Difference Between Faith and Belief

Main Difference – Faith vs Belief

Faith and belief are two words we often associate with trust and confidence. Although these two words can be used interchangeably in some contexts, there are some differences between them based on their meaning and context. The main difference between faith and belief stems from their usage; faith is mostly used to refer to religion, but belief is used in a variety of contexts.

What is Faith

Faith is the strong trust and confidence in something or someone. Faith specifically refers to something that cannot be proved by evidence; in other words, faith is not based on proof.

Faith in religion is the strong trust and belief in God and the doctrines of that religion. Faith is a main element in any religion although the concept of faith may differ according to different religions. It is the faith of the followers that keep a religion alive. The follower of a religion trusts and believes in substances and concepts that are neither seen nor felt. Most of the religions in the world are based on the existence of God although the people who follow the religion have never seen God. This unwavering trust, confidence, and loyalty is called faith.

Whenever a person who has faith in God is facing a problem, he or she believes that God will help him and show a way out of his problems. Thus, faith results in hopefulness and optimism.

Moreover, the word faith can sometimes be used to refer to the religion, in an informal context. If someone asks you what your faith is, he or she is asking about your religion.

What is Belief

Belief is based on trust and confidence. The Oxford Dictionary defines belief as the “acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof” and Merriam-Webster defines it as “a feeling of being sure that someone or something exists or that something is true”. The phrase belief in refers to trust and confidence in something.

Unlike faith is mainly used in religious contexts, belief can be used in a variety of contexts. Belief can refer to your trust in a person, your acceptance of some concept or ideal or even belief in God.

In a religious context, there is a subtle difference between faith and belief. Belief in religion may imply that you believe the concepts taught in that particular religion are true; you may also believe in the existence of God (in the case of theistic religions) But, belief is not as strong as faith. Here, belief may not refer to an unwavering trust and confidence in God.