# Does everyone have faith in something? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 3, 2000, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-everyone-have-faith-in-something/43768 "2000-12-03T00:07:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-everyone-have-faith-in-something/43768/121 "2000-12-12T15:37:55Z")
This is the most ridiculous thread i’ve read in a long time. By definition, even when boiled down, everyone has faith. Why? Because everyoneone believes _something_. Not IN something, but something. Some people’s faith includes and/or comes from their _Religion_, and that’s perfectly o.k… Then there are some people who do not believe in a higher power. They believe that when they die, they go in a box to rot or in a BBQ and sit on a shelf - end of story - perfectly o.k. as well. Now here’s the kicker… _That’s their FAITH_. It’s what they _believe_ in. It’s a matter of the definition of the word: faith. Sure, there are attached defintions to it, like “faith in the Lord” etc etc, but those definitions were added later, when people began involving the word ‘faith’ in thier dialog. Let’s face it: Christianity has been the predominant Religion of English speaking peoples throughout the ages. That said it is easy to understand why ‘faith’ gets attached to ‘religion’. and just because i’m on a rant: Main Entry: se·man·tics Pronunciation: si-'man-tiks Function: noun plural but singular or plural in construction Date: 1893 1 : the study of meanings: a : the historical and psychological study and the classification of changes in the signification of words or forms viewed as factors in linguistic development b (1) : SEMIOTIC (2) : a branch of semiotic dealing with the relations between signs and what they refer to and including theories of denotation, extension, naming, and truth 2 : GENERAL SEMANTICS 3 a : the meaning or relationship of meanings of a sign or set of signs; especially : connotative meaning b : the language used (as in advertising or political propaganda) to achieve a desired effect on an audience especially through the use of words with novel or dual meanings punk snot dead, broccoli! ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-everyone-have-faith-in-something/43768/122 "2000-12-12T16:20:12Z")
I think you’re missing something from some of us non-faithers. Its not that we necessarily _believe_ that when we die nothing happens, or this happens, or that happens, but we _don’t know what happens._ How is that faith? As well, you may strech the definition of faith out as long as you like to blanket everyone. But I assure you, there are those of us who don’t have faith in anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-everyone-have-faith-in-something/43768.md?page=6)