In this article we will look at the difference between religion and faith.
Faith is the willingness to accept something without evidence. On the other hand, it is confidence in luck without any guarantees. The hope that the object of belief will help us. What then is religion?
Religion is a connection with otherworldly forces. But conviction still includes belief, because it is pointless to establish a connection with something that you do not believe in. As in every activity, there are quite a lot of particulars in religion: from postulates to rules of behavior. Such activity can be maintained without faith, only then it will no longer be a religious activity. This is just a deception. Now let's look at faith and religion in more detail.
Faith and its understanding
Belief is the recognition of something or someone as true according to one’s own conviction without proof of logic and facts.
Conviction, that is, religion, is the doctrine of faith. Society realizes the connection with higher powers in this way. But faith is more important.
Faith is the acceptance of something unproven, an idea, a phenomenon, based more on an internal feeling, intuition. It is justified subjectively and does not require proof. According to Russell, faith disappears when evidence appears and turns into knowledge.
The object of belief exists solely in a state of possibility. It can be felt psychologically, emotionally and figuratively. It depends on the characteristics of the organism. How is faith different from religion?
Religion concept
What is religion? This is a kind of social phenomenon, one of the forms of perception, understanding of all things, the world, the Universe. It is usually based on beliefs in some supernatural entities. According to theologians, religion connects God and people. Religion is an official affiliation with a particular denomination, as well as a creed with rituals.
The philosopher Jung considered confession a method, a method of psychological analysis and appropriate therapy. Freud believed it was only a great illusion, a deception that replaces misunderstanding. Karl Marx saw it as “opium” (a drug) for ordinary people (a way to deceive, mislead and exploit).
The sociological components of religion are as follows. This is, firstly, activity (cult or non-cult), external manifestation, ritualism. As well as internal self-awareness (attitude to the concept of God, moral standards, prohibitions and restrictions).
Religious activity, one way or another, is present in all peoples, all continents and countries around the world. People belong to different religions. Despite the differences between religious confessions, there are concepts that are common to them: good and evil, moral ideals, the meaning of human life.
Distinguish between belief and confession! Faith: primary - we choose it, capable of existing independently. It may be lost, but it is in a state of progress. It is located inside, depends on the characteristics of our psyche. Unites people. Selfless, this is an attribute of religion.
Religion: we accept it; it does not exist without faith. You can change, but there is no progress. It is a pattern of belief and consists of dogmas. Often leads society to disagreement. Always pursues a specific goal, not always a noble one. It is not an attribute of faith.
Comparison
Faith is a concept that unites people. Groups of individuals at some stage in the development of society believed in something and this united them. On the basis of faith, a doctrine arose, a template of faith, which is essentially a religion. Not all believers saw a reflection of their vision of the world in this teaching. But there cannot be as many religions as there are people. Therefore, this concept itself is not always a unifying factor.
Faith can exist without religion. Even the most undeveloped civilizations believed in something without formalizing this perception of the world into a specific religion. Religion is a form of worldview that is determined by a person’s faith in a higher power. It is impossible without faith. In this case, it turns into just a set of certain cultural traditions, into a kind of moral code and becomes dead.
Faith is determined by the characteristics of the mental development of the individual. A person is free to choose the Absolute, faith in which will make him happy. Religion is an existing teaching about a chosen faith; its existence does not depend on the desire of an individual.
Faith renews the inner man. Through thoughts and feelings, a person strives for the ideal, which is God. Religion is the outward manifestation of faith. It helps a person maintain the correct orientation.
Individuals, and entire nations, are capable of losing faith. But there comes a moment when an irresistible desire arises to restore connection with the Absolute. A person begins to progress in his faith. Religion, as a way of demonstrating faith, can be changed, but cannot be lost. Changing from one religion to another is not progress.
Faith is selfless, it is accepted by the heart, realized by the mind and is not imposed by force. Many historical facts indicate that religion is often capable of exploiting faith, but the opposite has never been the case.
Religion, like any teaching, arises on a certain basis. In this case - on faith, which is its indispensable attribute. But for faith itself, religion is not always an unconditional attribute.
