faith

Conviction without evidence

One of the oldest and best definitions of faith is from the Bible: “the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” Most people have strong beliefs about things that cannot be proved scientifically, often relating to religious belief.

Faith has strong connotations with religion, and a particular religion can even be called a faith: She married a man of a different faith, against her family’s wishes.

If you have faith in a person, you believe that they are capable of doing something that they have not yet done.

religion

church

Place of Christian worship

mosqueIslamic house of worship
templeSacred worship structure
synagogueJewish house of worship

scripture · theology · ritual · clergy · deity · worship · sect · altar · liturgy · sermon

belief

conviction

Firmly held belief

certaintyTotal absence of doubt
creedStatement of belief
doctrineEstablished body of teachings

tenet · credo · dogma · persuasion · worldview · assurance · fervor · zeal · adherence · unshakeable

trust

confidence

Self-assurance or trust

relianceState of needing support
assuranceFirm promise or certainty
credenceAcceptance as true

loyalty · dependence · commitment · bond · oath · pledge · devotion · steadfastness · allegiance · surety

hope

optimism

Tendency to expect good

expectationBelief about future outcomes
confidenceSelf-assurance or trust
trustConfidence in another

promise · future · providence · destiny · perseverance · resilience · endurance · trials · testing · sustaining

spirituality

meditation

Focused attention practice

enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
transcendenceSurpassing usual limits
soulInnermost animating essence

mysticism · divine · sacred · higher power · providence · grace · blessing · miracles · afterlife · eternal

virtue

loyalty

Faithful commitment to another

constancyUnchanging faithfulness over time
devotionDeep, loyal commitment
integrityMoral soundness and consistency

honesty · trustworthiness · reliability · commitment · honor · duty · righteousness · goodness · moral · upright

Categories

beliefbelief, belief systems, creed, dogma, theism
ChristianityJesus, Bible, Christ, God, Jesus Christ
religionChristianity, Islam, beliefs, Judaism, Hinduism
abstract qualitybeauty, truth, justice, love, wisdom
intangibilitythoughts, ideas, emotions, feelings, love
intangible thingsidea, thought, concept, feeling, emotion

Opposites

belief/trust

faithdoubt

Lack of firm belief

distrust · disbelief · mistrust · suspicion · skepticism

epistemology

Basis or justification

skepticism · evidence · empiricism · rationalism · proof

religious commitment

Rejection of deities

unbelief · disbelief · godlessness · irreligion · nonbelief

Phrases

have faithBelieve in something unseen
good faithSincere, honest intent
Catholic faithChristianity under papal leadership
leap of faithTrust without verification
keeping the faithMaintaining trust or commitment
keep the faithRemain steadfast in belief

Family

faithful, unfaithful, faithfully, faithfulness, faiths, faithless, unfaithfulness, faithlessness, faithlessly

Familiarity: Top 5,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G