Faith is Born from Fear

[koshergrl]

If Christianity was based in fear, I don't think people would be willing to die gruesome deaths rather than renounce their faith.

 

[Rikurzhen]

Have you ever experienced emotional catharsis? Think back to puppy love. Your girl dumped you. You were crushed. You purged your emotions, "Why me" "Oh it hurts so much" "phew, now I feel better." Or maybe a death of a loved one. Or do you know any women? Seen a crying jag? Notice how they feel better afterwards?

The article isn't advising him to humor his grandmother, unless I misconstrued something, it's talking about developing an experience which arises from meditation or prayer. Humans are drug factories. We can change our state of consciousness by releasing hormones in our brains triggered by emotional states. Many people who pray feel, so I'm told, a sense of peace and calmness afterwards. They say God's love is washing over them. I think that they've just experienced a neurochemical bathing of their brain. they say that God triggered the nuerochemicals. I say ok. I'm more interested in what they felt than who pulled the trigger.

Bingo.

There are actual scientific studies that show how meditation and prayer actually makes people physically healthier than people who do not practice either one.

Over the past decade or so, numerous studies have suggested that prayer and meditation can enhance physical health and healing from illness. In this stimulating and provocative book, two academics at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Spirituality and the Mind contend that contemplating God actually reduces stress, which in turn prevents the deterioration of the brain's dendrites and increases neuroplasticity. The authors conclude that meditation and other spiritual practices permanently strengthen neural functioning in specific parts of the brain that aid in lowering anxiety and depression, enhancing social awareness and empathy, and improving cognitive functioning. The book's middle section draws on the authors' research on how people experience God and where in the brain that experience might be located. Finally, the authors offer exercises for enhancing physical, mental and spiritual health. Their suggestions are commonsensical and common to other kinds of health regimens: smile, stay intellectually active, consciously relax, yawn, meditate, exercise aerobically, dialogue with others and trust in your beliefs. Although the book's title is a bit misleading, since it is not God but spiritual practice that changes the brain, this forceful study could stir controversy among scientists and philosophers.

How God Changes Your Brain Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg M.D. Mark Robert Waldman 9780345503428 Amazon.com Books

Nicely done. You refuted your own argument that prayer (some alleged communications with the gawds, does what you hoped to portray it does).

From your article:
"Although the book's title is a bit misleading, since it is not God but spiritual practice that changes the brain, this forceful study could stir controversy among scientists and philosophers."



Why pray at all? Aren’t you in effect bargaining with the gawds? Do you believe the gawds will reward you with something in exchange for a specific behavior?

As to the efficacy of prayer, perceived from a position of meditation I would not deny that it clears the mind -- but prayer from a religionist perspective is not meditation, it is an asserted communication that has some actual real specific effect on human issues. This remains totally undemonstrated except in the following manner -- it is a very powerful brainwashing tool, which is why the more fanatical or fundamental a religion is, the more reliant on the asserted efficacy of prayer you're liable to find.

I know religionists will say, "Well, that's not god's fault" or something similar, but the point is this: Prayer doesn't actually work (at least it remains asserted and unproven that it does). Clearing the mind? Allowing a person to collect their thoughts? Giving the illusion of comfort (which may be indistinguishable from comfort itself), yes to all of those. But does it actually work? No, it can be shown over and over that it does not. And the fact is, many people actually rely on it, usually to their disappointment or worse.

We can see a phenomenon in the practice of social science and even climate science, where a hypothesis is presented, the hypothesis is tested, the hypothesis is invalidated and the researcher comes to believe that something is wrong with the data or how the experiment was conducted and so they still cling to their hypothesis.

You're doing the same.

You argue that principal reason people pray is to bargain with God, for God to give them something that they ask for in prayer, you also assert that God never answers those prayers, and yet people continue praying.

Parsimony suggests that your hypothesis is flawed, you don't understand why religious people pray and why they continue to pray when God doesn't let them win the lottery jackpot.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Nicely done. You refuted your own argument that prayer (some alleged communications with the gawds, does what you hoped to portray it does).

From your article:
"Although the book's title is a bit misleading, since it is not God but spiritual practice that changes the brain, this forceful study could stir controversy among scientists and philosophers."



Why pray at all? Aren’t you in effect bargaining with the gawds? Do you believe the gawds will reward you with something in exchange for a specific behavior?

