that they would rather use dad's "old dependable" oil rather than the top synthetic oil even if they could get the high tech oil free .

Answer 3

Depends what you mean by faith. For example, I have faith that if a driver stops at a red light to allow me to cross the road, they won't suddenly speed up and mow me down. Though I'm aware there's a small chance they might

I have somewhat less faith in my own driving ability (I haven't driven for almost a decade), but some faith that I'd be better than a complete beginner.

And I have faith that gravity will continue to work tomorrow and that the sun will rise in the East. I know that potentially they might not.

Are these the same kind of faith as a religious person has in the existence of a god or gods? Notice that they're all in different degrees. I have no absolute faith in anything.

Answer 4

I have confidence that when I flip a switch, a light will come on. I do understand how that works, actually. I am a doctor so I understand medicine and a take a general interest in science of all kinds. Black holes aren' that hard to understand either if you know basic physics.

I also know if it was important, I could find out about motor oil and laundry detergent because somebody else has already figured that out.

It may seem like faith to one who doesn't have the foundations of curiosity and a science education, but that is the wrong word.

Answer 5

That is a tricky one to answer because you bundle all things under the banner of "faith" that do not actually require any faith...

Faith is believing in something *without* any proof or evidence

I believe in the *theory* of evolution, i believe in the *theory* of black holes, but i do not believe in any mad made "gods" that are written in the many self procliamed "holy" books that man kind himself has authored...

Anyway, answering your question :

"Atheists, would you, however begrudgingly, admit...?
That you have faith in something?"

yes, i have quite a strong "faith" that many of all of the religious books that man kind has written are in fact false... this is by observing what these books *claim* and what actually happens in the real world.

I have faith that whatever created this world and this universe is a several trillion miles away from the hearsay and superstition of "god" that is written in the bible.

Saying "god did it" does not explain anything.
Saying "It is in the bible" does not explain anything.

The difference between jesus and Paracetamol is that paracetamol is PROVEN to work... there is no evidence for jesus ever having existed apart from some plagurised ancient magic book called the bible... let alone this magic man actually curing anyone :-)

Thanks for the drink !

Answer 6

I'm not sure about the faith part but I know for a fact that I am in awe of the natural world simply because it did come about by accident.
As an atheist I get to do something that a theist will never have the privelege of doing;
I get to contemplate what 1,200,000,000 years of missing time actually means when I place my finger on the Great Unconformity of the Grand Canyon. In the 8 inches between by thumb and my index finger ther's 1,200, 000 ,000 years of either missing or never occuring depostional history -Wow !

Answer 7

Merriam-Webster has several definitions of faith. Which definition do you mean?

1 a: allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty b (1): fidelity to one's promises (2): sincerity of intentions
2 a (1): belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2): belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1): firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2): complete trust
3: something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs

Answer 8

Honestly, I do not.

It could just be the way I define the word faith, which is essentially "to believe something *without question*", but I don't consider simple belief, understanding, or acceptance to be the same as faith.

For example, I understand science, I believe that my husband loves me, and I accept that I do not know everything. I have solid evidence for all three of those statements. Evidence answers a question; therefore, I believe none of those things "without question."

Answer 9

Well, yeah. I have faith that I will get better and not live in this black hole I've been sucked into forever. I have faith that my significant other loves me like he says he does. Which is actually saying a lot for me, I've never believed anybody in the past on something like that.

Answer 10

I'm an atheist. I have faith in the human intelligence.

While there is so much to indicate that we're a hopeless, stupid species who can't stop killing each other, and being scared of the universe, I can't help but to acknowledge our capacity to change and grow when looking back through history.

Answer 11

I have faith in lots of things and I admit that freely; not begrudgingly. I just don't believe in a personal god. And, thank you, but I don't drink... anymore. And I'm glad that I no longer find it necessary.