Main Difference
The main difference between Religion and Faith is that the Religion is a sacred belief system and Faith is a confidence or trust in a particular system of religious belief.
Religion
Religion may be defined as a cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, world views, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that relates humanity to supernatural, transcendental, or spiritual elements. However, there is no scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion.Different religions may or may not contain various elements ranging from the divine, sacred things, faith, a supernatural being or supernatural beings or “some sort of ultimacy and transcendence that will provide norms and power for the rest of life”. Religious practices may include rituals, sermons, commemoration or veneration (of deities), sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trances, initiations, funerary services, matrimonial services, meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, public service, or other aspects of human culture. Religions have sacred histories and narratives, which may be preserved in sacred scriptures, and symbols and holy places, that aim mostly to give a meaning to life. Religions may contain symbolic stories, which are sometimes said by followers to be true, that have the side purpose of explaining the origin of life, the universe, and other things. Traditionally, faith, in addition to reason, has been considered a source of religious beliefs.There are an estimated 10,000 distinct religions worldwide, but about 84% of the world’s population is affiliated with one of the five largest religions, namely Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism or forms of folk religion. The religiously unaffiliated demographic includes those who do not identify with any particular religion, atheists and agnostics. While the religiously unaffiliated have grown globally, many of the religiously unaffiliated still have various religious beliefs.The study of religion encompasses a wide variety of academic disciplines, including theology, comparative religion and social scientific studies. Theories of religion offer various explanations for the origins and workings of religion.
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a particular system of religious belief, in which faith may equate to confidence based on some perceived degree of warrant. According to Rudolf Bultmann, faith must be a determined vital act of will, not a culling and extolling of “ancient proofs”.
Religion (noun)
The belief in a reality beyond what is perceptible by the senses, and the practices associated with this belief.
“My brother tends to value religion, but my sister not as much.”
Religion (noun)
A particular system of such belief, and the rituals and practices proper to it.
“Islam is a major religion in parts of Asia and Africa.”
“Eckankar is a new religion but Zoroastrianism is an old religion.”
Religion (noun)
The way of life committed to by monks and nuns.
“The monk entered religion when he was 20 years of age.”
Religion (noun)
Any practice to which someone or some group is seriously devoted.
“At this point, Star Trek has really become a religion.”
Religion (noun)
Faithfulness to a given principle; conscientiousness. 16th-17th c.
Religion (verb)
Engage in religious practice.
Religion (verb)
Indoctrinate into a specific religion.
Religion (verb)
To make sacred or symbolic; sanctify.
Faith (noun)
The process of forming or understanding abstractions, ideas, or beliefs, without empirical evidence, experience or observation.
“I have faith that my prayers will be answered.”
“I have faith in the healing power of crystals.”
Faith (noun)
A religious belief system.
“The Christian faith.”
Faith (noun)
An obligation of loyalty or fidelity and the observance of such an obligation.
“He acted in good faith to restore broken diplomatic ties after defeating the incumbent.”
Faith (noun)
A trust or confidence in the intentions or abilities of a person, object, or ideal.
“I have faith in the goodness of my fellow man.”
“You need to have faith in yourself, that you can overcome your shortcomings and become a good person.”
Faith (noun)
Credibility or truth.