Theist's aren't you worried about reason and rationality?

Answer 1

I just love generalized questions like this. Nope, mine work just fine. And considering more than 95% of the country I live in is considered a Theist... it looks like most of them aren't worried about it either. Not sure why people pose questions that make it seem like being a Theist is a minority or shows that all are incapable of rational thought.... sounds more like a problem of perception on the other side to me.

Answer 2

I have a degree in philosophy and religion. Why would I be worried?

Which form of rationality is in trouble?

Aristotelean Rationality:
This is the most basic or generic sense, that man is
an animal capable of holding beliefs, making
inferences, and retaining knowledge. "Humans are
rational beings."

The Deliverances of Reason:
This is the more narrow application of reason by
humans. We've been discussing them in the form of
self-evident truths such as 1+1=2 and "I am writing
right now." In this sense, beliefs may be understood
to be rational or irrational, in a binary way. Take
for example "your are not reading this" as irrational.


Deontological Rationality:
This is more of what we call a duty, requirement, or
obligation. If we hold an irrational belief and come
to recognize this, there are sorts of obligations on
us to correct it. When the atheist on R&S calls me
irrational for believing in God without evidence (or
evidence that pleases him), he is using rationality in
this sense. This is also the way Dawkins and Harris
use it, claiming religious people are failing their
rational duties. Creationists might also be charged
with this, by various people.

Means--Ends Rationality:
This is a kind of rationality that if well calculated
will achieve a determined goal. Max Weber called it
Zweckrationalitat. This is clearly connected with
Aristotelean Rationality in that the cultivation of
certain virtues in a person will help him or her
achieve certain aims. This type of rationality is
less concerned in "beliefs" as constructing the means
by which goals are attained. Synonyms might be
calculating or effectivity. We see it in economics,
business, sports, etc. "Coach Dingleberry's decision
to replace his starting quarter back was not
rational."

Rationality as Sanity or Proper Function:
This refers to how psychosis and various phases of
manic-depression, rage, mental disabilities and so on
is said to be irrational. Thus rationality in this
sense refers to the absence of dysfunction, disorders,
or impairments effecting cognition faculties. This
can also be related to Aristotelian Rationality in
that a healthy, properly functioning person will be
better able to apprehend. This type of rationality
also admits the possibility that one person's
cognitive features might be functioning optimally when
another's is functioning passably. "Wendy became irrational once she stopped taking her Lithium" or "Given his experiences, General McNutty gives the most rational analyses of the ongoing war."

Answer 3

I'm not a Theist but I see no reason why a theist would be worried about reason. It depends on what form of theism they subscribe to.

Answer 4

Where Reason advances, Faith flees - Martin Luther