What is the difference between faith and religion?

Question

Can you have Faith and still not believe in any established "religion"
Do you need faith to understand religion? If I am an agnostic or an athiest, can I still use the bible as a morale compass?.

Answer 1

I am no authority on religion or faith but my personal view is-

Religion - a set of rules and practices that a group of people agree upon and find it in sync with their basic faith(read spiritual requirement). But then later on as people(usualy childen of the initial followers) are exposed to it, it becomes their basic faith as they are taught the 'religion', whether they may or may not have had faith in it if they were in the 3rd person.

Faith - is believing (with trust and with or without logic) in something, ususally god, which is a perception of an idea they find very comfortable.

You can definately use follow the teachings in the bible till u have faith in that perticular idea and not believe or no-believe in the bible as a whole.

For eg. I am a Hindu. My religion follows the 'Bhagavad Gita'. I dont believe in my religion as a whole but i have faith in some teachings and ideas. The point is i follow that and only that in which my heart believes.
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What wiki says-

Religion- is the adherence to codified beliefs and rituals that generally involve a faith in a spiritual nature and a study of inherited ancestral traditions, knowledge and wisdom related to understanding human life. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to faith as well as to the larger shared systems of belief. In the larger sense, religion is a communal system for the coherence of belief—typically focused on a system of thought, unseen being, person, or object, that is considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine, or of the highest truth. Moral codes, practices, values, institutions, traditions, and rituals are often traditionally associated with the core belief, and these may have some overlap with concepts in secular philosophy. Religion can also be described as a way of life.

Faith- is a belief, trust, or confidence, not based merely on logic, reason, or empirical data, but based fundamentally on volition often associated with a transpersonal relationship with God, a higher power, a person, elements of nature, and/or a perception of the human race as a whole. Faith can be placed in a person, inanimate object, state of affairs, proposition or body of propositions such as a religious creed.

Answer 2

"Faith" is a belief in the validity of an idea without evidence. "Religion" is the practice of established patterns of ritual for social and spiritual purposes.

Yes, faith can exist outside established religion; otherwise, no new religions would ever come into being--and they do.

You may use the Bible however you want; however, you should be aware that if you are reading in English, then you are reading a translation of a translation of a translation of a translation--and only the first translation (Aramaic to Hebrew and Greek) had access to the source materials. Also, both the Council of Nicea (who decided what books to include in the New Testament) and the team that translated the Latin Vulgate into the English KJV were heavily influenced by political motives.
In short, read it in Aramaic (it's called the "Peshitta") or take it with a big grain of salt.

Answer 3

Faith is something that we believes without any proof or evidence. Whereas religion is a framework to faith in God i.e. a set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices pertaining to supernatural power. Sometimes faith can also defined as belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or ideology.

I have faith in God, not in a particular religion. I was born in Christian family, but I don't like to say I am a Christian (I am really unable to be a perfect Christian), instead I would like to say I am a person who wish to adopt the principles and thoughts of Jesus Christ in my life. Next, I respect every religion, but I hate extremism in the religions and this extremism in religion is the main reason why our world broken into pieces.

I don't think you must have faith to understand a religion, instead when you understand more about a religion, maybe your faith can increase or decrease. So, faith holds second in that case.

God or Jesus Christ has not set any limitation in using the Holy Bible. If there was a limitation, then Jesus Christ will never born in a manger. The birth of Jesus Christ in a manger is a perfect example that God is not a private property, and whether rich or poor He belongs to all.

Answer 4

Faith is a belief, trust, or confidence, not based merely on logic, reason, or empirical data, but based fundamentally on volition often associated with a transpersonal relationship with God, a higher power, a person, elements of nature, and/or a perception of the human race as a whole. Faith can be placed in a person, inanimate object, state of affairs, proposition or body of propositions such as a religious creed.
Although faith has generated many roots in religion, it is not necessarily a religious word and is not exercised solely in God and god alone, but can apply to any situation where judgments are made irrespective of evidence.

Faith in something means to have experience with that something and then, due to this experience, judging and concluding so that you can predict an action of this something in a positive way. So for example a sister may leave the house for university, she returns in three years time to find her sister has not opened her diary which she explicitly asked her not to, even though her sister had every opportunity to open it without her knowledge or consent. The older sister would now have faith in the younger sister, judging by that experience she concludes that she can predict that anything else she trusts with here sister is safe. This is faith.

While, religion is the adherence to codified beliefs and rituals that generally involve a faith in a spiritual nature and a study of inherited ancestral traditions, knowledge and wisdom related to understanding human life. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to faith as well as to the larger shared systems of belief.

In the larger sense, religion is a communal system for the coherence of belief—typically focused on a system of thought, unseen being, person, or object, that is considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine, or of the highest truth. Moral codes, practices, values, institutions, traditions, and rituals are often traditionally associated with the core belief, and these may have some overlap with concepts in secular philosophy. Religion can also be described as a way of life.

Answer 5

Only 2 religions: God's way and man's way. When man lets self rule instead of God rule, then man is following the ways of man. God said that "without faith it is impossible to please God." Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. Christians are commanded by God to study His Word, the Holy Bible. Recently when mankind started saying that the Bible had been copied too many times to be accurate, God had a shepherd boy at the Qumran Caves find 2000 year old copies of the Bible to prove man wrong. The problem with Christianity is not all Christians follow the Word of God, they pick and choose what they want and what makes them happy so they can continue their sin. Some don't believe that God is able to protect His Word, the Holy Bible, so they don't believe everything written in it is of God. Some deny the virgin birth. Some deny the death, burial and crucifixion. We must believe it all or none. God is bringing all mankind down to a Valley of Decision and mankind will choose either God's ways or man's ways, but man cannot have it both ways. Why would God want to spend eternity with a bunch of rebellious children?

Answer 6

Not much. I thought about this for a bit, and could not really see any significant difference. Faith is by definition the belief in something without evidence, or in the face of contrary evidence, and religion certainly fits that description, so I suppose that religion is technically a subset of faith. But faith is not logical, and is therefore evil.

Answer 7

Faith means trusting in God. Trusting in His character, His Goodness, His Faithfulness.

Religion is a series of steps, rituals, traditions, and prescribed behaviors, all designed to bring a person closer to God. More often than not, the rules of some religions are man made, not God made. You can have faith without religion. Religion without faith is pointless. You can read the bible, but if you don't have faith in God you would not be likely to believe much of what you read. The bible certainly encourages faith in God.

Answer 8

religious faith doesn't aid understanding it only accepts unknown beliefs without question however secular faith based on known facts does have worth as to not redundantly be doomed to repetitious exercises in futility . moral precepts do not always call for the necessity of faith but understanding which makes much more sense and can be logical . you can have faith without religion but what would be the point for blind faith without religion for it is the child like belief in anything that religion requires faith . the leap of faith to believe in a fantasy god and to kill in his name is only found in soldiering and religion. stick with critical thinking to temper the case hardened thinking of truth in logical reason seasoned by a good heart not blind faith.

Answer 9

A religion is a more systametic set of philosophical thoughts. Faith is sth sentimental plus philosophical. Faith is usually the first stage when you approach a religion.

Answer 10

faith is just the condition of the mind that believes in something. religion on the other hand, requires you to do certain rituals; be part of a community; and obey certain rules or norms.

faith comes before religion. and I prefer faith to religion, because its less artificial. and nobody can tell what's in your heart. people tend to be more fake when it comes to outward expression of faith.