As to the efficacy of prayer, perceived from a position of meditation I would not deny that it clears the mind -- but prayer from a religionist perspective is not meditation, it is an asserted communication that has some actual real specific effect on human issues. This remains totally undemonstrated except in the following manner -- it is a very powerful brainwashing tool, which is why the more fanatical or fundamental a religion is, the more reliant on the asserted efficacy of prayer you're liable to find.

I know religionists will say, "Well, that's not god's fault" or something similar, but the point is this: Prayer doesn't actually work (at least it remains asserted and unproven that it does). Clearing the mind? Allowing a person to collect their thoughts? Giving the illusion of comfort (which may be indistinguishable from comfort itself), yes to all of those. But does it actually work? No, it can be shown over and over that it does not. And the fact is, many people actually rely on it, usually to their disappointment or worse.

I refuted my own argument?

I suggest you go back and read what I said, which was that prayer and meditation actually benefits the person who does it. I did not mention anything about any god, therefore I did not make an argument.

 

[Hollie]

Have you ever experienced emotional catharsis? Think back to puppy love. Your girl dumped you. You were crushed. You purged your emotions, "Why me" "Oh it hurts so much" "phew, now I feel better." Or maybe a death of a loved one. Or do you know any women? Seen a crying jag? Notice how they feel better afterwards?

The article isn't advising him to humor his grandmother, unless I misconstrued something, it's talking about developing an experience which arises from meditation or prayer. Humans are drug factories. We can change our state of consciousness by releasing hormones in our brains triggered by emotional states. Many people who pray feel, so I'm told, a sense of peace and calmness afterwards. They say God's love is washing over them. I think that they've just experienced a neurochemical bathing of their brain. they say that God triggered the nuerochemicals. I say ok. I'm more interested in what they felt than who pulled the trigger.

Bingo.

There are actual scientific studies that show how meditation and prayer actually makes people physically healthier than people who do not practice either one.

Over the past decade or so, numerous studies have suggested that prayer and meditation can enhance physical health and healing from illness. In this stimulating and provocative book, two academics at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Spirituality and the Mind contend that contemplating God actually reduces stress, which in turn prevents the deterioration of the brain's dendrites and increases neuroplasticity. The authors conclude that meditation and other spiritual practices permanently strengthen neural functioning in specific parts of the brain that aid in lowering anxiety and depression, enhancing social awareness and empathy, and improving cognitive functioning. The book's middle section draws on the authors' research on how people experience God and where in the brain that experience might be located. Finally, the authors offer exercises for enhancing physical, mental and spiritual health. Their suggestions are commonsensical and common to other kinds of health regimens: smile, stay intellectually active, consciously relax, yawn, meditate, exercise aerobically, dialogue with others and trust in your beliefs. Although the book's title is a bit misleading, since it is not God but spiritual practice that changes the brain, this forceful study could stir controversy among scientists and philosophers.

How God Changes Your Brain Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg M.D. Mark Robert Waldman 9780345503428 Amazon.com Books

Nicely done. You refuted your own argument that prayer (some alleged communications with the gawds, does what you hoped to portray it does).

From your article:
"Although the book's title is a bit misleading, since it is not God but spiritual practice that changes the brain, this forceful study could stir controversy among scientists and philosophers."



Why pray at all? Aren’t you in effect bargaining with the gawds? Do you believe the gawds will reward you with something in exchange for a specific behavior?

As to the efficacy of prayer, perceived from a position of meditation I would not deny that it clears the mind -- but prayer from a religionist perspective is not meditation, it is an asserted communication that has some actual real specific effect on human issues. This remains totally undemonstrated except in the following manner -- it is a very powerful brainwashing tool, which is why the more fanatical or fundamental a religion is, the more reliant on the asserted efficacy of prayer you're liable to find.

I know religionists will say, "Well, that's not god's fault" or something similar, but the point is this: Prayer doesn't actually work (at least it remains asserted and unproven that it does). Clearing the mind? Allowing a person to collect their thoughts? Giving the illusion of comfort (which may be indistinguishable from comfort itself), yes to all of those. But does it actually work? No, it can be shown over and over that it does not. And the fact is, many people actually rely on it, usually to their disappointment or worse.

