Originally posted by MarcAC
Evidence of our existence cannot be within our existence itself... it has to come from somewhere outside of it.
That's assuming there
is something outside of existence, an assumption that also has no evidence on which to be based. If you absolutely
have to assume something (which we seem to agree you do in this case), then it is logical to make the simplest possible assumption. It is simpler to assume that reality is what it is than to assume that there is something outside of reality that must provide meaning to reality as we know it.
So existence itsef has no scientific basis. Yet scientists take it 'for granted' as you said... another way of saying they take it on pure simple faith. Thus, we all have faith, gathering that we think we exist.
It sounds like you are talking about belief, not faith. Merriam-Webster points out that while both belief and faith mean assent to the truth of something offered for acceptance, belief may or may not imply certitude in the believer, while faith almost always implies certitude even where there is no evidence or proof. Again, we are left with the problem of what can really constitute evidence when we are seeking to determine whether evidence is really reliable in and of itself, but I believe I have addressed that above.
Another ramification of your analysis is that you seemed to have been giving suppot to the subjective for a while;
"All of our experiences have led us to believe that our existence is real (at the very least, it is real as far as we are concerned). This is not belief without evidence; hence it is not faith."
Based on that we can simply say that religious believers on a whole have no faith.
Perhaps they can claim that it is not a matter of faith, but of knowledge in their so-called spiritual realm. The fact is, however, that there is no evidence that such a realm exists. Therefore their claims of knowledge are unimportant in the "real world".
As studies have shown; the 'faithful' as you would label them do tend to live longer. If evolutionary concepts apply, barring any other variables, the 'religious' will outlast the 'non-relgious' to become a race of faithful believers. Heh heh.
If that is how it turns out, then that is the way it was meant to be, and who am I to argue with the natural course of evolution? I, however, will be happy to have lived a shorter life without faith than a longer one in self-delusion.
And besides, perhaps one of the main reasons why studies have shown that people with faith live longer is because they live in a little fantasy world where everything is just peachy. Well, I can't speak for all atheists, but I have found peace and contentment in accepting whatever life has to offer, and nothing more. Perhaps I'll live longer after all.