Absent faith there is no cogent reason to believe in god(s), afterlives, reincarnation, heavens or hells, ghosts or any of the other supernatural trappings of many religions. Or for that matter ouija boards, tarot cards or astrology.
(2) Not all beliefs lacking public evidentiary support require faith. My belief that brie is nicer than camembert is a private subjective belief whose final arbiter is me. I don't need faith to know that, and no-one can persuade me otherwise. If someone else finds camembert preferable to brie, or finds all cheese disgusting, their belief doesn't falsify mine and mine doesn't falsify theirs.
(3) (At least) many ethical beliefs are subjective. The ethical codes of bankers would seem superfluous to someone who believes that money-lending is evil. The picketers outside abortion clinics seem evil to someone who believes in a woman's right to choose.
(4) I am not a moral relativist. The fact that someone is acting morally according to their beliefs helps me to understand their actions, but does not absolve them if they are acting wrongly according to my moral beliefs.
(5) No faith is required for the above.
-- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/
If you listen to a UNIX shell, can you hear the C?
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