What is faith based on? Could it actually be considered a sixth sense? Or is it merely a feeling? I am yet confused to determine what faith exactly is. Yet to an extent faith equals hope. It is impossible to have faith without having hope. And hope can easily be begotten from desire. Desire will eventually lead to hope, in an attempt to gain something desirable and could then lead towards the path of faith. So then I ask: Is it not possible that if one is to assume that a six year old kid desires that Santa Claus exists, he will then have hopes of that existence, and will then be turned into faith? I see it quite possible.

     This faith has no actual proving grounds. It is merely based on a desire. This desire is mostly introduced by a third-party, but it can also be brought by one's own imagination. Most of the time desire will rise from the words of another human being that will inform an individual of something that he does not obtain. Much like the example of Santa Claus, the kid did not yet imagine on his own of a Santa Claus, for if he would've, he could've as easily named this desire Earl. Most likely, his parents introduced the idea of a Santa Claus that allowed him to make this third-party belief into a desire. But yet, the name Santa Claus alone holds no desirable form in itself. The acts that Santa Claus will perform are the desirable factors. There by making arguments that Santa Claus will bring gifts to those kids that behave, and nothing to those who are "naughty". This six year old kid is introduced to this idea, which happens to be a universal idea. The kid will grow up thinking that there is a Santa Claus, but never actually see him. He might be deceived by his parents in a Santa Claus costume, but the kid will never notice the difference until he reaches a certain age where he can reason.

     That argument alone strongly intertwines religion. The fact that things are promised, such as going to Heaven if one behaves and going to Hell if one does not. Much like Santa Claus and his promised gifts. Yet, people can distinguish Santa Claus from religion and prove that he's fake, for the gifts that he brings can still be enjoyed by a person that lives. Meaning a person that’s alive. The person will determine that this Santa Claus doesn't exist in his life time. But he will never be able to see Heaven or Hell, for in order for one to enter into either, one is to die. So there by making Heaven and Hell impossible to ever reach in a life-time. No one is able to come back from the dead and inform others of this Heaven or Hell and there by never crossing out this belief. It is far easier to cross out the belief of a Santa Claus then the existence of Heaven or Hell. Santa Claus is based on a belief, a desire, a hope and ultimately in faith. Religion also follows these key aspects.

    Faith can be used in example, the faith for a Santa Claus and the faith for a God. They are both based on beliefs. Yet, one of them does not require death in order to be discovered.

    Surely, one could claim that Santa Claus does exist and that the reason for his knowledge is based on belief. Some people would state "I know he's there! I just know it!" and actually believe it. First and foremost, knowledge does not come from nothing. It requires experimentation. One knows that fire burns not because that knowledge is transferred through air and pure thoughts, one knows this because one observes it and experiences this. One could observe a piece of wood as is burnt by fire, or simply burn one's hand and have a physical connection, but one can not know that fire burns simply because he just knows because it came to him. Surely a person could inform him that fire burns, but he then is allowed to prove this for himself. Just as easily as a person can be informed that fire freezes, but that person can easily disprove that knowledge by himself. Simply stating that knowing just by knowing, without any experimentation, and by the simple word of another being does not make it actual information.

     By deriving to these conclusions, faith seems nothing more than a joke. One can laugh about the idea of a Santa Claus, because we know that we are being naughty and nothing will happen to us. But, by not knowing what the outcome of being naughty once we reach death will scare us into believing religion. Fear is probably the biggest factor in religion, for if human beings held no fear, there would be no reason to believe in religion. Freeing ourselves from this fear will ultimately free our minds. Getting rid of faith will leave us more certain and with less doubt. However, if one is focused on faith, it is probably better to stay off that way because realizing the truth will hurt. To live is to suffer, and once one realizes this truth, one will become prepared and will then be able to fight off this suffering. Not being prepared will just lead to easily being hurt. It's better to be safe than sorry, or so it goes.