glaube

Glaube is a German noun meaning belief, faith, or trust. It can denote religious belief (the Glaube an Gott), a general conviction about a proposition, or the trust one places in a person or institution. The related verb is glauben, meaning to believe; the abstract noun for the act of believing is Glauben. In everyday language, Glaube often carries a sense of subjective conviction rather than empirically verifiable knowledge.

In religious contexts, Glaube refers to a creed or system of faith and to the community that shares it (Glaubensgemeinschaft). In philosophy and epistemology, Glaube is analyzed as a mental state that commits a subject to a proposition, potentially without sufficient evidence, and it is commonly contrasted with Wissen (knowledge) and Erkennen (recognition). The expression Glauben und Wissen highlights this distinction. The phrase Glaube, Liebe, Hoffnung is a well-known reference in Christian contexts, linking belief with love and hope.

Etymology and related terms: The word descends from Old High German glābu and is cognate with related Germanic forms such as Dutch geloof. Its range of meaning broadened from personal belief to include organized religious doctrine and broader notions of trust. Numerous compound terms reflect its use, including Glaubenssatz (tenet or dogma), Glaubensgemeinschaft (religious community), and Glaubenseifer (zeal of faith).

Social and cultural context: Glaube remains a central concept in German-language discourse about religion, secularism, and pluralism. It encompasses individual belief as well as shared frameworks of meaning within communities, while also intersecting with questions of evidence, doubt, and epistemic responsibility.