Difference Between Believe and Belief

Believe vs Belief

Belief and believe are two simple words of English language that pertain to one’s confidence or faith in the other person, object, or even supernatural. Whereas belief is a mental act of placing trust or confidence in another, believe is a verb for the same word belief that is a noun. You believe someone if you have belief in him. However, this does not make the words clearer to a person who is not a native English speaker, and this article intends to remove all confusion by highlighting the features of both words.

An overwhelming majority of human population believes in God or the super natural. Most are god fearing and believe that there is an almighty power that controls the existence of life on earth. However, most of our belief systems are based upon the religion we follow. This is also why children of small ages are more susceptible to believe into ghosts and infallibility of their mothers. It is when these kids grow up to ages 5 and higher that they come to know that there is no Santa Clause in reality, and that their mothers are not omniscient. Most people believe in life after death, though they have no idea of what actually happens after death. The underlying theme of all beliefs is religion, and thus, we see different belief systems depending upon the religion one follows.

If there is a tight ropewalker that walks on a rope tied across two high building balancing a pole in his hands, there are people who get mesmerized by his act. When he does this many times, audience gets accustomed to the act. When the tight ropewalker gets an assistant on his shoulder, people scream in disbelief but relax when he does this act several times. They may say that they have belief on the ability of the tight ropewalker, but if he asks one of the audience to become his assistant in the act, all belief vanishes in thin air and the person declines the offer thinking about his own safety.

This example is enough to tell that many people think they strongly believe in something but their belief is gone when they are asked to put their neck on the altar.

Talking about usage in different contexts, just remember that believe is a verb while belief is a noun. Take a look at the following examples.

• I believe you

• I have full belief in you

• Many beliefs of people are falling prey to the scrutiny by media.

• Many beliefs have been proved to be nothing more than superstitions.

• Beliefs keep on changing with expanding knowledge