The Relationship between Affection and Faith

The fundamental core of religiosity is faith the formation of which is contingent upon different circumstances and components. One of the constituent components of faith is its affective dimension, which can be reviewed in religious text and studied from the view of psychology. The present paper seeks to elaborate on the role of affection in faith from the view of religious texts and psychology. Using a documentary analysis method, this paper tries to answer following questions: what is the relationship between affection and faith? Can affection have a role in the formation and strengthening of faith? Can faith be influential in strengthening affection, as well? The findings obtained from the analysis of religious texts (Quranic verses and traditions) show that there is a two-way relationship between faith and affection. On the one hand, affection, with such instances as love and fear, has a role in the formation and strengthening of faith. On the other hand, faith directs and stabilizes affection. As a result, man's love towards God is formed in the light of initiative knowledge and according to self-love towards absolute perfection, and faith is strengthened as knowledge increases.