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Life begins and continues through schema induced by those around us. As we age, we hold, nurture, and discard, change and adapt these schemata to meet our level of acceptance for things. And in some circumstances, we are meeting other people’s levels of acceptance. All of this is in search of knowledge, in search of education and in search of belief.
Faith and reason are beyond doubt the two most controversial principles discussed in terms of education in the areas of philosophy and religion. Yet it seems the two need each other as a whole—complementary of one another to exist. Faith is definitely a substance that all people utilize in one fashion or another. And reason is something we all use at some time.
The term we give to this hope involves the reason for which we base our belief. So, through reason, which according to the Encyclopedia of Philosophy means: "to designate a mental faculty or capacity—in which reason might, for example, be regarded as coordinate with, but distinguishable from, sensation, emotion, or will," and according to the Doubleday Dictionary for Home, School and Office, reason means: "A motive or basis for an action, opinion, etc. the ability to think logically and rationally," and through faith, which is, "the non-rational belief in objects encountered in action," we must combine both elements to meet the needs of our daily existence. And meeting the needs of our daily existence is what we all strive towards.
Many base their needs for daily existence on the faith that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God and that there is a heaven and hell, and for them that believe in the return of Jesus Christ there will be eternal life without suffering.
Many use their faith daily and speak the word of God over their life and their family. While others speak of positive awareness and act in a manner of faith that holds to no reason, each of us holds to some type of faith.
According to Socrates, "virtue is knowledge and that knowledge is only true when it reaches the stage of definition." Socrates himself claimed to be led or guided by something that would warn him of what was wrong. "Know thyself" this was the main point of Socrates' philosophy: that knowledge was virtue, and by knowing one's self, one can be a good person. Many also believe there is a force that leads and guides them. And they know who they are and what they represent because of their knowledge of who others are—thus; they are a good person and have value.
That force that leads some would be called the Holy Spirit of God in the religious aspect and faith in a higher being in other aspects. In the Bible, Jesus says that God will send a comforter. Since many believe in the authenticity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, they believe the Spirit of the living God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside of them and is their strength, teacher, and guide. Their faith and their reason! While others believe with a similar heart and mind, that says all things they believe in can be theirs if they trust in themselves and set out to accomplish these things with their physical and mental abilities. And both of these aspects require two things to exist--Faith and Reason!
Believing with an unwavering heart that Christ is the absolute truth causes faith and reason to join together in a most interesting type of philosophy. Plato said, "an unswerving faith in the capacity of the human mind to attain absolute truth and to use this truth in the rational direction of human life and affairs . . . pictures the Supreme Being as perfect, unchangeable and the author of truth." So believing that Jesus Christ is the author of truth and the gift of things to come strengthens faith and reason. A French philosopher, Blaise Pascal, aimed his studies toward the spiritual problems of man and found faith to be sounder than reason. Both of these men, Pascal and Plato, believed in Faith in God, faith in mind and believed with an unwavering mind. And that is what it takes for all beliefs, an unwavering mind coupled with faith and reason. Faith to believe in something and a reason to believe that which you have faith in is real.
Philosophy comes from the Greek, meaning "fond of wise things.” Socrates, Plato, Pascal, and many others found the study of ideas, beliefs, images, and absolutes to be so enthralling that they devoted their lives to the teaching and studying of wise things. Socrates claimed he was moved or led by an unseen force that guarded him from wrong—many today believe in an unseen force, GOD, and His Spirit directs them and protects them from wrong. Plato was a follower of Socrates, believing in an unmovable faith of the human mind--to believe in an unmovable faith that GOD exists. Pascal believed faith to be absolute over reason.
Many believe that without reason they cannot have faith and without faith there is no reason and minus both, there will be no existence. Many also believe that it is not for them to prove to the world that their love of wisdom (GOD) is real—yet it is the world’s job to prove to them that—the wisdom that they believe in, which is God, is not real. Finding the wisdom of the Bible to be real is to follow along the lines of Socrates, Pascal, Plato, Jesus, and many others that have felt a power and force in each Word read from the scriptures, and each word read from the philosophers of ages.
So, in the words of a great Christian leader of today, “Christ came as a High Priest, of good things to come. He carried His own Blood, He entered in once, Into heaven's sanctuary, Secured our redemption, Gave of Himself, an off’ ring to God. On the basis of the Blood. . I'm more than a conqueror, I'm a . . . [child] of His love. There are no impossibilities, just because I'm in the Family. [I'm] reigning through life, on the basis of the Blood.”
Because of faith, we believe that Christ did come as a High Priest of a better life to come. He gave His life for the world. He offered himself as a living sacrifice so we could have eternal life. Through out time man has referenced the words of the Bible—including some of the greatest philosophers ever. These men, these great philosophers, did not refer to the God of the Bible as none existent. And many of them, even the majority of them called him a supreme being. They called Him a supreme being that could neither be proved nor disproved.
As many great men and women of years ago and of today feel they have found the absolute truth, the greatest wisdom of all they base it for the majority on this one reason—faith in a Supreme being that most call God. And looking at the meaning of the name Sophia, we find it to mean “a sensitivity and appreciation for the finer and deeper things in life” and putting this with the meaning of Philosophy, “fond of wise things, or a belief in education” we have Philosophia--The Fondness of Wise Things through the appreciation of the Education of Belief—believing in something that is not seen as if it is. Great philosophers of years ago and today possess this great truth—faith without reason cannot exist, reason without faith cannot exist, one compliments the other and both are needed for mental, physical and spiritual growth.
Works referenced.
"Faith." The Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Vol. 3 1972.
Ingles, David. "On the Basis of the Blood." Tulsa: David
Ingles Productions, 1991.
"Reason." Doubleday Dictionary for Home, School and Office.
Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1975. "Reason." The
Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Vol. 7 1972.
Runes, Dagobert, D. ed. Dictionary of Philosophy. New York:
Philosophical Library, 1982.
Strong, James, comp. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance.
Marshallton, DE: N.F.C.E., 1970.
Ryrie, Charles. The Ryrie Study Bible. New American Standard
Version. Chicago: Moody Press, 1978.
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