We can see a phenomenon in the practice of social science and even climate science, where a hypothesis is presented, the hypothesis is tested, the hypothesis is invalidated and the researcher comes to believe that something is wrong with the data or how the experiment was conducted and so they still cling to their hypothesis.

You're doing the same.

You argue that principal reason people pray is to bargain with God, for God to give them something that they ask for in prayer, you also assert that God never answers those prayers, and yet people continue praying.

Parsimony suggests that your hypothesis is flawed, you don't understand why religious people pray and why they continue to pray when God doesn't let them win the lottery jackpot.

Your hypothesizing is flawed and naive. You don't understand that prayer is an act of want, need and exchanging a behavior in hope of a future reward. In short, it's influence peddling.

 

[Hollie]

Nicely done. You refuted your own argument that prayer (some alleged communications with the gawds, does what you hoped to portray it does).

From your article:
"Although the book's title is a bit misleading, since it is not God but spiritual practice that changes the brain, this forceful study could stir controversy among scientists and philosophers."



Why pray at all? Aren’t you in effect bargaining with the gawds? Do you believe the gawds will reward you with something in exchange for a specific behavior?

As to the efficacy of prayer, perceived from a position of meditation I would not deny that it clears the mind -- but prayer from a religionist perspective is not meditation, it is an asserted communication that has some actual real specific effect on human issues. This remains totally undemonstrated except in the following manner -- it is a very powerful brainwashing tool, which is why the more fanatical or fundamental a religion is, the more reliant on the asserted efficacy of prayer you're liable to find.

I know religionists will say, "Well, that's not god's fault" or something similar, but the point is this: Prayer doesn't actually work (at least it remains asserted and unproven that it does). Clearing the mind? Allowing a person to collect their thoughts? Giving the illusion of comfort (which may be indistinguishable from comfort itself), yes to all of those. But does it actually work? No, it can be shown over and over that it does not. And the fact is, many people actually rely on it, usually to their disappointment or worse.

I refuted my own argument?

I suggest you go back and read what I said, which was that prayer and meditation actually benefits the person who does it. I did not mention anything about any god, therefore I did not make an argument.

You refuted your own argument.

I suggest you go back and read the article you posted. Prayer is an appeal to one or more gawds. The article identifies that no gods are involved in spite of the falsely titled article heading.

 

[Rikurzhen]

Have you ever experienced emotional catharsis? Think back to puppy love. Your girl dumped you. You were crushed. You purged your emotions, "Why me" "Oh it hurts so much" "phew, now I feel better." Or maybe a death of a loved one. Or do you know any women? Seen a crying jag? Notice how they feel better afterwards?

The article isn't advising him to humor his grandmother, unless I misconstrued something, it's talking about developing an experience which arises from meditation or prayer. Humans are drug factories. We can change our state of consciousness by releasing hormones in our brains triggered by emotional states. Many people who pray feel, so I'm told, a sense of peace and calmness afterwards. They say God's love is washing over them. I think that they've just experienced a neurochemical bathing of their brain. they say that God triggered the nuerochemicals. I say ok. I'm more interested in what they felt than who pulled the trigger.

Bingo.

There are actual scientific studies that show how meditation and prayer actually makes people physically healthier than people who do not practice either one.

Over the past decade or so, numerous studies have suggested that prayer and meditation can enhance physical health and healing from illness. In this stimulating and provocative book, two academics at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Spirituality and the Mind contend that contemplating God actually reduces stress, which in turn prevents the deterioration of the brain's dendrites and increases neuroplasticity. The authors conclude that meditation and other spiritual practices permanently strengthen neural functioning in specific parts of the brain that aid in lowering anxiety and depression, enhancing social awareness and empathy, and improving cognitive functioning. The book's middle section draws on the authors' research on how people experience God and where in the brain that experience might be located. Finally, the authors offer exercises for enhancing physical, mental and spiritual health. Their suggestions are commonsensical and common to other kinds of health regimens: smile, stay intellectually active, consciously relax, yawn, meditate, exercise aerobically, dialogue with others and trust in your beliefs. Although the book's title is a bit misleading, since it is not God but spiritual practice that changes the brain, this forceful study could stir controversy among scientists and philosophers.

