Is Faith Incompatible With Reason?

[Sunstone]

Is Faith incompatible with reason? Are the two things at odds? Does one have to give up the one to have the other?

Are there some circumstances in which faith is compatible with reason and other circumstances in which faith is incompatible with reason? If so, what are the circumstances in which faith and reason are compatible? What are the circumstances in which they are incompatible?

 

[Popeyesays]

Is Faith incompatible with reason? Are the two things at odds? Does one have to give up the one to have the other?

Are there some circumstances in which faith is compatible with reason and other circumstances in which faith is incompatible with reason? If so, what are the circumstances in which faith and reason are compatible? What are the circumstances in which they are incompatible?

Faith WITHOUT reason is mere superstition.

Regards,
Scott

 

[Comprehend]

My answer is definitely not. I think faith and reason are perfectly compatable and I personally could not stand to be religious if they were not.

I think all truth must be compatable and make sense together. I could not subscribe to a religion that forced me to compartmentalize my spirituality and keep it from my secular knowledge. It is all one to me.

 

[BruceDLimber]

Hi!

I agree wholeheartedly with Scott: faith without reason is mere superstition.

And the scriptures of the Baha'i Faith wholeheartedly endorse both science and reason, please note, as being equally as indispensible as is religion!

Best,

Bruce

 

[jacquie4000]

To me Faith addresses what cannot be know by reason alone. Reason adds to Faith a dimension that enhances that faith and leads one to live in harmony with oneself, mankind and nature.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Is Faith incompatible with reason? Are the two things at odds? Does one have to give up the one to have the other?

I am not sure why reason and faith should be incompatible. If that were so it would be impossible to debate faith at all.

I prefer to simplify Faith; by that I mean that I remove all those parts of a belief that I find hard to agree with, then look at what remains. very often the parts I remove are either,in the nature of wishful thinking, or seem to be there to confirm a previous prophecy.

The parts that remain, on the other hand seem to have a reasonable validity on their own. albeit a belief.

Are there some circumstances in which faith is compatible with reason and other circumstances in which faith is incompatible with reason? If so, what are the circumstances in which faith and reason are compatible? What are the circumstances in which they are incompatible?

In its simplest, such as "is there a God?" Reason has very little part to play, whilst Faith gives a direct answer. Certainly one can argue about the question, we have done so here; however it is always pointless as it come down to ...I believe you don't.

Reason comes into play when thinking ( amongst other believers) about the details of a belief.
such as "Is it reasonable to believe in Judgement Day?" One can then argue about the scriptural evidence, the alternatives, the standpoint of the various churches.
In other words reason plays a part in understanding how and what Dogma was eventually established.
How ever it can not establish if there is such a thing as "Judgement day." that is a matter for belief.

 

[doppelganger]

Some things that go by the title "faith" are definitely not compatible with reason.

Soren Kierkegaard suggested that "faith" properly internalized is neither rational or irrational and required no support from reason.

Faith is precisely the contradiction between the infinite passion of the individual's inwardness and the objective uncertainty. If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe, but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe. If I wish to preserve myself in faith I must constantly be intent upon holding fast the objective uncertainty, so as to remain out upon the deep, over seventy thousand fathoms of water, still preserving my faith.

And once again I feel like there's a Supertramp song in there somewhere . . .

 

[NoahideHiker]

Is Faith incompatible with reason? Are the two things at odds? Does one have to give up the one to have the other?

Are there some circumstances in which faith is compatible with reason and other circumstances in which faith is incompatible with reason? If so, what are the circumstances in which faith and reason are compatible? What are the circumstances in which they are incompatible?

I would say the one is needed for the other. I have found that many times inpromptue conversions do not take well. Yes we need a measure of faith but we can not really expect to be very strong in a religion if we take it all on faith and then start to learn about the religion. This would seem to block reason rather than utilize it because we have essentially shot an arrow into a tree and then we start to learn and slowly paint the bulls eye around the arrow.

