The concept of “faith” can be one that is difficult to understand at times. Basically, faith is having a strong belief in something even though you don’t have concrete evidence of its existence. While faith is used most often when discussing religious beliefs, it is actually a concept that goes beyond the world of theology. In recent years, there have been several studies conducted on faith and how it impacts the daily lives of religious and secular individuals. Take a look at these points to learn more about this fascinating concept.

Faith Extends to the Self and Others

Faith in oneself is one of the most common ways a person can express this conviction. For example, you may find yourself in a scenario where you are tasked with something that you have never tried before. By having faith in yourself, you can increase your odds of successfully completing the task. Without faith in oneself’s ability to achieve new goals, a person can easily be overrun by feelings of inadequacy. 

This kind of faith also extends to others. Having faith in a leader, for example, is necessary for an organization to run. If people of a nation lose faith in their president, then the country can easily fall due to a lack of solidarity. 

Faith Provides Comfort

There are many uncertainties in life. When faced with the unknown, it can be important to have belief in some kind of higher power. When someone needs comfort or a sense that things might work out for the best, faith can offer the solution. A huge example of this can be found in humanity’s awareness of death. Knowing that all life comes to an end can create a sense of existential dread. By having faith in a higher power, comfort can be found in the idea that there is a grand plan and some type of life beyond death. 

Faith Is Meant To Be Questioned 

Experiencing a crisis of faith can be alarming. For example, you may experience a personal tragedy that shakes your religious beliefs. You may wonder how the entity you put so much faith in could allow such horrible circumstances to befall you. While it might be alarming, putting your faith under the microscope can actually be a good thing. Never questioning your beliefs means you never challenge yourself. Being forced to look at your faith in a more critical way gives you the opportunity to really delve into why you hold the beliefs that you do.  

Faith Changes

While faith might seem immutable, it actually changes quite frequently over the course of a person’s life. As mentioned, a crisis of faith is quite normal for a person to experience. After going through this, an individual would likely have an altered sense of faith. One might feel a renewed sense of faith, where belief is restored stronger than ever before. However, it might also be diminished. It is quite natural to feel less faithful after experiencing personal tragedies. 

Faith Inspires Other Positive Acts

Faith also is a powerful force because it can inspire other positive acts. A person who has deep faith in humanity might use this belief to do charitable acts. People who have religious faith might decide to do good deeds in the name of a higher power. In this sense, faith can be a positive force for both the self and others. 

Faith Is Powerful

Faith might seem strange at first glance, but it is quite a natural occurrence in humanity. Whether you have faith in a higher power, people in your social circle, or yourself, you are creating a strong foundation that other positive outcomes will emerge from.