What are faith and religion

Faith is confidence or trust in someone or something.

In the context of religion, faith can be defined as "belief in a god, doctrines, or teachings".

There are many different religions and belief systems around the world and in Birmingham. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) groups the main religions into standard categories:

• no religion
• Christian
• Buddhist
• Hindu
• Jewish
• Muslim
• Sikh
• any other religion

The link between faith, religion and health is complex and reflects the role that faith plays in:

• our health beliefs
• our behaviours
• the influence of religious rules on everyday life, including, diet and physical activity

Some of these impacts can be beneficial, such as:

• promoting a more plant-based diet
• supporting mindfulness practice

However, they can create barriers if we do not consider religious beliefs, for example, gender separation.

Page last updated: 26 May 2026