Difference Between Faith and Religion

Main Difference – Faith vs Religion

Faith and Religion are sometimes used synonymously by some people. Though there exists a strong interdependence between these two words, there is a distinct difference between faith and religion. The main difference between faith and religion is that faith is the complete trust and confidence in someone or something whereas religion is a specific system of belief and/or worship, often involving a code of ethics and philosophy.

What is Faith

Faith is the complete trust and confidence we have in something or someone. The term faith is generally associated with religion. In religion, faith is the strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than evidence. Here, faith is a powerful belief in substances and concepts that are neither seen nor felt. Most of the religions in the world are based on Gods, yet the people who follow these religions have never seen God. Nevertheless, they have an unwavering trust and confidence in God. This belief, trust and loyalty to God is called faith. Faith is the basic foundation for many religions in the world. It is not wrong to say that faith is the beginning of religion. It is when we start to believe in something, particularly something whose existence cannot be proved by evidence, that we embrace religion.

Whenever a person who has a strong belief in God is in a problem, he or she have faith that God will help him and show a way out of his problems. Thus, faith paves the way for hopefulness and optimism.

In addition, the term faith is sometimes used to refer to the religion, in an informal context. If someone asks you what your faith is, he or she is asking what your religion is.

However, the term faith is not only limited to a religious scope. When we have strong confidence or trust in a person, theory or another concept, we can use the word faith.

The general public has lost faith in leaders and politicians.

He’ll definitely return; I have faith in him.

What is Religion

Religion is a specific system of belief and/or worship, often involving a code of ethics and philosophy. Religion is a set of morals, principles, beliefs, rules and rituals that guide people. There are numerous religions in the world; Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism are the most widespread religions of the world.

Many dictionaries define religion as the belief in a god or a group of gods or the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power. While it is true that many religions in the world are based on the concept of a God (Christianity) or a group of Gods (Hinduism), this definition does not include all the religions in the world. There are some religions such as Buddhism that does not worship or believe in the supremacy of God.

However, faith plays an important role in any religion. A real follower of any religion must have faith. A large percentage of people in the world belong to a religion, and those who do not follow a religion are called atheists.