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it all comes down to...
faith
| Defined | Examined | Emotion | Religion |

Faith Defined

Marriam-Webster
belief and trust in and loyalty to God : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion : firm belief in something for which there is no proof : complete trust : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs
Encarta
belief in, devotion to, or trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof
Infoplease
1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
2. belief that is not based on proof:
American Heritage
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.

Faith Examined

So what is FAITH?

Certainly a particular religion can be referred to as a faith but that is merely a reference to religion's reliance on faith.

Simply put, FAITH means belief or trust. FAITH is a particular kind of belief. It is strong, it is often unwavering and it does not require proof or evidence. Most would agree that belief is FAITH when it is quite strong and does not involve evidence or practical reasoning.

Faith and Emotion

Faith serves a purpose. It allows us to function when confronted by difficult situations. We believe what we need to believe in order to continue. It is a coping mechanism. It is not always for dire situations. It works for any idea or situation that troubles us. It comforts us when faced with the uncomfortable.

Faith and Religion

So why does religion place such a big emphasis on FAITH? Is this how God chooses to test us or is it because it is the only way to believe?

The FAITH that most people encounter with religion works on two levels. Firstly there is the feeling that everything is explained and is taken care of. There is little left to worry about. Secondly there is the reward/ punishment system that is used to reinforce the FAITH. If you believe, good things will happen to you- paradise. If you doubt, bad things will happen- Hell.

Does religion work without FAITH? Many try to reason their religious convictions or try to prove the existence of God but in the end it comes down to faith. It comes down to a belief in something without evidence.