Essay on Faith and Reason - 2144 Words

Faith and reason were two modes of belief that dominated the history of Western Civilization. Both faith and reason were popularized as tools to understand the universe in Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian eras. By conflicting with each other, these two modes of belief sparked a lot of controversy. Reason or rationality is belief based on concrete evidence and logic. The development of one’s reason relies heavily on observation and questioning. Greco-Roman philosophers believed in the power of the human mind to understand the world. So in order to find ultimate truth, Greco-Roman philosophers dedicated their lives to perfecting their reasoning skills and encouraged those around them to do the same. Contradictory to reason, faith is the†¦show more content†¦Socrates’ journey conveys an important aspect of living a life in accordance with reason: questioning. Questioning is a key aspect of reasoning because by doing so, one is challenging something that is commonly accepted. Socrates was against self-proclaimed wisdom. Though accused of corrupting the youth, Socrates wanted to dispel any misinterpretation of his intentions. Socrates wanted to emphasize the importance of questioning to acquire knowledge. Another example of reason in the Greco-Roman culture is Seneca’s Letters to Lucilius. In this letter, Seneca argued that the only way to live a truly happy life was through having perfect reason. â€Å"Now if we agreed on this point, it is natural that we shall be agreed on the following also—namely, that the happy life depends upon this and this alone: our attainment of perfect reason.† Letters to Lucilius demonstrates Greeks’ reliance on reason as a means to achieve true happiness. Not only was reason important to the Greeks because it helped them achieve happiness, but it was also important because it was a quality that made them superior to animals. In Epictetus’ Discourses, Epictetus supports rationalit y for that very reason: When we act gluttonously, lewdly, rashly, sordidly, inconsiderately, into what are we sunk? Into cattle. What have we destroyed? The rational being. When we behave contentiously, injuriously, passionately, and violently, into what have weShow MoreRelatedThe Between Faith And Reason Essay1201 Words   |  5 Pagesanalyze the balance between faith and reason in human life. All three men are on personal journeys to better understand not only themselves, but their faith as well. Although the three have different writing styles, Augustine’s The Confessions, Aquinas’ Summa Contra Gentiles, and Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, all share the common theme of faith and reason. These pieces of writing are extremely influential, which are why they continue to be studied today. Faith and reason will always be a popularRead MoreFaith and Reason Essay1035 Words   |  5 PagesFaith and Reason Faith and reason can be viewed as opposites. Faith is an element of belief, something an individual does not necessarily require a reason for accepting without reason. For example, an individual’s reason for believing in God may not seem too rational when they are trying to explain them. They may not even stand up to criticism. On the other hand, reason is constructed as a formula. Faith is basically something we believe in, like something we learn in church. Reason is somethingRead MoreThe Compatibility of Faith and Reason1226 Words   |  5 Pagessolely to the concept of reason, or the phenomenon that allows human beings to use their senses to draw conclusions about the world around them, to try and understand the environment that they live in. However, there are some that look to faith, or the concept of believing in a higher power as the reason for our existence. Being that this is a fundamental issue for humanity, there have been many attempts to explain what role each concept plays. It is my belief that faith and reason are both needed to gainRead MoreQuestions On Reason And Faith1357 Words   |  6 Pages Reason and Faith in our Society Giovanni Hernandez Father Ibarra Introduction to Philosophy Giovanni Hernandez Introduction to Philosophy Father Ibarra December 2, 2014 Fides et ratio â€Å"The more human beings know reality and the world, the more they know themselves in their uniqueness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I believe that as humans beings we tend to lose ourselves in our everyday lives, consumed by mundane task and the world around us, that we fail to see the bigger pictureRead MoreThe Real Reason And Faith1709 Words   |  7 PagesNow possessing both reason and faith, she wrote a series of three articles titled The Real Reason in which she noted, â€Å"It is not that you abandon your reason†¦but rather having gone as far as your reason will carry you, God, at your prayerful request, carries it into the realm of Faith. And Supernatural aid lifts and illumines earthly reason.† Her confessions amidst these articles was a Clare so far from the â€Å"restless,† Nietzsche inspired, Catholic shaming, â€Å"husband snatching,† â€Å"money-marrying,†Read MoreFaith Reason Imagination2101 Words   |  9 PagesFAITH REASON IMAGINATION FAITH. Faith, in the religious sense, is the belief based upon our spiritual connections with God. Faith aids, stabilizes and nourishes us spiritually allowing our knowledge of his words to grow. Since there are so many different religious faiths, one must indulge in the one that is closer to home. Christianity is the religion that is dominant in the United States. It is faith and belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God, The Father, and that He was send to earthRead MoreEssay on Faith and Reason1797 Words   |  8 Pagessaid, â€Å"Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth – in a word, to know himself – so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves.† (Fallible Blogma) Based on this significant and powerful quote, one can infer that faith and reason are directly associated and related. I t can also be implied that the combination of faith andRead MoreThe Relationship between Faith and Reason1369 Words   |  6 PagesESSAY FaithReason â€Å"Faith and Reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth† Explain the dangers for a theologian when faith and reason are divorced from each other. Use at least one example of a Christian teaching that shows the harmony of faith and reason The harmony of faith and reason are the grounds upon which many Christian teachings are built. This relationship enhances elements of both constructs, however the danger of separating reason from faithRead MoreThe Interdependence Between Faith and Reason766 Words   |  3 Pagesargument between faith and reason may be just another way for people to simplify things. It may very well be an excuse. People may want to cling to an extreme, which is reason or faith, because of personal bias. But faith is not simply the act of believing in God. Faith comes to use in everybody’s lives, regardless or not if they are atheists, theists, or agnostics. It is as useful as reason is. Faith cannot be seen as the polar opposite of reason. It must be seen as a companion to reason. There is notRead MoreFaith and Reason: Can They Coexist?1064 Words   |  4 PagesFaith Vs. Reason The definition of faith is confidence or trust in a person, thing, deity, or in the doctrines or teachings of a religion or view. The word faith is often used as a synonym for hope, trust or belief. In â€Å"contrast† the definition of Reason is the capacity for consciously making sense of things, applying logic, for establishing and verifying facts, and changing or justifying practices, institutions, and beliefs based on new or existing information. It is closely associated with such