What comes to mind when you think of faith and reason?
For some, faith and reason are a contradiction.
But what if we viewed faith and reason as interconnected (or like two wings)? Although this piece cites theologians, there is merit in the idea regardless of religious beliefs.
A Case for Faith and Reason
St. Pope John Paul II began his Encyclical Letter this way,
Faith and reason are like two wings upon which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart the desire to know the truth — in a word, to know himself — so that by knowing and loving God, men and women can come to the fullness of the truth about themselves.
According to legend, the Oracle of Delphi is where Socrates read the inscribed maxim — Know Thyself. But what can you truly know about yourself? Can you know with certainty why you acted in a particular way?
A couple of years ago, I heard that every action requires faith. After some thought — I tend to agree with the idea.
Thought Experiment: Take physical exercise as an example, reason informs us of the benefits, but it still requires a certain degree of faith to act. There is no guarantee or certainty—which is valid for many of life’s decisions (marriage, career, etc.).
***Learn more about paradoxes and Both/And thinking in my conversation with Prof. Wendy K. Smith, author of How to Use Both/And Thinking.
