What is Faith?

This post is part of a mini-series on Faith.


Faith is not talked about nearly enough in today’s society.  And when it is discussed, it is often misrepresented.  As a result, the term has become confused. I hope to set things straight with this post.


The Simple Definition

Faith is an act of will to trust someone.

Let's break that down just to be safe.

1. Faith, at its most basic, is trust.  
• (Example: It is trust in others that allows us to walk down the sidewalk without fear of being hit by passing cars.)
2. That also means that Faith is a decision.
• (Example: You must decide to trust your spouse because you cannot be with your spouse every second of every day.)
3. As such, that means Faith is an action.
• (Example: If you do nothing, if you exercise no will power, if you don't make the decision, you have no Faith.)

Saint Thomas Aquinas

Saint Thomas Aquinas spoke about Faith as well. He repeats the same definition as above, just expressed in much more beautiful and thorough terms.

"Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace."

Keep Pursuing

This post is part of a mini-series on Faith.