Faiths

Faiths are systems of belief and practice centered on questions about meaning, purpose, and the nature of reality. They often involve trust in a transcendent reality or set of sacred principles, shared narratives, rituals, ethical codes, and community life.

Across cultures, faiths vary widely. Broad families include the Abrahamic traditions—Christianity, Islam, and Judaism; the Dharmic traditions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism; East Asian traditions such as Confucianism and Taoism; various indigenous and folk belief systems; and modern or secular worldviews like humanism.

Core features typically include beliefs about ultimate reality and salvation or liberation, sacred texts or teachings, rituals and rites of passage, moral guidelines, institutions with leadership roles, places of worship, and communities that gather for worship, study, and charity.

Faiths influence identity, culture, education, and public life, shaping laws, arts, and social norms. They can foster cooperation and solidarity but may also be sources of tension. Interfaith dialogue and pluralism seek common ground while respecting differences.

Historically, faiths emerged in early human societies and have evolved through reform, reformulation, and syncretism. Modern developments include secularization in some regions, religious revivals elsewhere, and global exchange facilitated by travel, migration, and the internet.

In discussions, distinctions are made among faith, religion, and spirituality: faith as belief or trust; religion as organized practice; spirituality as personal seeking. This article uses faiths to refer to diverse belief systems and their communities.