Belief: To believe in something is to accept a claim as true. I believe that I am currently living, which is to say that I accept the claim that "I am living" as consistent with reality. Belief is something of a spectrum, with different levels of certainty. For example, I more strongly believe that I had pancakes for breakfast this morning than I believe that extraterrestial life exists. You can believe a claim for good and bad reasons, or no reasons at all. I would obviously argue that beliefs based on good reasons (i.e. demonstrable evidence, an application of reason) are much more likely to be consistent with reality than beliefs based on bad reasons (i.e. faith, ignorance).
Know: To know something is to be absolutely sure of something. However, stating that one knows something has ZERO impact whatsoever on actuality. For instance, 2000 years ago, it was appropriate to state that one "knows" that the earth is flat. In actuality we now know (based on better, demonstrable evidence) that the earth is not flat. Knowledge is the term we use to define a collection of "knowns" in our minds, which is something that we should all strive for. A theist stating that he/she "knows" that Gods exists simple means they believe it to the highest degree of certainty. However, as with belief, there are good and bad reasons for believing something, just as with knowing. Before going out and asserting that you "know" something, make sure its for justifiable reasons, and be prepared to accept skepticism.
Faith: To believe something without any reasons. The term "faith" is a placeholder, a substitute for a reason when a truly "good reason" does not exist. I mean, take a step back and actually think about this. Why would we ever want to beleive something "on faith"? There is no reason to. Otherwise, we wouldn't call it faith! How the term has acheived such a positive connotation over the years is beyond me, although it most likely has to do with the church positing faith as a desireable attribute. If you want to believe in something, go ahead. If you have good reason to believe, then your belief is justified. However, if you have no reason, don't brag about how good it is to have "faith" in an unjustified belief. Face the fact that you have no reason to believe, and if that is still good enough for you, then you are beyond reason, and you will never change your mind. But if you can actually take the time to examine your beliefs, evaluate your reasons for believing or not believing in certain claims, and accept the fact that some of your beliefs may be unjustified, act upon that knowledge! You don't need to cling to your beliefs because they were once important to you. Progress is good. When you expand your knowledge, especially regarding something as important as your own beliefs, you can only become a better person. Faith is not a reason to believe in anything. In fact, its the opposite. Its the lack of reason, and its chalked up by society to be a positive thing, when in fact it does much more harm than good.
Truth: Truth, while hard to give a simple definition for, is simply something that is true. What I mean by that is something consistent with reality. While it may be "true" that I beleive in fairies, the existence of fairies itself is not actually "true". Truth is objective reality. For all practical purposes, for something to be "known" to exist, it needs to manifest. Something that does not manifest cannot be said to be known or unknown.
Atheism: I don't know how many times I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll continue to say it: Atheism is not a belief. It is a lack of belief. It has no tenets, no dogmas, no shared traits, no organization, or emotional tie, no donation required. It is simple the rejection of theistic claims. Theism is the belief in a god or gods, Atheism is simple the lack thereof. To be an atheist, one does not need to assert that there is no god, simple to examine the claims of theists, and evaluate them. If you conclude, as I have, that there is simple not enough demonstrable evidence for the existence of a god, then you are an atheist!
Overall, I think the language behind these religion debates plays a key role in people's understanding of the issues at hand. I hope my definitions help provide a basic understanding of some of the main definition problems that come up. In order to have a relevant understanding of the issues, one must fully comprehend the terminology. Now, I admit that a theist most likely would not agree with my definition of faith, as it is something of great value to a believer. However, no matter how much you like a term or want it to be significant does not replace the fact that at its core, faith is not a valuable trait of any belief.
Additionally, if anyone has their own definition they think should be included, please let me know. If you have a problem with mine, or think they could be improved, by all means let me know! That is why I do this blog. Not only to educate others, but to educate myself! I don't claim any absolute knowledge or power. I am merely trying to understand the world and reality as best I can, and this is a goal that is best achieved with the help and support of others.
