"There are too many 'religious' people who become religious precisely to avoid having to think," writes the dean of a theological seminary in the United States. "They simply want to accept everything 'on faith,'" he adds. Is his assessment correct in your own case? Explain.
2007-03-18 11:14:44 · 20 answers · asked by babydoll 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Faith cannot be blind. The Apostle Paul described faith as "the assured expectation of things hoped for. The EVIDENT DEMONSTRATION of realities though not beheld."
Should faith be based on reason?: Yes. Don't take my word for it, here's another quote from the Apostle Paul - "Present your bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason."-ROMANS 12:1
2007-03-18 11:30:38 · answer #1 · answered by Q&A Queen 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, think about it. If the Bible says something, religious peopl don't have to try and figure it out. For example, morality. Morality can be confusing, deciding what's right and wrong. Rather than think about it, people whole-heartedly choose the morality of some religion so they don't have to decide for themselves. That is only one example. There are many.
I wholeheartedly believe that faiht should be based on Reason. Look at what blind-faith has gotten us. Genocide of the canaanites under Joshua. The mideval Crusades, thousands of Christians and Muslims methoically slaughtered. The genocide of the Jews, Gypsies, Jehovah's Witnesses, homosexuals, etc., under Hitler. Jihads by the Muslims. If faith was Reason-based in all religions, none of this would have happened.
2007-03-18 12:00:11 · answer #2 · answered by Byron A 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I agree with the dean. Jesus actually said that true and ACCURATE knowledge of the Word was the way to eternal life. Knowledge is the key, not just faith. Many people just 'are' christians and fall easily into the traps laid out for them by religious leaders who warp the truth for their own gain. I became christian only after years of debate and searching for some logical explanation of the Bible. At last I found it, but I tend to stay far away from Religion for I haven't found one yet that is truly Christian as described in the Bible.
2007-03-18 11:29:37 · answer #3 · answered by Starjumper the R&S Cow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not really, hence the word "Faith"
Your true understanding and wisdom of your faith comes from God. In the Catholic faith, it is understood that before studying the Word of God; before scripture reading; a prayer to the Holy Spirit should be made asking for guidance and understanding of what we are about to read.
In a sense reason would come into play, but its contribution is minimal. If Reason is primary then its no longer, by definition, "Faith".
By the way, which "Theological Seminary" are we talking about here? Not all teach "Truth"
2007-03-18 11:17:33 · answer #4 · answered by Augustine 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Of course faith must follow reason. No amount of faith will bring a dead body back to life or stop the sun's daily transit of the skies. If you believe a god created the world in 7 days, you have to have read or heard that somewhere and that source you ascribe authority for a reason - there wasn't a point where somebody unknown to you walked up and said that and you've believed it ever since.
2007-03-18 11:37:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ah the old "blind faith" argument....again. It's a statement made by someone who is unwilling to actually go out and do some one on one research. Ivory tower syndrome. Faith only comes when you know something. With out knowledge it's foolhardiness because only fools base their lives on something without substance.
2007-03-18 11:27:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many verses from Proverbs discuss the importance of acquiring knowledge and wisdom, even to the degree of choosing knowledge over riches. Faith is of utmost importance to the Christian, but the Bible doesn't say to limit your belief to faith alone. In fact, it commands us to add first moral excellence then second knowledge.
2007-03-18 11:38:29 · answer #7 · answered by Sternchen 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe very strongly in religion according to reason. The Gospel of John states that in the beginning, there was Logos. This has been interpreted and translated to mean "Word" by fundamentalists. But Logos can also mean "logic" or "reason." In other words, in the beginning there was reason, and reason was with God, and reason WAS God. Reason is the very basis of all that exists; God is most certainly compatible with reason.
The Bible also says that God is truth. So a religion according to reason would be a constant and perpetual search for empirical truth. And by this God cannot be offended. For if God is truth, God cannot be offended by a search for him.
2007-03-18 11:46:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Should faith be based on reason?"
OF COURSE! it would be stupid any other way.
and as far as your quote from the dean..... thats utter BS.. for SOME people (i am talking a small amount here) that MIGHT be true... but its not for me....
i base my faith on my knowledge and experience.. i find that quote to be insulting and derogatory....
when i dont understand something i just dont pass it off thats what god said or because god wanted it to be that way... i want to learn.. i strive for knowledge, just like anyone else.... i dont think there is anything wrong with wanting understanding.....
and IF i dont understand something.. then i try to learn about it.. and if there isnt enough information about it yet.. i have faith that one day we will.... i believe in science, knowledge, and reason.
2007-03-18 11:19:11 · answer #9 · answered by Loathing 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I don't know about the "many" part, but certainly some do become religious to avoid having to think.
It's not true for all of us though.
2007-03-18 11:23:33 · answer #10 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