In response to my 'definition' of faith (what did I miss out?) Joe Offer says:

" ... I'd be a fool to accept a definition of faith from somebody intent on refuting it.

I also don't accept definitions of faith from extremist religious people who are cocksure that they're the only ones who possess the truth.

There are so many similarities between them and those I call "born-again atheists," who are also cocksure that they're right and others are wrong. Both are quick to condemn; and it almost seems that their primary focus in life is condemn others."

First, I wouldn't describe myself as "cocksure" - I'm a sceptic. Second, I'm not a "born again atheist" - I never considered myself to be either religious or a Christian in the first place. I've never understood the attraction of religion and am equally puzzled as to why others are attracted to it. Adults tried to indoctrinate me with religious claptrap when I was a child ... but they failed and when I became an adult, I dropped religion completely and have never looked back. Finally, I would only "condemn" the religious if they attempted to indoctrinate others - particularly children.

As I see it, the world has been in thrall to religion for centuries. Even in my lifetime, when someone claimed that they had faith and believed in this and that and mouthed pieties, one was supposed to shuffle one's feet and bow one's head and look all solemn and reverent. Not any more! Enough! The world is sliding into chaos through conflict, climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Religion won't help us - we need to find ways to deal with reality as it actually is!