Here's how faith works...

2 men, a religious man and an atheist, are on a sinking ship in a violent storm. The religious man has faith in God, reason, and practicality. The atheist has faith in just reason and practicality, period. At the last minute they are saved! (...and who cares how?) The religious man finds his faith confirmed by this experience. So does the atheist. ;-) They go on disagreeing passionately about it for years afterward ("God sent that helicopter!" "No, he didn't, the Coast Guard sent it! There is no God!") until one of them finally dies. Does he find out who was right and who was wrong when he dies or does he just cease to exist? Tune in next millenium for the definitive answer to this vexing question.