How God Changes Your Brain Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg M.D. Mark Robert Waldman 9780345503428 Amazon.com Books

Nicely done. You refuted your own argument that prayer (some alleged communications with the gawds, does what you hoped to portray it does).

From your article:
"Although the book's title is a bit misleading, since it is not God but spiritual practice that changes the brain, this forceful study could stir controversy among scientists and philosophers."



Why pray at all? Aren’t you in effect bargaining with the gawds? Do you believe the gawds will reward you with something in exchange for a specific behavior?

As to the efficacy of prayer, perceived from a position of meditation I would not deny that it clears the mind -- but prayer from a religionist perspective is not meditation, it is an asserted communication that has some actual real specific effect on human issues. This remains totally undemonstrated except in the following manner -- it is a very powerful brainwashing tool, which is why the more fanatical or fundamental a religion is, the more reliant on the asserted efficacy of prayer you're liable to find.

I know religionists will say, "Well, that's not god's fault" or something similar, but the point is this: Prayer doesn't actually work (at least it remains asserted and unproven that it does). Clearing the mind? Allowing a person to collect their thoughts? Giving the illusion of comfort (which may be indistinguishable from comfort itself), yes to all of those. But does it actually work? No, it can be shown over and over that it does not. And the fact is, many people actually rely on it, usually to their disappointment or worse.

We can see a phenomenon in the practice of social science and even climate science, where a hypothesis is presented, the hypothesis is tested, the hypothesis is invalidated and the researcher comes to believe that something is wrong with the data or how the experiment was conducted and so they still cling to their hypothesis.

You're doing the same.

You argue that principal reason people pray is to bargain with God, for God to give them something that they ask for in prayer, you also assert that God never answers those prayers, and yet people continue praying.

Parsimony suggests that your hypothesis is flawed, you don't understand why religious people pray and why they continue to pray when God doesn't let them win the lottery jackpot.

Your hypothesizing is flawed and naive. You don't understand that prayer is an act of want, need and exchanging a behavior in hope of a future reward. In short, it's influence peddling.

And yet people still do it when it doesn't pay off and the only way you can stick with your hypothesis and accept the results is to claim that those who continue to pray after not getting a prize from God is that they're stupppiidd.

To the bolded comment. You claim I don't understand the nature of prayer. You imply that you do and that what you described is the nature of prayer. Fine, prove to me that this is the nature of prayer.

You'd have to be an idiot to tell me I don't understand something and then rely on your own idiosyncratic definition to be the basis of your charge, so I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt here by presuming that you're not an idiot and this definition of prayer has been validated by others and can be supported with evidence. Produce that evidence.

 

[Hollie]

Have you ever experienced emotional catharsis? Think back to puppy love. Your girl dumped you. You were crushed. You purged your emotions, "Why me" "Oh it hurts so much" "phew, now I feel better." Or maybe a death of a loved one. Or do you know any women? Seen a crying jag? Notice how they feel better afterwards?

The article isn't advising him to humor his grandmother, unless I misconstrued something, it's talking about developing an experience which arises from meditation or prayer. Humans are drug factories. We can change our state of consciousness by releasing hormones in our brains triggered by emotional states. Many people who pray feel, so I'm told, a sense of peace and calmness afterwards. They say God's love is washing over them. I think that they've just experienced a neurochemical bathing of their brain. they say that God triggered the nuerochemicals. I say ok. I'm more interested in what they felt than who pulled the trigger.

Bingo.

There are actual scientific studies that show how meditation and prayer actually makes people physically healthier than people who do not practice either one.

Over the past decade or so, numerous studies have suggested that prayer and meditation can enhance physical health and healing from illness. In this stimulating and provocative book, two academics at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Spirituality and the Mind contend that contemplating God actually reduces stress, which in turn prevents the deterioration of the brain's dendrites and increases neuroplasticity. The authors conclude that meditation and other spiritual practices permanently strengthen neural functioning in specific parts of the brain that aid in lowering anxiety and depression, enhancing social awareness and empathy, and improving cognitive functioning. The book's middle section draws on the authors' research on how people experience God and where in the brain that experience might be located. Finally, the authors offer exercises for enhancing physical, mental and spiritual health. Their suggestions are commonsensical and common to other kinds of health regimens: smile, stay intellectually active, consciously relax, yawn, meditate, exercise aerobically, dialogue with others and trust in your beliefs. Although the book's title is a bit misleading, since it is not God but spiritual practice that changes the brain, this forceful study could stir controversy among scientists and philosophers.

