How very far, bhikkhus, have not these foolish persons strayed from this dhamma and discipline. M any people are familiar with the gist of the Kalama sutta, wherein the Kalamas, who have received a number of contradictory teachings from various sources, ask the Buddha which teaching they should follow. Faith is the faculty that allows for the suspension of one's beliefs, customs and habits in order to listen to something openly. It allows one not to know, but to have the confidence to investigate.
Belief deals with the unknown in a different way.
One adopts a certainty about something one is uncertain of, and rejects investigation. Without faith one cannot proceed, but with belief, no furtherance seems necessary. Faith stimulates the right application of effort to support the practice with initiative, inquiry and personal realisation, against, rather than in accordance with, one's outflow-habits. B y engendering the supportive faculty of faith in this way, the Teacher does not crush a disciple's independence, but empowers it. It's not a power struggle.