On faith and reason
In contemporary western thought, belief in God is considered irrational and infantile, primarily for two reasons: lack of evidence and evidence contrary to God’s nature. This evidentialist objection of the enlightenment period is rooted in a theory of knowledge known as Classical Foundationalism. Classical Foundationalists take a pyramid, or a house, as metaphors for their conception of knowledge or rationality. A secure house or pyramid must have secure foundations sufficient to carry the weight of the subsequent floors properly attached to that foundation. They argue that a belief in God is neither self-evident nor evident to the senses. Such a belief is therefore irrational and theism hinges on the success of rational argument. However, in a view called Reformed Epistemology, it is argued that the belief in God does not require the support of evidence or argument in order for it to be rational. There is a limit to the things that human beings can prove. If we were required to prove everything there would be an infinite regress of proving. Belief in God is more like the belief in a person than the belief in a scientific hypothesis. Beliefs are therefore innocent until proven guilty, rather than guilty until proven innocent.
Contrary to popular opinion, faith and reason are not polar opposites. Faith is a trust in what we first have reason to believe is true. In this way, faith is seen to be built upon reason. Of course at this point someone will probably quote me Hebrews 11:1. However, Matthew Henry in his commentary on that verse says, “Faith is the firm assent of the soul to the divine revelation and every part of it, and sets to its seal that God is true.” But divine revelation is achieved through the contemplative life, which involves the intellect or mind. Therefore, faith is built upon reason. One should therefore have good reasons for believing Christianity before dedicating one’s life to it. In turn, the Christian should have solid evidence that their understanding of a biblical passage is correct before applying it. But having said all that, some things have to be believed to be seen. Make what you will of it.
Contrary to popular opinion, faith and reason are not polar opposites. Faith is a trust in what we first have reason to believe is true. In this way, faith is seen to be built upon reason. Of course at this point someone will probably quote me Hebrews 11:1. However, Matthew Henry in his commentary on that verse says, “Faith is the firm assent of the soul to the divine revelation and every part of it, and sets to its seal that God is true.” But divine revelation is achieved through the contemplative life, which involves the intellect or mind. Therefore, faith is built upon reason. One should therefore have good reasons for believing Christianity before dedicating one’s life to it. In turn, the Christian should have solid evidence that their understanding of a biblical passage is correct before applying it. But having said all that, some things have to be believed to be seen. Make what you will of it.
