Why should reason submit to faith?

Question

"Should faith and reason conflict, it is reason that must submit to faith, not vice versa.” [Apologetics: An Introduction, (Moody, 1984), p. 21].

I would argue that faith isn't absolute either Storm King. Nothing more than wishful thinking and hoping.

Answer 1

it shouldn't.. in fact your ideas about faith should submit to reason.

Answer 2

Actually, true faith & reason are Very compatible! Reason doesn't have to 'bow' to faith, as they go 'hand in hand' ... Very Nicely!

"Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld. " --Hebrews 11:1

True faith is Neither blind, nor ignorant!

Faith and Reason--Are They Compatible? :
- Should Faith Be Based on Reason?
- Search for God With Your Heart and Mind
- Imitate the Great Teacher
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20020401/article_01.htm

Answer 3

Both reason and faith are symptoms of the same thing, consciousness. Generally reason is considered to be a masculine quality while faith is considered to be a feminine quality. One can possess them in different degree and try to cultivate them accordingly.
As far as their religious use is concerned, it is recommended that they are both employed in service to God. This is confirmed in the following quote from the most authoritative statements of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the well-known scripture called the Bhagavad Gita (“Song of God”) :

tad-buddhayas tad-ātmānas
tan-niṣṭhās tat-parāyaṇāḥ
gacchanty apunar-āvṛttiḿ
jñāna-nirdhūta-kalmaṣāḥ

“When one's intelligence, mind, faith and refuge are all fixed in the Supreme, then one becomes fully cleansed of misgivings through complete knowledge and thus proceeds straight on the path of liberation.” (BG 5.17)

Note: Intelligence and reason means the same thing.

Answer 4

The quote is contradictory, as it presents as a statement of reason/fact.concerning the relativism of faith & reason...

This is one of the world's oldest arguments. One good reading is Ibn Tufayl's .Hayy Ibn Yaqzan. In 9-12th CE Islam (later Umayyid Dynasty, in Al-Andalusia or modern Spain), a 'thread' or type of literature arose among Islamic philosophers & literati, which attempted to answer this question by the technique of writing allegorical novels concerning a protagonist who lived in isolation his whole life. How does one discover truth/reason/God/Faith in such a situation?

It makes for a fun read, and may give you insight into your question.....

Answer 5

In the wise words of Thomas Jefferson...

"Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear."

-Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

Answer 6

Well, if you're talking about reason as Thomas Paine wrote about it in "The age of Reason", then I would say yes. Thomas Paine's nurse who attended to him constantly said that as he was dying he cursed himself for ever having written it. She wrote in her diary that , "Not for all the wealth in England would I ever wish to witness another atheist die!" Reasoning is never absolute, especially among mankind. Too much of what has passed-off as reasoning has led to disastrous results. Look what happened when Hitler "reasoned" that Germany should rule the world, or do you need further examples?

Answer 7

Reason and faith, like two wings of the same bird of Truth, complement each other in our finite minds.

Answer 8

It depends what your talking about. The Bible says that it shouldnt be believed by blind faith, but we should question and challenge it. The Bible tells us to study it, and challenge its words. By doing that, our faith only gets stronger. Any more than that, I would have to know your question.

Answer 9

Despite what religious people like to think, the two are not compatible.

Answer 10

It should not. Faith might be a consequence of reason though.