Faith and Reason

Three Basic Approaches

1. “I understand in order to believe.” (Abelard)

· Truth about God, morality, and the world can be “discovered” through reason and/or our senses.

· Heavy emphasis on natural revelation: “The heavens declare the glory of God.”

· Examples: Thomas Aquinas, C. S. Lewis, Josh McDowell

2. “I believe in order to understand.” (Anselm)

· “Truth is revealed, not discovered.” (moderately)

· A strong sense that without some sort of faith to begin with, reason and/or our senses will quite possibly lead us in the wrong direction. Heavy emphasis on special revelation.

· Source of revelation can come through the church (Anselm, Pascal), the Bible (Reformed theologians), or the Holy Spirit (charismatic movement)

3. “I believe because it is absurd.” (Tertullian)

· “Truth is revealed, not discovered.” (extreme)

· Human reason or philosophy is opposed to revelation and will definitely lead us astray.

· “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem, the Academy with the Church?” Tertullian

· Heavy emphasis on paradox and contradiction between reason and faith (“blind faith”—Kierkegaard)