Definitions:
belief: noun
- the feeling of being certain that something exists or is true.
source: Cambridge Dictionary of American English
- a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing
- something believed ; especially : a tenet or body of tenets held by a group
- conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence
Source: Merriam-Webster Online
believe: verb
- to think that something is true or correct
source: Cambridge Dictionary of American Englishintransitive verb 1 a: to have a firm religious faith b: to accept as true, genuine, or real 2: to have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something 3: to hold an opinion : think
transitive verb1 a: to consider to be true or honest b: to accept the word or evidence of 2: to hold as an opinion : suppose
source: Merriam-Webster Online
faith: noun
a high degree of trust or confidence in something or someone source: Cambridge Dictionary of American English
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
source: Merriam-Webster Online
Update 6/16/2009 – I realized I didn’t define “Belief System”
Belief System: noun
faith based on a series of beliefs but not formalized into a religion; also, a fixed coherent set of beliefs prevalent in a community or society source: Dictionary.Com
1. a set of beliefs, especially religious or political beliefs, that form a unified system 2. organized societal beliefs: a collection and organization of beliefs prevalent in a community or society source: Encarta
Summary of Belief/Believe/Faith:
A personal conviction of the truth/correctness of an idea, ideal, or opinion especially when based on the examination of evidence. Groups of people are often marked by sharing the same body of beliefs [tenets].
Do Christians believe there is a God? Yes.
Do Atheists believe there is no God? Yes.
Can either prove [scientifically] that God/gods exist? No.
Are both Christianity (Religion) and Atheism belief systems? Yes.
Arguments:
I don’t believe in god. I’m an Atheist. It’s called ‘disbelief’. I choose to ‘disbelieve’.
Response:
To disbelieve one thing, is to believe another. You substitute something you can believe in for something you cannot believe in.
