Elizabeth-- your overly-simplistic argument is unconvincing. Here is the Oxford English Dictionary's definition of faith. I believe this will bolster Nope's argument. Now, WHICH of these is the meaning of FAITH in your (supposedly contextless) example????
I. Belief, trust, confidence.
1. a. Confidence, reliance, trust (in the ability, goodness, etc., of a person; in the efficacy or worth of a thing; or in the truth of a statement or doctrine). Const. in, of. In early use, only with reference to religious objects; this is still the prevalent application, and often colours the wider use.
b. Belief proceeding from reliance on testimony or authority.
2. Phrases. to give faith: to yield belief to. to pin one's faith to or upon: to believe implicitly.
3. Theol. in various specific applications. a. Belief in the truths of religion; belief in the authenticity of divine revelation (whether viewed as contained in Holy Scripture or in the teaching of the Church), and acceptance of the revealed doctrines. b. That kind of faith (distinctively called saving or justifying faith) by which, in the teaching of the N.T., a sinner is justified in the sight of God. This is very variously defined by theologians (see quots.), but there is general agreement in regarding it as a conviction practically operative on the character and will, and thus opposed to the mere intellectual assent to religious truth (sometimes called speculative faith). c. The spiritual apprehension of divine truths, or of realities beyond the reach of sensible experience or logical proof. By Christian writers often identified with the preceding; but not exclusively confined to Christian use. Often viewed as the exercise of a special faculty in the soul of man, or as the result of supernatural illumination.
4. That which is or should be believed. a. A system of religious belief, e.g. the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc., faith. Also, confession, rule of faith, for which see those words.
b. the faith: the true religion; usually = the Christian faith. Also, without article in certain phrases, as contrary to faith, etc. of faith: part and parcel of the faith.
c. What is believed, or required to be believed, on a particular subject. Also pl. points of faith, tenets.
5. act of (the) faith: = AUTO DA FÉ. Obs.
II. Inducement to belief or trust.
6. Power to produce belief, credit, convincing authority. Obs.
7. Attestation, confirmation, assurance. Obs.
8. a. Assurance given, formal declaration, pledge, promise. In phrases, to do, make faith (= L. fidem facere): to affirm, promise, give surety. to give (one's) faith (= L. fidem dare): to give assurance, pledge one's word. on his faith: on parole. Obs.
b. on the faith of: in reliance on the security of.
III. The obligation imposed by a trust.
9. a. The duty of fulfilling one's trust; allegiance owed to a superior, fealty; the obligation of a promise or engagement.
b. In many phrases, in which the sense approaches that of 8: to engage, pledge, plight (one's) faith; to swear, perjure one's faith; to keep (hold), break, violate (one's) faith; so breach of faith.
10. The quality of fulfilling one's trust; faithfulness, fidelity, loyalty. to bear faith: to be loyal to.
11. good faith, bad faith: = L. bona, mala fides, in which the primary notion seems to have been the objective aspect of confidence well or ill bestowed. The Eng. uses closely follow those of L. a. good faith: fidelity, loyalty (= sense 10); esp. honesty of intention in entering into engagements, sincerity in professions, BONA FIDES.
b. bad faith: faithlessness, treachery; intent to deceive. Punic (rarely Carthaginian) faith (= L. fides Punica): faithlessness.
12. In asseverative phrases. a. in (good) faith: in truth, really, ‘sooth to say’.
b. in faith, i' faith, faith, good faith: used interjectionally.
c. In quasi-oaths. by or on my, thy, etc., faith, by the faith of (my body, love, etc.). my faith (= Fr. ma foi!).
¶13. An alleged designation for a company of merchants.
