For non-believers....???

Question

So what makes you have hope and see brighter futures for us all if there is no God to you??? What do you have faith in. Let me define it here.
Faith: ability to believe in and evidence of things unseen.

Like what gives you faith that when you drive to Boston from California that you are going to get there? You can't see Boston from California, so what gives you faith to follow a piece of paper with lines and squiggles on it and think you'll get there? Seriously, this is not sarcastic. I'm curious about what keeps that inner spark burning bright within you, if it isn't God, what is it???

I didn't ask you to debate God or to deride me for what you think my Q tells you I think. I asked what gives you hope and what do you have faith in. And I defined faith, not to be argued with, but to help you semantically answer from your hearts, you do have them don't you??? I'm curious how one has faith or hope without God. That's all. I'm not putting anyone down, I'm curious not sarcastic. I'm sorry you can't tell the difference. Maybe I've stepped on a raw nerve here and didn't intend to.....

Answer 1

I have faith in myself and my life. Hope is everyday when the sun rises that I can do better and be better then the day before. I have faith that the word and the people in it are mostly good and beautiful, despite what the news says.

Answer 2

I believe that my accomplishments on this earth and helping other people are what truly count, not believing in something for which there is no proof. You use a place that I have never been as an analogy. However, there are people who have been there that I have communicated with in some way. There is no one who has been to heaven and come back and talked about it. Sorry, but your analogy is pretty weak.

I believe that I should be as connected to the environment as possible and strive to make the future better for other living things; be they humans, bacteria, fish, or algae, I think that all organisms have a right to live. I have enough self-confidence that I don't need to have a belief in a God for which there is no evidence at all whatsoever to, as you say, "keep that inner spark burning bright within me." (That is a very good description, by the way) As all other living things will die, why should I feel the need to live eternally. No offense intended, but living forever would be downright unnatural. All life is a continuous cycle, and single organisms living forever don't fit into that spectrum. I hope I am wording this in a way that makes it easy for you to grasp. What I believe in tends to be more abstract than that of the average person.

Answer 3

at 1st .. I thought you ment .. "what gives us faith when driving to Boston from Cali that we going to get there SAFELY"

But it seems like your asking .. since we have never *assuming* seen .. or been to Boston .. then what gives us faith that its there ??

either way .. a map is very factual .. heh .. if you've never used one .. it works pretty well .. lol. I use my GPS system which comes in handy as a traveler. If you were trying to use that Cali to Boston senerio as making a point .. it was a pretty bad one .. since i'm confused to what you ment by it.

.. as for what keeps my inner spark and the hope of my future .. well.. let me ask you .. isn't your family enough for you ? your friends and neighbors ? I dont understand when christians ask this.. My life is full of joy .. and I take nothing for granted. My life is meaningful b/c of my family and friends... and neighbors. My like is meaningful for all the future Thankgivings .. for spontanious conversations with strangers .. my volunteer work .. my life is meaningful for having the opportunity to help others .. my life is meaningful for beautiful sunny days .. and beautiful rain storms.. for pizza and beer ..

I am greatful for having a roof over my head .. a warm bed to sleep in .. clean water to drink. I take little opportunities to appreciate my life and every moment of it .. in the few moments I have silently walking to my mail box .. or taking a bath .. or when me and my dad are silent while eating dinner.. its the little things that mean most to me.

I dont need a god to tell me life is precious .. or that there is beauty in everything.

I believe all creatures on earth are connected .. we all have the same wants and needs.. and we all want to love and be loved.. we all want to be respected ..

I have faith that the world really is a good place .. and there are many good people .. despite what the news shows day after day. Humans are not born evil .. we are taught evil growing up .. wether it be stealing .. lieing .. being abusive etc .. or that person is born with a mental illness..

and just b/c i'm atheist .. doesn't mean I believe that when we die .. we're dead forever. Theres 100s of beliefs other then believing in a god or not.. those are only 2

Answer 4

If I were driving from Boston to California, I'd have absolutely no faith I could get there. I have trouble navigating my own city.

Seriously, though...My family and friends are what keep me going, and my selfish desire to enjoy life while I have it. I don't need an afterlife--I don't want eternal life--so I plan on enjoying my REAL life while I can.

As for what makes me see a brighter future? I simply imagine a brighter future. No sense dwelling on the negatives; negative thoughts will only bring me down.

Answer 5

For me, not believing is all the more exciting. You are on your own, and free. I have faith, just not in a religious way. I know that Boston is there; so why shouldn't I get there? I don't need a divine force to guide me. You take faith to mean purely religious, but it's not. I have faith in certain people, in their abilities, yet those those are unseen too. The "spark" in me is kept burning by my love of life and will to live.

Answer 6

So you are a little child that needs a comforting blanket to see brighter future, that does not make you superior.

That piece of paper, as you call it, is call a map. It is charted by people who had actually been on the road. (Well, it is charted by Satellite now, but that is beside the point). It is real evidence.

Your faith, as you call it, is drawn up by people who had not contact or are not even contacting the supreme creature. You base on BLIND faith. Let me define it here.

Blind Faith : belief without true understanding, perception, or discrimination.

You got the idea?

Answer 7

I believe in a higher power(s) just not the christian version of them.

I find I live quite a whole and happy life as is. Faith doesnt have to be solely on a god or christ.

As far as the example you gave....even if I believed in your god and had "faith" doesnt mean Id get there safe and sound. I have proof that the map is correct so I dont have to have faith in it to know it will get me where I need to go.

Answer 8

That's a facile analogy. Knowing that Boston and California exist is not a leap of faith. Who has seen God? I know millions of people that have seen California and Massachusetts and not one that has seen God.

Answer 9

If faith is the ability to believe in things unseen without evidence I guess I don't have any. I'm a natural skeptic. About everything. What gets me by is believing that people are good for the most part and that life is magical.

Answer 10

Well, knowledge that people that make maps know what they are doing. If I get lost, it's my fault.

I know that Boston and California are real places, so there must be a way between them. The map shows that to me. It's not faith, it's knowledge of fact.