hitélet

Hitélet is a Hungarian term meaning the life of faith or religious life. It denotes the way in which individuals and communities live out their faith in daily life, including beliefs, practices, and social conduct. The concept encompasses both personal devotion and communal worship, such as prayer, reflection, liturgy, sacraments, catechesis, and religious education, as well as moral and ethical behavior, charitable work, and participation in church life.

In practice, hitélet refers to the lived experience of faith within a community. It covers spiritual formation, the rhythms of worship, parental and youth catechesis, parish activities, and the ways believers integrate religious values into work, family life, and civic engagement. It is used across Christian denominations in Hungary, including Catholic, Reformed, and Lutheran communities, to describe the organization of religious life at the local level as well as broader religious culture.

Scholarly and public discourse in Hungary uses the term to analyze how faith is lived out, how religious communities respond to social change, and how faith influences identity and social action. Hitélet can thus refer to both intimate, personal faith and the public expression of religion through institutions, rituals, and service. The word derives from hit (belief) and élet (life), capturing the idea of a faith-shaped way of living.