Religion and faith: history of the past
Religious activity is part of belief, perhaps even from another. For example, Christianity is based on the history of the creation of the world and the Jewish people. Temple services are conducted according to Jewish traditions. Jewish holidays were replaced by Judeo-Christian ones. Christians burned their own and Western libraries. However, many holidays have retained their pagan roots. The initial letter of the ancient Slavs was replaced by the Church Slavonic alphabet.
Distortion of religion
According to the Slavs, life and faith are one and the same. It is impossible to distort faith. Religion can be modernized with new rules, dogmas and postulates.
Sometimes people discuss things they don't understand. Does a woman have a soul? This question does not confront the Slavs, since they endow objects and phenomena with a soul, in addition to living beings.
Christians abolished the concept of reincarnation (re-birth), because it is easier for churchmen to control the people: eternal torment or eternal heavenly bliss, without a third option.
What is religion?
Religion is a type of worldview based on the belief in the existence of a deity who requires worship. Religion presupposes the existence of established norms of behavior and promotes the unification of people into various kinds of communities.
Religion carries cultural value , since it presupposes the presence of material carriers: sacred scriptures, secular buildings, icons and other paraphernalia. It was religion that became the source of the development of writing and printing. Most of the art and antiquities are iconic.
The social significance of religion lies in regulating relationships, defining norms and rules of behavior, and uniting people into stable groups. In ancient times, it rallied people against their enemies. This is how individual peoples arose, eventually forming states.
Religion has a clear structure . It presupposes the presence of religious consciousness, religious relations, religious activities, and religious organizations.
Religious consciousness is the faith on which a given religion is based (faith in God).
Religious relations arise between representatives of religion during religious rites, meetings, and holidays.
Religious activity includes actions through which a believer establishes a relationship with God (prayers, rituals, fasts, etc.). This also includes the creation of a material base of religious content (literature, objects of worship, places of worship, etc.).
Religious organizations represent churches, denominations, sects, etc. They are called upon to disseminate religious views among the population, guide and regulate religious processes.
Faith: reflected in various religions
Let's take a closer look at the main types of religion:
- Christianity is the most widespread world denomination. The meaning is the desire for salvation. Priests say that people live with mismatched desires of body, spirit and mind. Therefore, life is given to prevent these contradictions in order to find salvation in paradise. The basis of religion is original sin. From time immemorial, faith in Rus' has strived towards holiness. This is how miracles happen in cells, God's people travel with the ability to heal and preach;
- Islam is a strict denomination: a Muslim, without the slightest offense, must pray five times a day and know all six “pillars”. If he is guilty, he must immediately sincerely repent by reading the shahada, while understanding every word of it. It is believed that Allah wished only the best for people. Therefore, everything that bad happens to them is perceived as lessons. According to beliefs, Muslims cannot change their fate (fatalism);
- Judaism - this religion seems to be opposed to others. It is based, rather, not on faith, but on trust in the Lord. Therefore, the Jews believe that God chose the best for them. In Judaism, achieving truth is only possible by answering many questions;
- Buddhism is a philosophical faith. The basic law here is not original sin, but karma. Sin in Buddhism, unlike Christianity, is only a mistake and some kind of obstacle on the path to enlightenment. If you follow the postulates, you can achieve enlightenment, avoid rebirth and achieve nirvana.
Beliefs of ancient societies:
- Primitive society endowed living beings, natural phenomena, etc. with a soul. This is animism. Magic and shamanism - the belief that humanity can control the forces of nature;
- Atheists. Atheism (translated as “godlessness”) is a worldview based on materialism, science, logic, facts and evidence. Based on science and progress. That is, atheism does not affect the concept of faith and God. Only the material world that contemplates around;
- Materialists are a philosophy, but supporters defined materialism as a belief in science, progress, a person who is able to control the world, and even more so, the Universe. We turned to the basics of atheism;
- Theology. In theology, close attention is paid to personal relationships, the internal, spiritual interaction of humanity and God. Belief is like a practice of life. Humanity can understand the essence of God only through the opportunities that God has provided. These are, of course, “revelations”. God is unknowable. One can only know what he gives, allows us to know, meaning the human ability to know;
- Psychology. Faith for psychology is its complete opposite, because faith cannot be analyzed, calculated, or measured. Faith correlates with the “human factor”, which most often will lead to unpredictable consequences;
- Sociology. Christianity is the basis of modern society in the West. Religion suppresses our individuality and therefore separates us from faith. The truth is that human desires are unlikely to be altruistic towards the church or the priest, because the believer is more interested in his own consumer interests. Selfishness is the exclusive basis of natural human thoughts; it does not go beyond the boundaries of public behavioral norms. Sociology perceives faith this way. Scientists are only interested in what the phenomenon of belief will lead us to. By studying religions, sociologists try to draw a conclusion about people’s desire to create conditions for personal happiness through religious groups, sects and other similar associations.
