Faith and ReasonFaith and ReasonAnd the Word became flesh and dwelt among And the Word became flesh and dwelt among

us… us… -John 1:14-John 1:14

This is a great mystery… -Eph 5:32This is a great mystery… -Eph 5:32

The Holy Family with Painted Frame-Rembrandt

The intellect is a gift from The intellect is a gift from GodGod• Faith has never conflicted with my reason in my Faith has never conflicted with my reason in my

experience.experience.

• Reason may challenge my expectations and beliefs about Reason may challenge my expectations and beliefs about GodGod

• Reason is not the same as rationalization.Reason is not the same as rationalization.

St. Augustine

One view of reasonOne view of reason

• Reason consists of the use of logic to determine what is Reason consists of the use of logic to determine what is true.true.

• ExampleExample– A car is an automobileA car is an automobile– An automobile has 4 wheelsAn automobile has 4 wheels– Therefore a car has 4 wheelsTherefore a car has 4 wheels

Mr. Spock

Knowledge built by logicKnowledge built by logic

• Statements are true if they can be reduced to logically Statements are true if they can be reduced to logically correct statementscorrect statements

• Can we reduce moral truths, religious truths, philosophical Can we reduce moral truths, religious truths, philosophical arguments, scientific laws to logical certainty to accept arguments, scientific laws to logical certainty to accept them as true?them as true?

• In this framework, all knowledge is derived from an In this framework, all knowledge is derived from an axiomatic foundationaxiomatic foundation

The tower of Babel

AxiomsAxioms

• An axiom is a statement taken without proof.An axiom is a statement taken without proof.• Mathematical systems require a set of axioms: laws of Mathematical systems require a set of axioms: laws of

operation.operation.• All philosophical systems which say anything must contain All philosophical systems which say anything must contain

axioms.axioms.• Are axioms true?Are axioms true?– (case of non-Euclidean (case of non-Euclidean

geometry)geometry)

Circle Limit IVMC Escher

Logic alone leads to a Logic alone leads to a paradoxparadox• Attempting to show that a system of axioms is Attempting to show that a system of axioms is

consistent leads to paradoxes.consistent leads to paradoxes.• Consider the statement “This statement is false.” Is Consider the statement “This statement is false.” Is

that a true statement or a false one? that a true statement or a false one?

• Godel proved that any Godel proved that any axiomatic system leads axiomatic system leads to such paradoxical to such paradoxical statements.statements.

• They are self-referential.They are self-referential.

Hands Drawing HandsMC Escher

Reliable TruthReliable Truth

• “… “… the problem of gravitation converted me the problem of gravitation converted me into a believing rationalist, that is, into into a believing rationalist, that is, into someone who searches for the only reliable someone who searches for the only reliable source of Truth in mathematical simplicity.”source of Truth in mathematical simplicity.” - Albert Einstein- Albert Einstein

• But… rational truth is unreliable. Knowledge But… rational truth is unreliable. Knowledge of this world will pass away and all that will of this world will pass away and all that will remain will be Faith, Hope and Love. remain will be Faith, Hope and Love.

• ““Love never fails. If there are prophecies, Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing …. if they will be brought to nothing …. if knowledge it will be brought to nothing… At knowledge it will be brought to nothing… At present I know partially; then I shall know present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. “fully, as I am fully known. “ -1 Cor. 12:8-13 -1 Cor. 12:8-13

• The only reliable source of Truth is LoveThe only reliable source of Truth is Love– And this is known only by And this is known only by FaithFaith..

Albert Einstein

St. Paul

Another view of reasonAnother view of reason

• We need not ground all truth in logic. We can rely on our We need not ground all truth in logic. We can rely on our sensory data as valid: You are here in this room…sensory data as valid: You are here in this room…

• The truth is that which conforms to empirical scientific laws.The truth is that which conforms to empirical scientific laws.

Newton’s RuleNewton’s Rule

• In experimental philosophy, any propositions gathered by In experimental philosophy, any propositions gathered by induction from phenomena shall be induction from phenomena shall be held to be trueheld to be true either either accurately or to the best available approximation – accurately or to the best available approximation – notwithstanding any contrary hypotheses, until other phenomena notwithstanding any contrary hypotheses, until other phenomena occur by which they may either be made more accurate or liable occur by which they may either be made more accurate or liable to exceptions.to exceptions. - Newton - Newton

Science is not truth itself but a belief Science is not truth itself but a belief “held to be true”. Science withholds “held to be true”. Science withholds judgment of truth. judgment of truth.