 

[cardero]

Is Faith incompatible with reason? Are the two things at odds? Does one have to give up the one to have the other?

It depends on whether you believe you want a glass of water or a glass of oil.

 

[michel]

Some things that go by the title "faith" are definitely not compatible with reason.

Soren Kierkegaard suggested that "faith" properly internalized is neither rational or irrational and required no support from reason.


And once again I feel like there's a Supertramp song in there somewhere . . .

That's a good quote; I like it!

 

[evearael]

They are compatible as long as the individual is willing and able to acknowledge the distinction between them.

 

[Wandered Off]

The two can be compatible and should work together. It is not necessary to give up one for the other, unless the conclusions contradict. I second evearael's point to be mindful of the distinctions, so you know how they fit together to form the whole.

 

[Random]

No. There's a reason for everything, even faith. It's not an answer everybody will like, but that's too bad I guess...

 

[N00bPwnr]

I believe it was Einstein who said, "Religion without science is lame, and Science without religion is boring." As a science student I come under fire from a lot from people I can only begin to describe as "fanatics", if these people would stop and listen to reason (and admit they have a few things wrong) then the world would be a better place.

 

[YmirGF]

No. There's a reason for everything, even faith. It's not an answer everybody will like, but that's too bad I guess...

I live by reason alone and have a tendency to disdain "faith" as it is commonly conceived. I do however have "faith" in my own ability to discern reality. I do have "faith" in my fellow human animals, although at times that does tend to defy reason, lol. :slap:

 

[Guitar's Cry]

No. There's a reason for everything, even faith. It's not an answer everybody will like, but that's too bad I guess...

I agree. To have faith in something, there must be a reason, even if it's derived from irrational emotions, thoughts, or actions.

I think we put a lot of faith in our reason. A conclusion can still be reasonable, yet incorrect. Especially when dealing with empirical data.

 

[Random]

I live by reason alone and have a tendency to disdain "faith" as it is commonly conceived. I do however have "faith" in my own ability to discern reality. I do have "faith" in my fellow human animals, although at times that does tend to defy reason, lol. :slap:

From a certain perspective everything is tempered by faith: every action and thought. It has to with a world where the only certain thing is that nothing is completely certain.

 

[Booko]

Is Faith incompatible with reason? Are the two things at odds? Does one have to give up the one to have the other?

If they are, then I'm in a world of trouble, since my faith demands the use of reason. Faith without reason is called superstition, and gets described as an impediment to human progress.

Are there some circumstances in which faith is compatible with reason and other circumstances in which faith is incompatible with reason?

They need to work together, in balance (see Einstein's famous remark on the subject as well). At various times faith will apply better than reason, and at others reason better than faith. But ideally both should be present to keep that balanace.

If so, what are the circumstances in which faith and reason are compatible?

Pretty much everything.

What are the circumstances in which they are incompatible?

I can't think of any offhand, as I'm off to do my chauffeuring again, but I'm sure someone will think of something.

 

[Quiddity]

My signature says part of it. But we catholics have loads of documents on this stuff. So I'll let the great Pope John Paul add something (I miss him.... ).

FIDES ET RATIO
Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves (cf. Ex 33:18; Ps 27:8-9; 63:2-3; Jn 14:8; 1 Jn 3:2).

 

[Popeyesays]

My signature says part of it. But we catholics have loads of documents on this stuff. So I'll let the great Pope John Paul add something (I miss him.... ).

FIDES ET RATIO
Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves (cf. Ex 33:18; Ps 27:8-9; 63:2-3; Jn 14:8; 1 Jn 3:2).

Ain't it fascinating how great minds work in the same way:

Regarding the "two wings" of the soul: These signify wings of ascent. One is the wing of knowledge, the other of faith, as this is the means of the ascent of the human soul to the lofty station of divine perfections.
(Compilations, Baha'i World Faith, p. 382)

Regards,
Scott