How God Changes Your Brain Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg M.D. Mark Robert Waldman 9780345503428 Amazon.com Books

Nicely done. You refuted your own argument that prayer (some alleged communications with the gawds, does what you hoped to portray it does).

From your article:
"Although the book's title is a bit misleading, since it is not God but spiritual practice that changes the brain, this forceful study could stir controversy among scientists and philosophers."



Why pray at all? Aren’t you in effect bargaining with the gawds? Do you believe the gawds will reward you with something in exchange for a specific behavior?

As to the efficacy of prayer, perceived from a position of meditation I would not deny that it clears the mind -- but prayer from a religionist perspective is not meditation, it is an asserted communication that has some actual real specific effect on human issues. This remains totally undemonstrated except in the following manner -- it is a very powerful brainwashing tool, which is why the more fanatical or fundamental a religion is, the more reliant on the asserted efficacy of prayer you're liable to find.

I know religionists will say, "Well, that's not god's fault" or something similar, but the point is this: Prayer doesn't actually work (at least it remains asserted and unproven that it does). Clearing the mind? Allowing a person to collect their thoughts? Giving the illusion of comfort (which may be indistinguishable from comfort itself), yes to all of those. But does it actually work? No, it can be shown over and over that it does not. And the fact is, many people actually rely on it, usually to their disappointment or worse.

We can see a phenomenon in the practice of social science and even climate science, where a hypothesis is presented, the hypothesis is tested, the hypothesis is invalidated and the researcher comes to believe that something is wrong with the data or how the experiment was conducted and so they still cling to their hypothesis.

You're doing the same.

You argue that principal reason people pray is to bargain with God, for God to give them something that they ask for in prayer, you also assert that God never answers those prayers, and yet people continue praying.

Parsimony suggests that your hypothesis is flawed, you don't understand why religious people pray and why they continue to pray when God doesn't let them win the lottery jackpot.

Your hypothesizing is flawed and naive. You don't understand that prayer is an act of want, need and exchanging a behavior in hope of a future reward. In short, it's influence peddling.

And yet people still do it when it doesn't pay off and the only way you can stick with your hypothesis and accept the results is to claim that those who continue to pray after not getting a prize from God is that they're stupppiidd.

To the bolded comment. You claim I don't understand the nature of prayer. You imply that you do and that what you described is the nature of prayer. Fine, prove to me that this is the nature of prayer.

You'd have to be an idiot to tell me I don't understand something and then rely on your own idiosyncratic definition to be the basis of your charge, so I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt here by presuming that you're not an idiot and this definition of prayer has been validated by others and can be supported with evidence. Produce that evidence.

You'd have to be an idiot to think your bluster was anything but a failed attempt to salvage your bankrupt argument.

 

[PostmodernProph]

prayer gives us the strength to put up with the fools we argue with.......

 

[Hollie]

prayer gives us the strength to put up with the fools we argue with.......

Prayer gives you the false hope that you will be able to compose a coherent argument.

 

[PostmodernProph]

please Lord, more?.......Hollie is posting again!.......

 

[Hollie]

please Lord, more?.......Hollie is posting again!.......

You should pray to the gods for some ability to compose a coherent argument.

 

[PostmodernProph]

it worked....I can ignore her for hours now......

 

[Hollie]

it worked....I can ignore her for hours now......

You're unable to respond with a coherent comment so, pray that the gawds will cure your inadequacies.

 

[AtheistBuddah]

It has been said by many Christians that one of the primary reasons for someone being an atheist and saying that they don't believe is because they don't want to believe. They don't want to ask the hard question "What if I'm wrong?" because they can't accept the implications of that questioning. They claim that we as atheists take the easy way out but I argue that it is just the opposite. Christians downright refuse to humor any kind of questioning when it comes to their belief. They refuse to look inside themselves and ask "What if there is no God?" because they are terrified of the implications of that question. They claim we are afraid of hell but in fact it is they who are afraid of oblivion. Of nonexistence. Understandably so. The idea of ceasing to exist is unpleasant to say the least. That is why being an atheist is far from the easy way out.

