Mrrzy - "but why have faith in *anything* when you can draw intelligent conclusions? Isn't thought preferable to acceptance without thought?"

Mrrzy, you are again totally misconstruing my meaning. The FIRST thing I do and always have done IS to draw intelligent conclusions (on the basis of direct observation and logical deduction and rational processes). That is the first thing that any reasonably sentient being does. It's basic to existence.

I do not accept anything without thought.

I begin to have faith in something or someone AFTER doing all of the the above. First I observe, I gather all the information I can, then I think about it all thoroughly, then I may move to a level which can be termed "having faith".