Verified by 
Some people who call themselves religious will not like to hear this, but being religious doesn't require faith. It requires discipline. Anyone can learn rules and will themselves to adhere to them- or at least try to adhere to them. With all due respect to those who have committed their lives to teaching religion and theology to their followers: theology, biblical knowledge, catechism and apologetics are extremely important but they are only one part of the equation of faith. We must simply recognize at the outset that religion and faith are not inextricably linked and in fact, the two can be quite separate.
Religion is between man and man but faith exists between God and human beings. Certainly God created rules for men and women, but following rules could never substitute for a vibrant faith. Religion isn't always personal, but faith always is. We can talk about what faith is and how it should be enacted, but when the day is done, only the believer knows the true state of her faith. It can't be used to show off, nor can it be used to compete with another. It is too raw, too much of a secret, I suppose that's what if find so attractive about it.
Religion is about adopting a set of beliefs about God, but faith is a decision to receive something from him. Much as children get love, affection, and sustenance from their parents, mothers forget that they are children too. We give and give, but faith requires us to be still and "get from God."
Interestingly, research shows that mothers who are poor have higher levels of "religiosity" than their wealthier counterparts." But wealthier women participate more in religious services. This makes sense. Women who are struggling with finances or relationship problems have a felt need. Pain causes them to dig down and find what will help alleviate their hurt or help them cope; women who have more financial stability don't experience a palpable need, yet they may be part of a social group where everyone attends church services regularly. The irony is that every mother has deep needs that she cannot fill alone. We are all very dependent beings but the difference for wealthier women can be that they are blinded to the need by material comfort. Money acts as a false buffer. Poverty acts as a stressor that can bring good into women's lives.
Some mothers I have spoken with have balked at having faith in God, because they perceive it as just one more thing to do in order to be a nice person. They approach the whole notion of faith as a work plan, a series of exercises that will change their personalities, the way they live, or even their identity. Real faith, however, is about opening ourselves to receive love and goodness from God, not simply adhering to a large list of rules. We must never abandon faith because we approach it incorrectly; rather we must change the approach. God was there before we were simply waiting for us to respond to him. Our response to believe that God is there is the first act of faith.
In our moments of clarity, when we mothers attempt to untangle what in our lives is good and what is bad, or when we try to find answers to the biggest questions in our life- questions like Does my life have value in any way? or What is the best thing that I can leave my children?- -We see something profoundly true. At the beginning of our lives and at the end, we are alone. At least, we appear to be alone. If, however, faith rests in our hearts at the beginning and at the end, we are not alone. Not at all. God is there. That truth is perhaps the greatest truth of all regarding faith.
