What is the difference between belief and faith ? Is there a difference ?
They all seem (i.e knowledge and truth…belief and faith) to go “hand in hand” but at the same time they seem like a comparison between “apples and oranges” !
I think the problem stems from our use of the words “belief” & “believe”
ie:
I KNOW that I am writing this.
Do I have faith that I’m writing this? I would feel comfortable to answer “No”, as faith = trust, and I have no need to trust - my knowing is beyond trust.
Do I believe I am writing this??
Hmm… tricky. If I answer “No” this time, it makes me sound insane. “No I don’t believe I am writing this” just sounds stupid. But it would be a true statement - as my knowing is beyond belief.
yet, I could say “Of course I believe i am writing this!” which would make more sense…and also be true - if knowing equated to a belief of 100%
Do I believe my name is DALE? yes of course… yet it’s more than belief, it’s a knowing. So should I have answered “No I don’t believe my name is Dale - I know it is!” ? probably, but people don’t.
Do I believe Father Christmas is real? yes of course! … yet this belief is not a knowing. It is faith.
Seems it is the exact definition of the word itself that is causing issues. (for me at least! lol)
Let’s scrub the word from the dictionary. “Guess” or “know” are all we need! … or so I guess!
DALE[/i]
Belief and faith are synonymous. I suggest you invest in a Roget’s Thesaurus.
The original question was “IS there a difference”, so I take it your answer is a NO.
Actually if you look in your Thesaurus you will see that the word synonymous means:
expressing the same thing;
Identical; interchangeable.
But some would argue that didn’t apply to faith & belief.
another definition for synonymous: conveying the same or approximately the same, idea. –
and it is that (potential) subtle difference that we are discussing here.
For example, in the Urantia Book it says:
Belief may not be able to resist doubt and withstand fear, but faith is always triumphant over doubting, for faith is both positive and living.
This conversation is not very important anyway so I’m not going to reply anymore.
DALE
It is true that both terms are used interchangeably, but if there is a difference, in common use it would be, there is belief and then there is belief on steroids. The latter is called faith.
JT
How can it ever be justified when it comes to the philosophy of languages, I wonder.
[b] … some authors use all their life to define a word (or some) and they do not “manage” apart from encircling a theme (or a term) …
— what is LOVE … and what is TRUTH … and what is REALITY … not to speak of what is LIFE …
… some philosophy makes an academic and intellectual construction of a term, it means they relate to other persons use of same term, in theory as well as in other fields … and they make a choice, not for general use, but for use in a chosen context …
… some philosophy accepts and serve the opinion that in addition to the intellectual philosophy, there is an “additional phlosophy” that may include terms, but also include the non-intellectual hunan faculty of orientation and experience …
… remember that “philosophy” is not a set world of activities, it once included oratics/propaganda, grammar, religion, psychology and a host of other domaines that we today tend to set apart from “philosophy” …
… do not make your own definition of the term “philosophy” without being assured that it will probably not be the choice of all …
… this forum does not allow for academic strictness … it gives satisfaction because a. you have the possibility to chose and use words and b. there is an imaginary readership and c. it may be confirmed by a comment.
And … d. the comment may help you move yourself. - The top of stimulation!
… FAITH is a word important with Dr. Martin Luther and many others, and he does not make it differ from “belief”, but all the same the two terms are very challenging to approach.
Personally I have tried to make “faith” mean to direct one’s attention and to at the same time include an influence upon one’s activity.
This may be seen as an answer to a religious challenge. I think it is.
And I like it because it does not include any dogma’s.
Religious dogma’s and religious language is an extremely difficult area because of religious traditional weights and a religious language that was developed under socio-intellectual conditions different, and often very different from our present condition, read “my” present condition, as “we” are so many and disparate.
Since this an internet product, I stop abruptly, but with this question:
How to believe and have faith if there is not a polarity included?
Hi, folks.
I am old and try to be colloquial.
English is not even my mother tongue.
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