If you were ever a theist...

[Cephus]

lol Of course, I agree with you on that. I was assuming we were talking about hope, in a very general sense, not necessarily attached to religion/spirituality. So, let me back up, do you ever have hope in humanity? Do you ever feel hopeful...or in other words...optimistic about things in your own life? I was speaking in more of a broad idea of hope, 'hope in everything.' This doesn't separate me from what is happening before me, but I can hope to have a great new year, I can hope for you to accomplish your dreams...this doesn't stop reality from occurring, however. I think hope can be very positive, and doesn't have to be attached to a deity.

There's a difference between being positive about things that are realistic and being pie-in-the-sky, believing-in-unicorns irrational.  Do I have hope in humanity? Sometimes, but at least humanity demonstrably exists.  I don't have hope that magical spirits are going to come down and save the world.  That's foolish.  And just having hope doesn't mean a thing, you actually have to take actions to make said hope come true.  Just sitting in the  corner hoping things happen doesn't actually result in anything happening.  Hope, in and of itself, is pointless.  It requires action.