Reason and Religious Beliefs Systems Research Paper

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Fideism vs. Rationalism

Is rationalism or fideism the best response to examining religious beliefs systems?

Fideism and rationality are both divergent and complementary philosophies that helps us understand religious systems. Fideism is faith in the unseen. It is based in inspiration and trust, often without solid evidence. Under fideism, faith is necessary even when circumstances point to the contrary. Rationality, on the other hand, is based on reason and typically requires tangible proof and evidence. It demands factual analysis and shuns blind faith, tradition and religion alone.

The Christian faith, as an example, asks believers to await the coming of Christ in glory and fulfillment of God's purpose for the world. This is faith in the unseen. A rationalist, by contrast, views Biblical accounts more as historical event that are trusted as having happened. However, from their standpoint the Bible was written in a particular time period and its messages, meanings and interpretations should be viewed for their metaphorical and historical context, not necessarily taken literally. Without scientific evidence, much of religion cannot be viewed as absolute truth.

Christian believers accept a traditional understanding of God as omnipotent and omniscient. As mankind has become increasingly unhappy with society's ills -- crime, evil, violence, hatred, and death -- believers turn to faith rooted in peace and justice. This utopian vision for the future is believed despite everyday evidence to the contrary. The conviction comes from belief in Biblical promises, which a pure rationalist questions altogether.

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He or she would argue that the belief that the sun will rise each morning, for example, is not a belief we hold through faith. The belief is derived from observations of the consistency of the sun rising each day, not because of having mere faith that it will. Thus, we see where rationalism and fideism differ.

Rationalists lean on the principle of intellect. They operate from the standpoint of "I think therefore I am," which basically does not require any faith at all. Reason can also be challenged through the introduction of new evidence (Hallanger 128). Reason is a more flexible lens through which to view the world and religion -- and convictions can be influenced by observation and information. Rationalists view faith as wishful thinking or imaginary craziness that confuses things. For believers, faith touches areas that science and rationality cannot. Faith is the answer to questions when all other answers, explanations and arguments fail.

Still, most religions land somewhere in the middle, making both fideism and rationality important ideologies for understanding religious systems altogether. For instance, the Catholic Church teaches that faith and reason should work in harmony. St. Thomas Aquinas, was the first to write of the relationship, differences, and similarities between faith and reason. Some of his more noteworthy works include the De Veritate and Summa contra Gentiles. For Aquinas, religion was a matter….....

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