As an atheist you look that unpleasant reality in the face, swallow your fear and accept it and live your life to its fullest. Being a Christian is a way of ignoring the fact that the world is an unpleasant and often unjust place where some people live their whole lives in despair before their flame of consciousness goes out forever. This world can be cruel and unfair but as atheists we accept that it's the only one we are ever going to get and that motivates us to fight our hardest to make it a better and brighter one. For our sake and for the sake of our children. We don't turn away from reality and turn a wishful eye to an afterlife that isn't going to happen.

Really?

Which Christians said this? Please cite and link.

Seriously? I can think of quite a few Christians that have said the only reason atheists don't believe is because we just want to sin. Ray Comfort has said it, Christians on this forum have said it. It's among the most common arguments.

 

[AtheistBuddah]

In order for that statement to work you would first have to prove that I stated at some point that I have faith.

No problem. I quote you directly, "There is no such thing as eternal life." That is a statement of pure, unadulterated faith. It is based upon nothing but belief. So it would appear my statement works.

I warned him that someone would catch that.

Positive claims are the result of faith. I made a negative claim. I don't believe there is an afterlife. I have every reason not to so I behave as if there isn't one. Just like you and everyone else behaves as if there are no fairies, hobgoblins, or trolls, because you have no reason to think that they exist.

 

[AtheistBuddah]

What I worry about is a slow and incremental backpedaling to a culture with those same social norms as a result of Christian supremacy in this country. I don't really see it as much of a certainty, rather I am pleased to say that the opposite seems more likely, however I am still aware of what the likely consequences could be of Christian hardliners achieving the marriage of church and state that they desire.

I see now, you worry about something that you cannot actually show any evidence is occurring, and you use your fear to claim that other people are afraid.

Makes sense, to a crazy person.

Please just look at all the bit shot Christian demagogues that have the ear of politicians. Look at all the hyper religious politicians that make policy based on their religious beliefs. Look at all the examples where those laws clearly cross the line of constitutionality.

 

[Rikurzhen]

please Lord, more?.......Hollie is posting again!.......

You should pray to the gods for some ability to compose a coherent argument.

Take your own medicine.

 

[PostmodernProph]

it worked....I can ignore her for hours now......

pray that the gawds will cure your inadequacies.

oh that one worked a long time ago......

 

[PostmodernProph]

It has been said by many Christians that one of the primary reasons for someone being an atheist and saying that they don't believe is because they don't want to believe. They don't want to ask the hard question "What if I'm wrong?" because they can't accept the implications of that questioning. They claim that we as atheists take the easy way out but I argue that it is just the opposite. Christians downright refuse to humor any kind of questioning when it comes to their belief. They refuse to look inside themselves and ask "What if there is no God?" because they are terrified of the implications of that question. They claim we are afraid of hell but in fact it is they who are afraid of oblivion. Of nonexistence. Understandably so. The idea of ceasing to exist is unpleasant to say the least. That is why being an atheist is far from the easy way out.

As an atheist you look that unpleasant reality in the face, swallow your fear and accept it and live your life to its fullest. Being a Christian is a way of ignoring the fact that the world is an unpleasant and often unjust place where some people live their whole lives in despair before their flame of consciousness goes out forever. This world can be cruel and unfair but as atheists we accept that it's the only one we are ever going to get and that motivates us to fight our hardest to make it a better and brighter one. For our sake and for the sake of our children. We don't turn away from reality and turn a wishful eye to an afterlife that isn't going to happen.

Really?

Which Christians said this? Please cite and link.

Seriously? I can think of quite a few Christians that have said the only reason atheists don't believe is because we just want to sin. Ray Comfort has said it, Christians on this forum have said it. It's among the most common arguments.

is that how you have chosen to interpret my argument that you have made the choice you want to make?........if so, I will confess to making that 100% accurate observation.....

 

[PostmodernProph]

In order for that statement to work you would first have to prove that I stated at some point that I have faith.

No problem. I quote you directly, "There is no such thing as eternal life." That is a statement of pure, unadulterated faith. It is based upon nothing but belief. So it would appear my statement works.

I warned him that someone would catch that.

Positive claims are the result of faith. I made a negative claim. I don't believe there is an afterlife. I have every reason not to so I behave as if there isn't one.

do you really not realize that is a statement of faith?.....