the types of belief

"Belief" is of the utmost importance in Christianity, without question. Belief is how we are saved (according to Peter in Acts). But in encouraging belief, we should recognize that belief comes in types. A Christian's belief is a combination of these types. It's a molecule in which the elements are types of belief. If a Christian's belief was plotted as a point on a graph like a mathematical function, that graph would have several axes or dimensions for each type of belief. In short, the types of belief occur together but can be analyzed and considered separately.

• Propositional. Belief in propositions. Propositional belief is language-based. It asserts truths about things and the relationships in-between. "God is good." "All people have sinned." "Jesus Christ is God incarnate who died but now lives forever." Propositional belief is a mental activity. It's categorization between true and false. It's acceptance that the gospel is more than a cleverly invented story. Theological belief is mostly propositional. This is the domain of reason. Christians believe in propositions with the "mind".
  
• Emotional. Belief that is felt and expressed in emotions. Emotional belief often takes the form of music. By loving God, Christians believe that He is worthy of their love. By hating their past sins, Christians believe that sin is shameful. Christians feel belief with the "heart".
  
• Intentional. Belief signified by intentions and actions. Intentional belief or its lack is much more noticeable than propositional and emotional belief. It's seen in Christians who reject God-displeasing actions and execute God-pleasing actions. It doesn't consist of "someone shoulds" but of "I shoulds". It teaches by example. Christians live belief with the "will".
  
• Foundational. Belief as a foundation of other beliefs. Foundational belief is closely related to propositional belief, because it arises in the tension between conflicting propositions. It's selecting Christianity as the primary foundation of one's thoughts, the measure which other beliefs are judged against. Foundational belief doesn't necessarily imply the absence of doubt or unhinged fanaticism. It means that Christians "frame" the world with their foundational Christian belief; Christianity isn't just another set of ideas.
  
• Communal. Belief reached through the aid of other Christians. Communal belief has been subjected to the scrutiny of multiple Christians. Proper humility of one's own limitations and fallibility leads to acknowledgment of the need for communal belief. It originates from one's peers and elders and the writings of church ancestors. Inescapably, Christians share responsibility for communal belief. When an individual's belief falls into error due to insufficient guidance and advice from the group, he or she is partially to blame for not seeking such help and everyone else in the group is partially to blame for not doing more to spread communal belief to the individual.
  
• Scriptural. Belief discovered through and in Scripture. Scriptural belief requires effort since so much of the age-old material is alien to a current reader and/or written in genres that demand significant interpretation in order to yield applications (e.g. narrative/poetic/prophetic and even letters written to other audiences need to be analyzed in context). Hence scriptural belief is tied in with the other types of belief; the text doesn't really stand alone, particularly the ambiguous and subtle sections that stymie the learned as well as the naive. It informs and constrains belief, not specifies Christian theory and practice in complete detail immediately suitable for Christians here and now. Scriptural belief is pivotal without being all-sufficient.
  
• Spiritual/Experiential. Belief mediated by experience of the Spirit of God. "Spirit-ual" belief is literally revelatory, springing out of connection to the living, present God. It's experienced in different degrees and in different ways, some of which have serious dangers of misinterpretation. Nevertheless, belief through the Spirit is a gift of grace much appreciated by Christians.