Faith and belief are two distinct entities. Belief is a truth held in the mind. Faith is a fire in the heart. Jesus said, Follow me. Implicit in that is watch me, listen to me, see what I do.
Faith flows out of that visible witness.
That is really what it comes down to. Feminists and all other ists aside. The strongest doubters make for the strongest believers. Every person of faith that I know visits the desert. Always when they are least prepared.