Language is universal and interpreted variably though written word, expression, body language, or even simple vocalizations. Culture guides language and gives it context to the individual. Language is in constant flux and therefore meaning follows suit. Heidegger's discussion of building and dwelling is a great example of how to utilize these changes in order to show the inherent connections. The connection between belief and knowledge can be seen using much the same process. Taken down to root words and definitions both are similar notions. In fact taken back far enough one can find that the view of the words have traded off their meanings to one another.
Knowledge> root word: know> from gnosis
supposedly revealed knowledge of various spiritual truths, esp that said to have been possessed by ancient Gnostics
Belief> confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof: a statement unworthy of belief.
Belief Vs. Knowledge
"Knowledge is invariably a matter of degree: you cannot put your finger upon even the simplest datum and say "this we know." -T.S. EliotAnything is possible until we prove it to be impossible, and we know something to be true up until it is proven to be false. A person can believe in just about anything because in their reality it can be considered true making it knowledge to them, however to another it will always be a belief.
Belief and knowledge are relative concepts, interchangeable depending on your perception. We do not know anything but everyone has chosen to believe in something (science, God, love, etc). Our need to categorize all entities has lead us to build a a dam in the pool of what is known to us. We believe in detail and must of all we believe in difference. Our need to dissect everything to show difference is the only thing that has produced separate words for the same idea.
"I had therefore to remove knowledge, in order to make room for belief." -Immanuel Kant
Current definition leads us to put more faith in knowledge and see it as the more solid term, over the more tenuous belief. Although in the end belief actually stands out as the more significant concept. You can not have knowledge without first having belief; belief can spark the search for knowledge.
"Every man feels that perception gives him an invincible belief of the existence of that which he perceives; and that this belief is not the effect of reasoning, but the immediate consequence of perception. When philosophers have wearied themselves and their readers with their speculations upon this subject, they can neither strengthen this belief, nor weaken it; nor can they shew how it is produced. It puts the philosopher and the peasant upon a level; and neither of them can give any other reason for believing his senses, than that he finds it impossible for him to do otherwise." -Thomas Reid
