Triangulating Religion, Belief, and Faith in the Twenty-First Century

This book gives the reader the ability to make new inroads to understanding how faith, belief, and religion not only differ but also how they can contribute to comparative theology. These three topics, broadly covered herein, can heighten the understanding of the Sacred by those who study them. As to a few preliminaries, what is faith? Further, what is belief? Which one comes first in a person’s journey toward the Sacred? Moreover, does religion factor into these two terms, and if so, where and how? Does Augustine’s well-worn line ''faith seeking understanding'' mean anything today? If it does, would it mean belief comes prior to faith and/or religion? One can argue both sides of this debate and still be considered ''orthodox,'' seemingly. Perhaps it is the case that belief precedes faith most of the time, but not all of the time. Perhaps it is the other way around. What, exactly, is the demarcation between belief and faith? Many a person believes a thing to be true in their very bones; such a stance borders on what is commonly referred to as faith. Is religion the combination of belief and faith together into a coherent system of thought, or is it emergent from the two, existing as a separate mental (or spiritual) entity? Explore these questions and more!