believers

Believer is a person who holds a belief or adheres to a system of beliefs. The term is widely used in religious contexts but can refer to adherents of any creed, ideology, or worldview. A believer may affirm propositions about the divine, the afterlife, moral order, or the truth of a doctrine. The word derives from the verb believe; a believer is someone who believes.

In religious contexts, believers are often identified by their confession, practices, and communal life. They may participate in worship, sacraments, prayer, or rites associated with their faith. The term does not imply uniformity; believers within the same tradition may hold diverse interpretations and levels of commitment. Some traditions distinguish between committed believers and those who are less affiliated or who identify as adherents without formal membership.

In secular discourse, 'believer' can describe adherents of a non-religious worldview, such as believers in science, human rights, or particular political ideologies. The term is sometimes contrasted with 'non-believer' or 'skeptic' depending on the context.

Believers form communities and identities, shaping cultural practices, language, and social networks. The rights and treatment of believers are central to debates over freedom of belief, religious liberty, and the separation of church and state. In plural societies, believers of different traditions interact, sometimes cooperatively, sometimes in tension.

See also: Belief, Faith, Religion, Atheism, Agnosticism, Religious practice.