A couple of years ago the New York Times asked readers to give their definition of faith. Ralph Bradshaw wrote, "Faith is still believing after a century of futility that the Cubs will win the world series." In view of the Cubs' magnificent win this year is it possible that we atheists could have it wrong?

No, Mr Bradshaw gave HIS definition of faith, one I would submit can be applied to a fan of any sports team; not a blanket analogy based on atheism.                                        Mine would go like this: Faith is the longing for what is not plausible, evident or ongoing.

I also find merit in this quote from 19th century writer Ambrose Bierce:

Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel

Dear Didge, I think this is a question profound and immeasurable, highly worthy of contemplation as we eat ice cream and pickles on the rozzy in smale.

That is my final word on the matter, I stand by it and will not retreat from it. ;)

It took extra innings, so does the win really count? 

Yes Absolutely :) Faith ;)

The Cubs nope :) karma it was their season :)  A time for everything :)

I would brand that as Trust and not as Faith.

So we have a physical team. The team has variables (the roster tends to change thus, the team dynamic changes) that plays against teams with the same variable scope.  The idea that the talent could SOMEDAY be there is just statistically probable as the talent being less in opposing teams. The direction from the coach alters as the coach is changed as well. Unless the actual team was disbanded or replaced by something else, it was inevitable based FIRST on there being a physical team in place.

I think Bradshaw is assigning far too much Magic on something that had a high probability.

Just an opinion.

Well, Didge, I see you are not talking about Faith as a theological virtue, so I'd say you still have it right.

Faith comes from Latin Fides, and Greek Pitis. Of course these were also goddesses in Rome and Greece.

Eva Cassidy sings about Faith in the song People Get Ready..

People get ready
There's a train a-coming
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear diesels humming
You don't need no ticket
You just thank the Lord
Yeah yeah yeah

People get ready
For the train to Jordan
Picking up passengers
From coast to coast
Faith is the key
Open the doors and board them
There's room for all
Among the loved and lost

The bible describes Pitis as a feminine noun, meaning trust, confidence, fidelity, and faithfulness.

Pistis comes from the word, Petiho, persuade, be persuaded,

It describes faith as a gift from God and not something that can be produced by people. ("faith") for the believer is "God's divine persuasion" – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. The persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4).

More scripture here

http://biblehub.com/greek/4102.htm

In Gnostic text the mysteries are only revealed if the adept was willing, because they were considered dangerous in the hands of the profane. Faith could be assimilated with the light that was put inside you in order for you to unlock the mysteries of Jesus teachings.  So as I understand it, if you have no faith and do not believe in salvation because of how you have been taught to measure truth, then you will never unlock the mysteries.

Of course faith in everyday life is believing that you can do something, and this brings about actions which either gets or doesn't get the result. Faith is a motivator

As to what I believe, juries still out :)