Faith and reason
Faith and Reason have each been considered to be sources of justification for religious belief. It has been a matter of much interest to philosophers and theologians how the two are related. Some hold that there can be no conflict between the two, while others maintain that faith and reason can be in genuine conflict, even contradiction when considering certain propositions or methodologies. The historical development of thought on the interrelation of religious faith and reason begins with Classical Greek conceptions of mind and religious mythology, continues through the medieval Christian theologians, the rise of modern science in the early post-Renaissance period, and the philosophical reformulation of the issue as one of ‘science versus religion’ in the twentieth and twenty-first century.
Perhaps the earliest Christian expression of the reasonableness of faith is found in the persuasive arguments of Saint Paul's Letters in the New Testament, and after him in the exposition of the message of Jesus Christ in The Gospels by the evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Indeed, the entire preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by Christianity for almost two millenia has taken the form recommended by Saint Peter in his First Letter, chapter 3, verse 15
| “ | ...in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. | ” |
This is the role of Christian apologetics. The intuitive perception of faith as reasonable was expressed by Jesus:
| “ | My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me; if any man's will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.[1]
He who is of God hears the words of God; the reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.[2] |
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Faith and Reason is the title of an extensive book-length treatment by philosopher Richard Swinburne.[3]
See also
Argument from religious experience