More on Faith and Reason

The Catholic dogma on God as Triune provides insight into the differences and the complementarity of faith and reason.

The First Vatican Council taught that while mankind can, by reason alone, come to know God exists, we cannot reason to the conclusion that God is a Trinity of three persons. The doctrine of the Trinity is God’s profoundest secret. If God had not revealed this truth to us, we would still be ignorant of it.Even when He has told us, we may yet feel that it is altogether beyond us.  Nonetheless, it is reasonable to have faith – that is, believe in – this revelation.

As previously discussed here there are good reasons to believe there is a creator, that this creator reveals himself to mankind, that this creator became incarnate in Jesus the Christ, and that Jesus founded the Catholic Church.  Thus, there are good reasons to place trust in, i.e. have faith in, the teachings of the Catholic Church.  Therefore, it can be said that there are good reasons to have faith that God is a Trinity - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit - because He revealed it through His Church.

While the doctrine of the Trinity surpasses human reason, it does not contradict human reason. More on this next time.

In Christ, Ken.

Faith AND Reason

“Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.” Words written by St. John Paul II in the opening lines of Fides et Ratio.

“Faith” means to “trust in” and alone it is insufficient.  Adherents of Islam have faith.  So do Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses.  And many today have faith in scientism trusting science as the only source of truth. Thus, it is clear that having faith, while necessary, is not sufficient for finding truth.  One can put their trust in that which is not trustworthy. That said, it may well be that one can, just happen to put their faith in that which is trustworthy.  But when it comes to our ultimate destiny it warrants having an assurance that our “faith” is well placed.

That is why reason is the other wing that St. John Paul II wrote about.  Catholicism, as has been demonstrated previously in this column, is the most reasonable articulation of our ultimate destiny being union with God.  And that ultimate union, begins here with our life on earth.  Reason leads us to conclude that we were created, that our Creator makes himself known to us through his creation and through his Word.  Reason leads us to conclude that our Creator became incarnate in the persons of Jesus the Christ, and that he founded the Catholic Church.  And it is reason that leads us to conclude that it is wisdom to place our trust in (i.e. have faith in) God the Father, in Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, and in the Catholic Church.

One might say: The Catholic Church is found on the corner of Faith and Reason.

In Christ, Ken.