Faith and Reason - Revision history

Paul at 18:44, 17 December 2022

2022-12-17T18:44:01Z

Paul at 18:43, 17 December 2022

2022-12-17T18:43:01Z

Paul: /* Position 3:Rational Belief */

2014-05-22T10:08:03Z

Position 3:Rational Belief

Paul: /* Rational Belief */

2014-05-22T10:07:01Z

Rational Belief

Paul at 06:50, 17 May 2014

2014-05-17T06:50:07Z

Paul at 06:43, 17 May 2014

2014-05-17T06:43:25Z

Paul: /* Position 1: Reason Leads to Faith */

2014-05-15T09:46:21Z

Position 1: Reason Leads to Faith

Paul: /* Position 1: Reason Leads to Faith */

2014-05-15T09:28:54Z

Position 1: Reason Leads to Faith

Paul: 1 revision

2014-05-15T07:40:28Z

1 revision

New page

Religions are based on [[Dogma]] that are often imposed on the followers with little debate, on the contrary to [[Christian Faith]] can only be accepted through reason.

Next: [[Truth|Defining Truth]]

=Place of Reason=

Reason is a tool that God has given us that allow us to understand the [[Truth]].

There are three positions regarding Faith and Reason:

==Position 1: Reason Leads to Faith==

God tells us to reason (Isaiah 1:18) as the apostle Paul did (Acts 17:17).

Thomas Aquinas said: "I understand in order to believe.", so the question is which one first?
<ref>http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4227061/k.8E9C/Faith_and_Reason.htm</ref>

==Position 2: Faith Leads to reason==

Augustine said, we believe in order to understand, and our faith in turn is fed and strengthened as we gain better understanding. Augustine argued that this is due to the fact that human mind has been corrupted by sin and unbelieving cultures.

==Rational Belief==

The concept of '''rational belief''':

# The object of faith generates evidence (e.g., by credible testimony, cause/effect relationships, direct experience, etc.)
# The subject needs to examine this evidence which enlightens the intellect.
# The subject must makes a volitional commitment to trust (have faith) the object of faith.

Faith is a volitional commitment of an informed intellect.

[[file:Faith that avails.png]]

Knowledge without commitment is disbelief (John 8:30-46; 12:42,43; James 2:19); Commitment without knowledge is irrationality.

Neither is a genuine option for a Christian. Augustine was correct when he stated:
For who cannot see that thinking [NOTE: the word translated “thinks,” “thinking,” etc. throughout this
paragraph is the Latin term for reason—DS] is prior to believing? For no one believes anything unless he
has first thought that it is to be believed. ...it is...necessary that everything which is believed should be
believed after thought has preceded; although even belief is nothing else than to think [i.e., reason—DS]
with assent.... Everybody who believes, thinks—both thinks in believing, and believes in thinking (Oates,
1980). <ref>http://apologeticspress.org/pdfs/e-books_pdf/far.pdf</ref>

==Faith Cycle==

Theological knowledge is the medium through which the spirit flows into the human heart, yet there must be humble penitence in the heart before truth can produce faith. - A.W. Tozer

# Senses: Receive the message
# Intellect: Examine the evidence, evaluate the truth
# Will: Accept or Reject
# Heart: allow this truth to penetrate into the Heart, let it sink in
# Character: Be Transformed: Allow the message of Truth change you, impact your life
# Grow in Faith, through knowledge Continue back to 1 to learn more knowledge

=Does our Faith contradict Reason?=
This is the question that we are trying to address here, and we are confident that the answer is NO, our Christian Faith is based on Reason originating from the Truth.

And in order to address this we must examine what is the [[Truth]]

=References=
<references />

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 Religions are based on [[Dogma]] that are often imposed on the followers with little debate, on the contrary to [[Christian Faith]] can only be accepted through reason.
-Next: [[Truth|Defining Truth]]
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 [[Category:Pages with broken file links]]

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 [[Category:Templates]]
-==Faith Cycle==
+=Faith Cycle=
 Theological knowledge is the medium through which the spirit flows into the human heart, yet there must be humble penitence in the heart before truth can produce faith. - A.W. Tozer

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 Religions are based on [[Dogma]] that are often imposed on the followers with little debate, on the contrary to [[Christian Faith]] can only be accepted through reason.
@@ Line 26: / Line 24: @@
-==Position 3:Rational Belief==
+==Position 3: Rational Belief==
 The concept of '''rational belief''':
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 # Character: Be Transformed: Allow the message of Truth change you, impact your life
 # Grow in Faith, through knowledge Continue back to 1 to learn more knowledge
 =Does our Faith contradict Reason?=

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 [[file:Faith that avails.png]]
-  Knowledge without commitment is disbelief (John 8:30-46; 12:42,43; James 2:19); Commitment without knowledge is irrationality.
+  Knowledge without commitment is disbelief (John 8:30-46; 12:42,43; James 2:19);
 Neither is a genuine option for a Christian. Augustine was correct when he stated:

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
-==Rational Belief==
+==Position 3:Rational Belief==
 The concept of '''rational belief''':
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 with assent.... Everybody who believes, thinks—both thinks in believing, and believes in thinking (Oates,
 ). <ref>http://apologeticspress.org/pdfs/e-books_pdf/far.pdf</ref>
 ==Faith Cycle==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 Religions are based on [[Dogma]] that are often imposed on the followers with little debate, on the contrary to [[Christian Faith]] can only be accepted through reason.
@@ Line 17: / Line 19: @@
 <ref>http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4227061/k.8E9C/Faith_and_Reason.htm</ref>
-[[Category:Pages with broken file links]]
 ==Position 2: Faith Leads to reason==
@@ Line 67: / Line 69: @@
 =References=
 <references />

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ==Position 1: Reason Leads to Faith==
-God tells us to reason (Isaiah 1:18) as the apostle Paul did (<bible>Acts 17:17</bible>).
+God tells us to reason (Isaiah 1:18) as the apostle Paul did (Acts 17:17).
 Thomas Aquinas said:  "I understand in order to believe.", so the question is which one first?