Okay, I think I'm wracking my brain about this, but anyway: in my opinion, giving it a lot of thought, I don't think that faith whatsoever (be it in god(s) or no god(s)) is not actually a starting point, at least not, if it's a firm belief. I think it can rather be considered as a sort of fuel. It's a bit like food, I think. You need food so your body can work, so that you get energy. Of course you can also use some kind of protein shake (that would be some kind of agnostic kind of view, I think XD).
What I'm trying to say is: when you have faith, it can get you anywhere because you have something to believe in, whether it exists or not doesn't matter.
On the other hand, if you are an atheist, you still believe in something. E.g. in yourself or in the good in man.
So in the end, it keeps you going. Because if you have nothing left to believe in, you're simply lost.
(I get the feeling we're talking past each other...well, anyway.)
