Many people confuse the concepts of "faith" and "religion", sometimes identify them, and often simply do not think about the spiritual meaning of these words. The concepts are harmonious, but not identical. There is also the statement: "Nothing unites like faith and does not separate people like religion."
Definition
Vera - recognition of something as true by virtue of one's own conviction, without logical or factual proof.
Religion is the doctrine of faith, the way through which a person realizes his desire to be associated with higher powers. The word itself comes from the Latin ligio (to connect) with the addition of a recurrent particle re.
Figuratively speaking, if faith is the sun, then religions are its rays.
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, in essence, religion. In this teaching, not all believers saw a reflection of their vision of the world. 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 such a perception of the world in a specific religion. Religion is a form of perception of the world, which is due to a person's faith in higher powers. 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 due to the peculiarities 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 already existing teaching about the chosen faith, its existence does not depend on the desire of an individual individual.
Faith renews the inner man. Through thoughts and feelings, a person strives for the ideal, which is God. Religion is an outward manifestation of faith. It helps the person maintain the correct orientation.
An individual, and indeed entire nations, are capable of losing faith. But a moment comes when an irresistible desire arises to restore connection with the Absolute. In his faith, a person begins to progress. Religion, as a way of manifesting faith, can be changed, but not lost. Moving from one religion to another is not progress.
Faith is disinterested, it is accepted by the heart, it is realized by the mind and is not forcibly implanted. Many historical facts show that often religion is capable of exploiting faith, but it has never been the other way around.
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.
Conclusions TheDifference.ru
- Faith is primary, a person chooses it, accepts religion.
- Faith can exist without religion. Religion is based on faith.
- Faith can be lost, but it can also progress. Religion can be changed, but not lost, and there is no progress in it either.
- Faith is the inner renewal of a person. Religion is an external manifestation of faith, its template.
- Faith is due to the peculiarities of the psyche of an individual. Religion is a well-established doctrine that does not depend on the vision of a particular individual.
- Faith unites people, religion often divides.
- Faith is disinterested, religion pursues a certain goal, not always good.
- Faith is an unconditional attribute of religion, but not vice versa.
