FAITH:
In CHRISTIAN thought two tendencies concerning the Faith may be observed: first,
faith is regarded as BELIEF or mental assent to the TRUTH; and second, faith is understood
as the orientation of the total person best described as TRUST, confidence, or loyalty.
The THEOLOGICAL system of Thomas AQUINAS was based on such an intellectualistic model of
faith. His teachings are basic to the doctrine of ROMAN CATHOLICISM where faith is to be
regarded as an act of intellectual assent to SUPERNATURAL truths based on their divine
AUTHORITY. LUTHER rejected this view of faith arguing instead that it is the response of
the total person to the Gospel. Other religious systems sometimes make use of the
word "faith" when translating texts into English, but only PURE LAND BUDDHISM
has a view of faith similar to the CHRISTIAN one. The other usages distort both the
meaning of faith and the beliefs of the religion concerned. In addition to faith being
used in this way, it is possible to speak about "the faith" of a group, meaning
the complex of beliefs and practices belonging to a particular RELIGION. In general
though, faith usually refers to Christianity.