Between faith and religion

CEBU, Philippines – It is easy to mistake faith for religion, or vice versa. For example, many of those that trooped to the recent Sinulog festivities might have been simply prompted by religiosity - and not by true faith. But trying to identify between the two can start a long argument.

In the final analysis, faith is an internal emotion, while religion is the external expression or observance of the precepts held by people of supposedly a common faith. One may have faith but without religion. And it may also be possible to have religion but without faith.

A person who truly believes in God and who feels distracted in attending worship services with others may choose to worship God in private. His manner of worship may not be according to the teachings of a religion. He may simply try to see the face of his God in everything around him.

But then others may question such style of worship. They may raise this or that argument that makes belonging to a "church" necessary. Religion, after all, is supposed to lead one on the right way towards God.

But the history of the world's many religions is littered with various transgressions - carnage, corruption, immorality etc. This leaves one to wonder: If religion itself can get lost or go wrong, what assurance is there that it knows the right way towards God?

Many faithful attest that religion is very helpful in nurturing budding faith. They also beg for the misdemeanors of certain religious leaders not to be mistaken for the integrity of religious teachings. And, true, no religion encourages wrongdoings.

And yet a person may strictly follow the rituals and observances of his chosen religion without deeply believing in the God he outwardly worships. Someone says that faith is a gift; that it helps to "go through the motions" of religion until true faith comes. In that case, religion does not only help in nurturing budding faith, but also in calling forth true faith.

Religion is organized faith, some scholars say. Religious dogma often fortifies faith. And a good number of people have both faith and religion.

It is also possible to lose one's faith and still remain in a religion. It's not uncommon among priests, for example, to lose personal faith and still continue acting as priests. Again, the state of the priest's personal faith - or his outward conduct - does not affect the integrity of the religious dogma he preaches.

Conversely, there are people who believe in a higher power, without being part of any religion or any church.

Max Müller, in his book "Introduction to the Science of Religion," wrote that the distinction between faith and religion are fairly modern inventions. In the time when most religions were formed, he stated, these would have only been called "the law." In other words, abidance by religious commandments was all that's necessary; it was like "the action speaks for itself."

And there's yet another angle worth looking into when it comes to practicing one's religion. Is participating in the Sinulog a religious gesture? Does one go there to fulfill a religious need?

Perhaps the Catholic Church does not espouse rowdiness as a religious virtue. Perhaps the feeling of euphoria during a religious celebration is not an excuse for losing one's sensibility and sensitivity to others. Perhaps it is even sacrilegious to use the Sinulog for purposes other than carrying out one's religious convictions.