So, we talked about the concepts of faith and beliefs, found similarities and differences in them, thought about belief as its meaning for scientists, as well as for people of different faiths. In our country there is freedom of conscience - that is, freedom of religion. Therefore, only you, dear readers, can decide which confession to profess. But remember that religion cannot exist without faith. In any case, it is difficult without any belief. After all, only it can immediately support us in difficult life circumstances. Any belief is associated with belief. It is accepted as trust. All relationships in society must be built on trust. Violation of fidelity in trust leads to betrayal.
What is faith?
Faith is a belief that does not have any evidence base . Belief in God is an undeniable recognition of his existence. Conventionally, three degrees of faith can be distinguished: faith as confidence, faith as trust and faith as fidelity.
The first stage involves recognizing the existence of God, accepting this fact: “yes, he exists.” However, this stage does not imply any significant influence on a person’s way of life. He does not adhere to any norms of behavior associated with faith in God, he exists separately from him. In the same way, a person recognizes the existence of other planets in the solar system: they are not visible, but they are there.
Faith as trust involves not only recognizing the existence of God, but also endowing him with a certain power. A person with this level of faith at certain moments of his life is inclined to think about God, turn to him, ask him for help or thank him for it.
Loyalty is the highest level of faith and presupposes not only recognition of God with the mind (confidence) and heart (trust), but also recognition of the will. A person with such faith subordinates his entire life to serving God, sacrificing his desires and needs. All his thoughts and actions are directed towards the object of worship.
The most important function of faith is to create psychological comfort, to determine a person’s place in this world and his significance. Everyone needs faith in the future, in the existence of help from otherworldly forces, in their own capabilities. All this is the foundation for the harmonious existence of the individual.
Difference between philosophy and religion
Religious views imply life in unity with God.
The purpose of such spiritual communication is often to find ways to save the soul and find a solid foundation in life. Those who constantly abide in religion often find joy and peace of mind, experience peace and contentment. Philosophy is the science of the most general laws of existence, society and human thinking. It stands above personal interests. The ultimate goal of philosophical knowledge is to establish and comprehend the relationships between objectively existing phenomena of the material and spiritual world.
If religion implies the primacy of faith, then philosophy is built on a solid foundation of objective and verifiable knowledge about the nature of things.
Comprehension of religious truths does not require a person to make logical constructions and clearly deduced proofs of the existence of God, which, according to theologians, is the basis of the universe. The dogmas of the church require faith, and not scientific research and strictly verified justifications. Philosophy seeks to find the objective fundamental basis of the world, relying on the achievements of modern sciences and empirical data that can be measured and systematized.
Religion in Action
(John 8:3) Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman taken in adultery, and, standing her in the middle, they said to Him: Teacher! this woman was taken in adultery.
The law requires the death of a woman caught in adultery. And so painful too. Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And the Pharisees, being convicted by their conscience, left. Jesus completely frees the woman from condemnation.
“Go and sin no more”
These words are perceived very categorically by religion. This is understandable, you cannot sin. But where is the way out? To be condemned again? After all, it is impossible for a person not to sin. Jesus shows the way out.
(John 8:12) Again Jesus spoke to the people
and said to them: I am the light of the world; whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
(1 John 1:7) If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
How to walk in the light? This means having fellowship with each other, being in Church, listening to sermons, reading the Bible.
Faith and religion do not mix.
