The word in the street is that faith is a potent mixture of intellectual and emotional self-control that when properly harnessed can literally change outcomes through positive thinking and clear visualisation. Its what successful people tout as the key to their achievements, survivors of great tragedies cite as the source of their endurance, televangelists credit with healing power and motivational speakers make a sweet espousing. Unfortunately this kind of hopeful thinking has nothing in common with what the Bible calls faith. It's more about faith in faith than faith in God.