Can faith and logic co-exist?

Question

Why or why not?

Answer 1

Islam and Logic can co-exists, histroy has shown that chrsitianity and logic failed to co-exists

Answer 2

Yes. If you would like an excellent example of someone who successfully held both faith and logics, trying reading any of the Christian apologitic books by CS Lewis, the best known probably being "Mere Christianity".

That book was a starting point in my own quest for "faith". It gave reasonable and logical answers to many of the questions I had about "faith".

Since true "faith" is based on believing the Author of all Logics, it can not only stand up to logics, but encourages it.

Answer 3

To a degree, "faith" can co-exist with logic, in the sense of "knowing" things. There are various ways of knowing something, according to Buddhist logic...we have 3 types of valid proof:

1. proof by direct experience
2. by inference - I like the old "where there's smoke" analogy used by many... you see smoke, you go over and find fire, so you know you were right about the "where there's smoke" statement.
3. by reliable witness - if in your current state of knowledge you're told something by a person of greater knowledge, you basically have "faith" that that person is skilled and accredited enough to tell you the truth, by ensuring you ARE studying under someone who's accredited, so UNTIL you're able to go out and observe and logically examine what they've told you, you sort of take it on a certain degree of "faith" that they've told you the truth... the proof of whether they told you the truth or not, lies in the pudding. So in a way... "faith" and logic CAN co-exist.

_()_

Answer 4

Faith and logic are fine. It's when you throw in religion that logic doesn't work. Most religions would have you believe such wacky stuff that they must rely on faith, and indoctrination at a young age. Kind of like a Santa Claus story where the parents never confess that it's a lie.

Answer 5

Yes of course. Contrary to many opinions, faith is based on knowledge. For example Phil 1:9 says: 'grow in true knowledge and perfect judgment. (1966 TEB) Paul used logic and reason to convince some to accept Christianity. (Acts 17:2-4)

Knowledge and perfect judgment of course is based on logic.

However, many scoof this idea. Unbelievers try to find loopholes on the Bible for example. They say that it is full of errors. True the translated Bibles contain errors. But, these so called errors do not prove that it is not God's words written by men. Logic argues against these mockeries. Here is why

1. Since its writers ( though the Author is God), are men, naturally errors crept in. If there were no such "errors" -like differences in reporting an event--then unbelievers would say: 'Look, the writers were either not men, or are "paid and trained witnesses".

2. Even in human courts, not all errors are judged as fatal to a case. Judges know that slight differences on accounts of witnesses are actually proof of the veracity of an account of a case.

Answer 6

They do in Gnosticism.

Gnosis and Psyche: The Depth Psychological Connection
Throughout the twentieth Century the new scientific discipline of depth psychology has gained much prominence. Among the depth psychologists who have shown a pronounced and informed interest in Gnosticism, a place of signal distinction belongs to C. G. Jung. Jung was instrumental in calling attention to the Nag Hammadi library of Gnostic writings in the 1950's because he perceived the outstanding psychological relevance of Gnostic insights.

The noted scholar of Gnosticism, G. Filoramo, wrote: "Jung's reflections had long been immersed in the thought of the ancient Gnostics to such an extent that he considered them the virtual discoverers of 'depth psychology' . . . ancient Gnosis, albeit in its form of universal religion, in a certain sense prefigured, and at the same time helped to clarify, the nature of Jungian spiritual therapy." In the light of such recognitions one may ask: "Is Gnosticism a religion or a psychology?" The answer is that it may very-well be both. Most mythologems found in Gnostic scriptures possess psychological relevance and applicability. For instance the blind and arrogant creator-demiurge "the devil" bears a close resemblance to the alienated human ego that has lost contact with the ontological Self. Also, the myth of Sophia resembles closely the story of the human psyche that loses its connection with the collective unconscious and needs to be rescued by the Self. Analogies of this sort exist in great profusion.

Many esoteric teachings have proclaimed, "As it is above, so it is below." Our psychological nature (the microcosm) mirrors metaphysical nature (the macrocosm), thus Gnosticism may possess both a psychological and a religious authenticity. Gnostic psychology and Gnostic religion need not be exclusive of one another but may complement each other within an implicit order of wholeness. Gnostics have always held that divinity is immanent within the human spirit, although it is not limited to it. The convergence of Gnostic religious teaching with psychological insight is thus quite understandable in terms of time-honored Gnostic principles.

Answer 7

Not when dealing with the supernatural.

The supernatural cannot be known by man. The supernatural exists without the rules of reality. Logic must follow rules of reality. The supernatural can never be concluded.

But you can have faith that you'll wake up tomorrow, based on stats, and no evidence indicating the contrary.

Answer 8

Regular everyday faith can, but not religious faith which says you believe in something for which their is no evidence. That right there goes against logic. Believing in something that doesn't exist is illogical, not to mention irrational.

Answer 9

The worst logic is human logic...and no they cant co-exist because if your trusting your logic means that you do not have faith in God( if thats who u are refering to ) Faith in God that he will work it out is the best Way to go!

Answer 10

Yes. They can co-exist.
It's only logical.

Your supposition that one must be mutually exclusive to the other is illogical.

For instance.
I have faith in the Gods of my folk.
Logically, evolution occurs.

Is there a paradox?

Answer 11

I think so. It's just that when faith is involved, logic becomes secondary. But people can always think of "logical explanations" for what they believe.