I've managed to start a bit of a discussion on Nick's blog about faith and reason. I'd be interested to know people's thoughts on the issue. Are faith and reason opposites? Can a person have reasons for their faith, or does faith necessarily entail a rejection of reason? Is faith "believing something you know isn't true"?
As Christians, how do we deal with verses which suggest that we should have reasons for our hope, as well as verses which suggest that faith is not a matter of "the wisdom of the world"? For example,
1 Peter 3:14-16 - But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 16yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
1 Corinthians 1:17-25 - For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
I'm interested in people's thoughts. I'd also be interested to know whether or not Nick thinks I'm irrational! (You can tell the truth, Nick - I won't be offended!!)
2 comments:
First a short secular though related to the matter. This speach from "the west wing" actually changed my mind on the topic of intelligent design...
http://www.lacativa.com/blogged/2005/10/west-wing.html
Second, some thoughts on the bible. I think it is made clear in the bible that Faith cannot be created purely on an intellectual basis. Look at Ecclesiastes. Written (proportadly) by soloman, the man blessed with the most wisdom in the world.
He can't understand the world. He can't understand what his objectives and goals should be in this world; without god. Life has no meaning, no purpose. The cross itself makes NO SENCE without god in the picture.
Consequently, it is, to my mind, impossible to argue someone into believing in god based purely on human logic. Where there coming from is not a place where the bible can make sence without faith. Once you have faith this will make perfect sence to you. But untill you do, no logic can convince you.
Now this dosn't flesh very well with pauls ministry, which i'm still trying to work that through.
Just some thoughts.
Matt
It's been a while since I commented, entirely through a mis-bookmarking of my own making, so I've been reading back through all the posts I missed. This one struck my interest because of the question of faith vs. reason. Now, I don't claim to be well-versed in perspectives on this question, but I can offer you my own. Is it not true that we are called to love the Lord or God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength? If this is the case, it seems that faith should not set itself up in opposition to reason but rather act in coordination with it. I can say this because I've thought (interesting, that) about the reconciliation of faith and reason for quite a while. And to comment on a part of the previous comment, I don't believe that God is able to be reasoned through or about in His entirety. As non-commital as this sounds, what I intend with it is to state that reason, despite its vaunted abilities in a self-centered race and culture, itself can only take you to thresholds, at which point you have to either cross or fall back. Faith cannot by its nature specifically oppose reason, because reason is a gift from God and we are aware of it by His commmands and precepts. There is wisdom in the Word that can only be understood or sought out through reason and because of it. How else can we understand enough of Scripture to see it as a unity?
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