When I went out to First Friday last night (it's when all the downtown art galleries open their doors to the public and people can walk in and see it, mixed with a street fair vibe with lots of food, vendors, and small crafts) I got to meet a Native American shaman, and a few of us participated in a breathing ritual. It was very interesting, and it got me thinking of the differences between faith and a religion (and yes, the two are not interchangeable).
For example, I know quite a few people who are Christian but they don't go to church. Instead, they try to live their lives by the example they felt Christ left them: they try to give back to the community, they try to get along with everyone, they help out others if they can, they don't hate anyone, and they think that the poor should be fed, the homeless should be housed, and that everyone deserves an education. Plus, what two people do when they're in love (or behind closed doors) is nobody's business but those two people. It's not their place to judge. They aren't perfect (and they make mistakes), but they try to live by their faith.
Then we have what I call the Sunday Christians. They talk to everyone they meet about how perfect their church is or how amazing the Sunday service was; but then, when they aren't in church, they lie, they act greedy, they only want to help people they can preach to (or that are the same type of Christian as they are), I've even known a few who commit adultery on a regular basis, but it's OK they tell me because "God forgave them" ...until the next time they do it again. They live by a religion.
To me, having faith in something means that although it may not have all the answers, it brings you comfort and you try to live by the ideals of that faith. I've seen Jewish people do it, Muslims, that Shaman from last night... Hell, I'm a pagan, and there's definitely not a organized religion that I would follow for that! I live my life by the ideals of what I believe in (and what my Gods tell me is right), and keep my beliefs away from other people, trying not to shove my faith down their throats.
Religion is something that seems to be used to control others, to force them to think the way that you do. Religion was created by humans and as such, is fallible and filled with practices that may have made sense centuries or millennia ago, but now seems woefully outdated and oppressive. There is no room for free thinking in most religions, it seems. So, that's my two cents worth on this subject. If you are reading this, how do you feel about it? I'd be interested in what you say :)