Theists, what does faith mean to you?

[Catholic_Lady]

I don't see having faith as some sort of "blind" thing, if you will. Where you just believe in something for absolutely no reason other than because you want to or just because, or whatever.  

At least it isn't for me. In the same way that I have faith that God is real, I have faith that my husband loves me. I can't show you any sort of concrete "proof" that my husband loves me, but I conclude that he does based on many aspects of our life together. Because of those things, it makes sense to me that he does.

Likewise, I conclude that God is real based on several aspects. Including a personal experience I have had, those that other people have had, based on the miracles that have been accounted for, the saints, the life of Jesus, etc... It makes sense to me. If I use the definition of faith as being a blind thing, it would take more of that type of "faith" for me not to believe in God. 

I honestly don't know what I'd be like if I wasn't a woman of faith. It's such a fundamental part of me and who I am, it's impossible to tell what I'd be like without it.

Here's one of  the problems with your analogy about your husband loving you.

Most outsiders would probably be able to tell that your husband loves you. We would most likely see: him showing you affection, treating you with respect, taking you out, sharing child rearing, taking care of you when you are sick and much more. 

There is demonstrable evidence that he loves you.  

No such similar types of evidence is demonstrable for the faith you have for your god. All we have is your word that you have had some sort of experience. That tells us nothing more. 

And more importantly, it should cause you to question why there isn't the same kind of evidence for your god, as that of  your husband's love. Especially given the errors and faulty perceptions the human mind is known to produce.

It seems to me you are using 2 different definitions for the word 'faith'.

(my bold)

But I don't need other people telling me that he does to know he does. It's not like I wouldn't know it unless others had told me. If we were the only 2 people on earth, and there was no one else to "affirm" that he loves me, I would still have just as much faith that he does.

You are correct that it would be much easier to show someone else evidence that my husband loves me than it would to show someone else evidence that God exists. It's something they kind of have to experience for themselves to a certain extent. But the question wasn't about being able to prove my faith to others, the question was about what faith meant for me and why I believe what I do.  

Although when you say this: "No such similar types of evidence is demonstrable for the faith you have for your god." It's not really true, considering there are many other Christian people in the world who can attest for the same thing.