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Faith is our belief in who we are, why we exist, where we come from and what we are to do with our life. The term "faith" has ancient origins. Its use in the English language dates back to around the 13th century, derived from the Old French word feid or foi, which came from the Latin word fides, meaning trust, belief, or confidence. In Latin, fides was used to describe loyalty, trustworthiness, and reliability—concepts that translated well into theological and secular contexts. The idea of faith, as a concept, however, is even older. It appears in ancient religious texts and practices worldwide, especially in contexts involving trust in deities or a higher power. In Christianity, faith is a central theme in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, though Hebrew and Greek terms like emunah (Hebrew for "faithfulness" or "trust") and pistis (Greek for "belief" or "faith") were used in those original texts. |
Here are 40 popular formulations of the concept of "faith" across various religions and philosophies:
Bahá'í Faith
Faith is seen as “conscious knowledge” that leads to “right action” - Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh
Buddhism
Saddhā - faith in the Buddha’s teachings and the path toward enlightenment - Pali Canon, Digha Nikaya
Faith as trust and confidence in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) - Lotus Sutra
Christianity
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” - Bible, Hebrews 11:1
Faith as belief in Christ’s divinity and trust in God’s plan - Nicene Creed
“Faith without works is dead” - Bible, James 2:26
Faith as a gift from God that brings salvation through grace - Ephesians 2:8-9
Confucianism
Xin - faithfulness or trustworthiness, a vital part of moral integrity - Analects of Confucius
Faith as loyalty to one’s family and social harmony - Book of Rites
Hinduism
Shraddha - faith as a combination of devotion, trust, and reverence - Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4
Faith as a quality that leads the soul toward liberation - Chandogya Upanishad
Faith as an essential virtue to uphold dharma (righteousness) - Ramayana
Islam
Iman - faith in the oneness of God and the finality of Muhammad’s prophethood - Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:285
Faith as belief in the six pillars, including God, angels, and the day of judgment - Sahih Muslim, Hadith
Faith as submission and trust in Allah’s will - Surah Al-Mulk 67:15
Jainism
Shraddha - faith in the teachings of the Tirthankaras (spiritual leaders) - Tattvartha Sutra
Faith as one of the necessary vows for spiritual advancement - Samayasara
Judaism
Emunah - faith as trust and reliance on God - Tanakh, Genesis 15:6
Faith as an active relationship with God, involving commitment and obedience - Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers)
Faith as a foundation for ethical and moral living - Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of Faith
Shinto
Faith as harmony with the Kami (spirits) and natural forces - Kojiki
Faith as sincere reverence for ancestors and nature - Nihon Shoki
Sikhism
Nanak Naam Chardi Kala - faith in God and optimism in divine will - Guru Granth Sahib
Faith as trust in the teachings of Guru Nanak and the line of Gurus - Japji Sahib
Faith as believing in God’s omnipresence and practicing righteousness - Rehat Maryada
Stoicism
Faith as trust in reason and the order of the cosmos - Writings of Epictetus, Discourses
Faith in one's ability to align with the virtues of wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance - Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Taoism
Faith as trust in the Tao (The Way) and natural order - Tao Te Ching
Faith as an acceptance of life’s cycles and harmony with the Tao - Zhuangzi
Unitarian Universalism
Faith in humanity’s potential for goodness and ethical development - Principles of Unitarian Universalism
Faith in individual conscience and social justice - UU Principles
Wicca
Faith in the power of nature and the balance of energies - The Wiccan Rede
Faith as trust in one’s own inner wisdom and the divine within - Book of Shadows
Zoroastrianism
Faith in Ahura Mazda as the supreme creator and in asha (truth) - Avesta, Yasna 30
Faith as an adherence to the path of truth, good thoughts, words, and deeds - Gathas
Bahá'í Faith
Faith is seen as “conscious knowledge” that leads to “right action” - Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh
Buddhism
Saddhā - faith in the Buddha’s teachings and the path toward enlightenment - Pali Canon, Digha Nikaya
Faith as trust and confidence in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) - Lotus Sutra
Christianity
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” - Bible, Hebrews 11:1
Faith as belief in Christ’s divinity and trust in God’s plan - Nicene Creed
“Faith without works is dead” - Bible, James 2:26
Faith as a gift from God that brings salvation through grace - Ephesians 2:8-9
Confucianism
Xin - faithfulness or trustworthiness, a vital part of moral integrity - Analects of Confucius
Faith as loyalty to one’s family and social harmony - Book of Rites
Hinduism
Shraddha - faith as a combination of devotion, trust, and reverence - Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4
Faith as a quality that leads the soul toward liberation - Chandogya Upanishad
Faith as an essential virtue to uphold dharma (righteousness) - Ramayana
Islam
Iman - faith in the oneness of God and the finality of Muhammad’s prophethood - Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:285
Faith as belief in the six pillars, including God, angels, and the day of judgment - Sahih Muslim, Hadith
Faith as submission and trust in Allah’s will - Surah Al-Mulk 67:15
Jainism
Shraddha - faith in the teachings of the Tirthankaras (spiritual leaders) - Tattvartha Sutra
Faith as one of the necessary vows for spiritual advancement - Samayasara
Judaism
Emunah - faith as trust and reliance on God - Tanakh, Genesis 15:6
Faith as an active relationship with God, involving commitment and obedience - Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers)
Faith as a foundation for ethical and moral living - Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of Faith
Shinto
Faith as harmony with the Kami (spirits) and natural forces - Kojiki
Faith as sincere reverence for ancestors and nature - Nihon Shoki
Sikhism
Nanak Naam Chardi Kala - faith in God and optimism in divine will - Guru Granth Sahib
Faith as trust in the teachings of Guru Nanak and the line of Gurus - Japji Sahib
Faith as believing in God’s omnipresence and practicing righteousness - Rehat Maryada
Stoicism
Faith as trust in reason and the order of the cosmos - Writings of Epictetus, Discourses
Faith in one's ability to align with the virtues of wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance - Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Taoism
Faith as trust in the Tao (The Way) and natural order - Tao Te Ching
Faith as an acceptance of life’s cycles and harmony with the Tao - Zhuangzi
Unitarian Universalism
Faith in humanity’s potential for goodness and ethical development - Principles of Unitarian Universalism
Faith in individual conscience and social justice - UU Principles
Wicca
Faith in the power of nature and the balance of energies - The Wiccan Rede
Faith as trust in one’s own inner wisdom and the divine within - Book of Shadows
Zoroastrianism
Faith in Ahura Mazda as the supreme creator and in asha (truth) - Avesta, Yasna 30
Faith as an adherence to the path of truth, good thoughts, words, and deeds - Gathas