What are the primary differences between Faith and Reason?

Question

What are the pro's and Con's for each?

Which side do you lean own? Do you see a harmonious balance between the two points of view.

Can one have faith without reason or can one have reason without faith?

I need some thinkers on this question setting your personal biases aside for a moment.

Answer 1

Reason and faith are never harmoniously balanced in a person seeking awareness. One is always pushing the other. They are dependent upon each other. An alert person cannot have one without the other because of his drive to better himself. A faithful person must never discard reason thus ignoring his mind (soul).

The commonly accepted definition of reason is intellectual process with acceptable methods such as logic, deduction, mores and perception. Probably all of these methods are culturally influenced. Reason can fluctuate depending upon the culture or heritage of the person. A reasonable person adheres to the mores of a particular society, executes good judgement and thinks (reasons) before he acts.

Reasoning does not exclude having faith. All reasoning is generated by some sort of faith. If one did not believe that something may or may not be true, why try to reason it out? There is an assumption that something is true before reasoning can begin. There is a question about what may be true dependent upon what is known to be true.

Once reasoned, an element of truth may be proved or disproved. The astute person derives further beliefs from that proof which drives more reasoning. A learning, aware, astute person is in this process all of his life.

Faith is by its own definition beyond reason. A person with a faith knows he has taken a "leap" so to speak. Faith requires one to stretch or grow in his understanding by just believing until those beliefs are proven or disproven.

A person of faith will seek to grow through reason and other ways. He has an innate desire to prove, disprove or refine his faith. His faith cannot ever be complete or it would not be faith. Because of this, the faithful must seek to remain reasoning all of their lives. They must continue to use reason amidst other things to prove or disprove their faith.

I aspire to lean on both for the rest of my life. They, as well as worship, are essential to my existence as a Christian.

Yours, G.

Answer 2

As far a i know faith without actual knowledge on the result is blind faith. U'll be hoping in vain for that particular outcome. But if u know that a result will be achieved by an action, then that is reasoning and u can then have the faith or confidence it is guaranteed.

Answer 3

Reason. You can grow faith out of reason but faith is simply believing. If it is not based on reason then it is far to easy to have false faith. Faith without reason is simple gullibility.

Here is a nice chart that explains the differences pretty well.
http://stupidevilbastard.com/Images2/sciencevsfaith.png

Answer 4

Reason is that ability within humanity to look at the facts or info concerning an issue and coming to a conclusion about said issue. Then at that point I choose to place my faith upon what I have reasoned to be so. For example; looking at the evidence concerning Christ and His life, teachings, death and resurrection, I've reasoned in my heart that He is the Son of the one true God and I have placed my faith in Him as my savior.

Answer 5

Faith is what is hoped for, but not seen. Reason uses logic of what is experienced or perceived to make decisions. I believe that i have a fairly even balance, as it is reasonable to have faith.

Answer 6

Faith is to go beyond what is a reasonable and rely on God for His promises to give us what we need and to bless us in abundance for people that follow Him.

Reason is man taking it upon himself using man's knowledge to make choices leaving God out of the decision making process.

The two can co-exist when in agreement with Godly principles are held in reverence to His ways.

There is biblical, God style reasoning
There is man's, worldly style reasoning

I have both feet in on Faith and Godly reasoning.
I live life very passionately and in too deep of thought.
It does make for a rough travel through this world.

God has confirmed Himself in my life for such a purpose that Only He knows and I wait on Him for all things. FAITH

My human reasoning comes back around and tries to bite at my heal but the Joy always comes in the morning, a day of new hope.

I serve the Lord, sorry for being biased.

Answer 7

I use both faith and reason. Hard not to use reason is psychology. I love science, I love what is finds, what it teaches us. I have yet to see anything in science that disproves the Gods. Thier mythology? Sure. But those aren't taken literally or shouldn't be. They are lessons and guides nothing more. Science tells us how the Gods do it. Not everyone has to agree with that. But its how I feel.

Answer 8

Faith is a version of hope and reason is a version of what is in front of you(reality)

Answer 9

Reason is a logical approach to things

Faith is ignoring the facts and believing something anyhow.

I don't see any pros to faith.

Answer 10

there is no reason thats why it's called faith ... if there was reason that would be a fact no faith required