Wow a lot of good research topics for me thanks, really. Actually I disagree with your last 2 statements. Faith isn't alegiance to a dogma in spite of contradictory evidence, it's more of a solution in the absence of evidence. Example:
I, as a Christian, allow my belief to wane until it no longer supports my belief. However, I still can call myself a Christian because of my Faith. Faith is completely internal and subjective and is the belief in something, despite lack of evidence. Counter-evidence diminishes my Faith but only indirectly affects my belief in theism if the variable are in place for my working premise to be based off of Faith
I veer very far from anything political, but I think this is an apropos metaphor (I'd be suprised if min doesn't tear this one up). I see my belief as an american ballet poll of known truths. The highest votes are the winners and considered beliefs. They're typically between A and B which are the (best case) antethisis of each other. My faith is abstaining from a vote but still succoming to the resulting votes on everything else. I have not enough evidence to vote for either A or B so I don't make that vote. That to me is Faith. If there's counter evidence alone then I'd just vote B instead of A, etc.
I, as a Christian, allow my belief to wane until it no longer supports my belief. However, I still can call myself a Christian because of my Faith. Faith is completely internal and subjective and is the belief in something, despite lack of evidence. Counter-evidence diminishes my Faith but only indirectly affects my belief in theism if the variable are in place for my working premise to be based off of Faith
I veer very far from anything political, but I think this is an apropos metaphor (I'd be suprised if min doesn't tear this one up). I see my belief as an american ballet poll of known truths. The highest votes are the winners and considered beliefs. They're typically between A and B which are the (best case) antethisis of each other. My faith is abstaining from a vote but still succoming to the resulting votes on everything else. I have not enough evidence to vote for either A or B so I don't make that vote. That to me is Faith. If there's counter evidence alone then I'd just vote B instead of A, etc.
