The divorce of faith and reason

[PuerAzaelis]

“Reason is a harlot, the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.”

... Analogously to the problem of good works, then, the more you use your reason to approach God, the more you are digging a hole for your damnation.

MercatorNet: Luther and the divorce between faith and reason

 

[public hermit]

What is it you're trying to say? Luther's rejection of Aristotelian philosophy was a good thing? Reason, in general, is evil? The author of the article doesn't appear convinced that Luther's rejection of "reason" is a good thing. What's your argument? Let's reason together.

 

[PuerAzaelis]

I guess I'm asking a question: what is the role of reason, is it compatible with faith?

 

[public hermit]

I guess I'm asking a question: what is the role of reason, is it compatible with faith?

I believe it is. Luther was rejecting a certain philosophy, Aristotle, that had dominated Christian theology for centuries, at that point. Luther, himself, used reason in his own treatises, but emphasized the primacy of scripture in contrast to some particular philosophy.

We all use reason on a daily basis. I think the word of caution that we can take from Luther is that reason is to be used in service of the faith, and that not every philosophy is compatible with the faith.

 

[Ricky M]

If God says do this and you'll see that, then I do this and see that, I have to reason that God true to His word.

There is no divorce between faith and reason.

 

[Not David]

Reason can be part of the faith but since it is a fallen reason, it cannot be 100% trustable

 

[The Liturgist]

I myself like the Wesleyan Quadrilateral of Scripture, Tradition, Reason and the ongoing experience of the Church.

 

[Albion]

I myself like the Wesleyan Quadrilateral of Scripture, Tradition, Reason and the ongoing experience of the Church.

Yes, and I like the three-fold approach of the Anglican churches from which that was derived, BUT I really don't think either of these pertains to the issue of Faith and Reason. They speak to the issue of doctrine.

 

[1213]

I guess I'm asking a question: what is the role of reason, is it compatible with faith?

It depends on for what you use reason. I think all people use reason, also those who reason that it is good to be faithful to God, even if something doesn’t look very reasonable.

 

[Josheb]

“Reason is a harlot, the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.”

... Analogously to the problem of good works, then, the more you use your reason to approach God, the more you are digging a hole for your damnation.... [Source]

Do you think he had his reasons for saying that?

 

[concretecamper]

Faith and Reason have been part of the Church since it founding. Reading the Church Fathers will confirm it.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

... Analogously to the problem of good works, then, the more you use your reason to approach God, the more you are digging a hole for your damnation.

At least more good works is good.
More reason is more evil.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I guess I'm asking a question: what is the role of reason, is it compatible with faith?

Man's reason overall, like society, is sinful.

 

[fhansen]

I guess I'm asking a question: what is the role of reason, is it compatible with faith?

It's absolutely reasonable to believe in God, a first cause, an intellect behind the obvious complexity of the universe or creation, the Reason behind our own reason.

We use reason, in addition to revelation and grace, to arrive at an understanding of existence or reality that, again, is not unreasonable but which is beyond the ability of reason to completely grasp and comprehend on its own.