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Contrastive Linguo-Cultural 
Analysis of the Concept “Faith/Belief”

In the last ten years many linguists working in the fieldof linguo-cultural studies have shown an active interest
in the theory of concepts.  Cultural concept, which is the
main unit of this science, is a multi-graded semantic formation
having its expressive, valuable and notional characteristics.

The most difficult concepts for comparative analysis are
those at “the highest level” such as love, liberty, happiness,
faith/belief. All these so-called “universal concepts” of
spiritual culture give a sense and purpose to people’s
existence that is outside their individual being. Among all the
concepts mentioned, faith is the most valuable.

The importance of happiness, love and liberty in real life
is fragile, and only faith can relieve a person of disappointment. Human beings are
mortal and horror-stricken by the thought of death. Only faith in immortality and life
after death can ease one’s spiritual longing. 

Without belief human life becomes senseless. “Faith is the strength of life”, says
L.N.Tolstoy. “Faith”, which conveys meaning to socio-cultural life, is the most global and
universal concept. It embraces all other universal concepts, such as love (From faith to love
the way is short), liberty/justice (If you believe in truth don’t try to convince, it will win by
itself (Rostin)), happiness (Only two things make happiness: faith and love (Nodje)).

History proves that human beings have never lived without belief in something
higher, supreme, surpassing them and absolute. Every culture goes through spiritual self-
determination, asserting faith in something eminent and unattainable, something which
fosters sense and provides salvation from the uncountable metamorphoses of nature. 

So in the course of history we move from belief to unbelief and from unbelief to the
search for new belief, new values in life which can give sense to our existence. 

Faith is the main value influencing the functioning of governments and social
institutions and also individuals. Hence the study of this concept is extremely pertinent. 

But what does it mean to believe? The Hebrew word denoting the concept of belief
in the Old Testament is aman, which is actually the word we normally use at the end of
our prayers (amen, which should really be pronounced amein). We say, In the name of
Jesus, Amen, which means, “I believe it”. Believe means “to lean upon”, that is why
there are a number of words with the preposition “upon” in the semantic field of this
concept, such as reckon upon, depend upon, count upon, build upon, rely upon, rest
upon, calculate upon, pin one’s faith upon, upon my faith, etc. 

Analyzing the etymology of the word faith/belief in different languages, Florensky

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Armenian Folia Anglistika Culture Studies

Narine Harutiunian