What is the difference between faith and belief? “Faith”, according to Webster’s, is
1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty b (1) : fidelity to one’s promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs
In other words, it is almost a purely-Theological term. Religion. God. TRUST. It’s a strong word that has admittedly been thrown around far too much these days. It has begun to be used in place of the word “belief”, which means, in Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary:
1 : a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing
2 : something believed; especially : a tenet or body of tenets held by a group
3 : conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence
While the differences are subtle, we see a lack of religion mentioned for this word. Beliefs can be held, according to this dictionary, by any individual or group of individuals, from governments, to schools, to companies, to organizations, to churches, to John Shluck down in the water treatment plant off Rte. 4 in Nowhere Springs. “Complete confidence is placed in some person of thing” and when that happens, we believe something to be true. Maybe John believes he will get a raise next week, depending on his work performance and the amount of krill he’s filtered from the tanks by then. Maybe the United States Congress believes the economy will begin to turn around in the next three years, thanks to evidence by experts and some very nice-looking Powerpoint chart presentations. Perhaps scientists believe that humans evolved from specks of inorganic matter floating in space, because of carbon dating procedures and some sweet bribes. But everyone believes something, for some reason.
I therefore wish to raise a second question: Can you believe in something without actually having Faith in it?
It’s been said that the only thing we can be sure of is that we can’t be sure of anything. If this is true, then is that what belief is? Belief that there are things we can’t be completely sure of, but need to hold onto and understand as solid, immovable truths?
If that is not true, and we CAN be sure of certain Truths in this world, then does that eliminate the need for belief? Besides religion (which needs to be forgotten about for the sake of this argument), couldn’t we cling to the truths we know to be true, and not need to believe in anything else? Is that a natural human tendancy?
It’s necessary to exclude religion – namely Christianity – from this line of questioning, because it satisfies the human need for stability. Even if we don’t understand it, we can believe in it; we can have Faith in what is bigger than us. But for those who ignore existence of something else to live for, what is their life like? Do they merely cling to what they think they already know to be truth? Do they believe only what science has proved to be “true”? Is there any meaning to existence in this mindset?
I’m still defining my own beliefs. Having Faith in God, in Christ, and in His will and plan for my life is good. But there’s so much more I need to fathom, formulate, and solidify as my own beliefs. It’s a good example of how lists play a big part in living.
I also encourage you to investigate your own faith. What do you believe? What will you stand for? What will you not let be shaken in your life?
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