The scientist is not really personally The scientist is not really personally involved in the Truth. He is a distant involved in the Truth. He is a distant observer of the facts of nature.observer of the facts of nature.

Isaac Newton

Science involves the Science involves the scientistscientist• Scientific experiments are performed by a human person Scientific experiments are performed by a human person

who can affect the outcome of his or her experiments.who can affect the outcome of his or her experiments.• Because of this the scientist must understand himself to Because of this the scientist must understand himself to

truly understand his experiment.truly understand his experiment.• But self cannot know the self in isolation - this is But self cannot know the self in isolation - this is self-self-

referentialreferential..• I think – but who am I who thinks “I think”I think – but who am I who thinks “I think”

– an endless loop…an endless loop…

Cartoon -Charles Addams

The limitations of human The limitations of human reasonreason• Reason as logic does not lead to reliable Reason as logic does not lead to reliable

truth - the consistency of an axiomatic truth - the consistency of an axiomatic system is unprovable.system is unprovable.

• Scientific empiricism is unreliable Scientific empiricism is unreliable – scientific “truths” are not Truth scientific “truths” are not Truth – the scientist must understand to himself the scientist must understand to himself

Postmodernism?Postmodernism?

• Relying on our intellect or senses we reach the state of Relying on our intellect or senses we reach the state of postmodernism – a realization that human reason is postmodernism – a realization that human reason is insufficient to understand the complexity of existence.insufficient to understand the complexity of existence.

• As Christians we must go through this and engage the As Christians we must go through this and engage the modern era.modern era.

The narrowing of ReasonThe narrowing of Reason””Faith … is courage to exist and an awakening to the greatness and Faith … is courage to exist and an awakening to the greatness and

breadth of what is real. Faith is an act of affirmation; it is based breadth of what is real. Faith is an act of affirmation; it is based on the power of a new Yes, which becomes possible for man when on the power of a new Yes, which becomes possible for man when he is touched by God. It seems to me important … to emphasize he is touched by God. It seems to me important … to emphasize clearly the essential reasonableness of faith. In a criticism of the clearly the essential reasonableness of faith. In a criticism of the modern period, which has long been going on, one must not modern period, which has long been going on, one must not reproach its confidence in reason as such but only the narrowing reproach its confidence in reason as such but only the narrowing of the concept of reason…” –Pope Benedict XVIof the concept of reason…” –Pope Benedict XVI

The living God finds usThe living God finds us

• When we admit we have no hope of understanding truth on When we admit we have no hope of understanding truth on our own - we become humble enough to allow God to find our own - we become humble enough to allow God to find us.us.

• I can not understand myself or the world on my own.I can not understand myself or the world on my own.• In relationship with the In relationship with the livingliving God I find an answer. For in God I find an answer. For in

this I recognize that I am existing in relationship with One this I recognize that I am existing in relationship with One much bigger than myself.much bigger than myself.

God finds us in our intellect God finds us in our intellect and sensesand senses• ““This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the

beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked upon and our hands have our eyes, what we have looked upon and our hands have touched, we speak of the Word of life.”touched, we speak of the Word of life.” - 1 John 1 - 1 John 1

• We touch and see the Reason Himself every time we go to We touch and see the Reason Himself every time we go to Mass - this can only be seen in the light of Faith - but Faith Mass - this can only be seen in the light of Faith - but Faith is not a denial of the senses or the intellect.is not a denial of the senses or the intellect.

• Faith Faith is an affirmation of God’s love for us. is an affirmation of God’s love for us. It is not a denial of anything. It is an It is not a denial of anything. It is an affirmation of all that IS - for God IS.affirmation of all that IS - for God IS.

God finds us beyond our God finds us beyond our sensessenses• The Truth is Mystery – a logical paradox.The Truth is Mystery – a logical paradox.

• The paradox of the incarnation. “We hold Truth in earthen The paradox of the incarnation. “We hold Truth in earthen vessels.”vessels.”

• The paradox of the cross: “To live you must die.”The paradox of the cross: “To live you must die.”

• Thinking about a paradox leads to:Thinking about a paradox leads to:– HumilityHumility through which we let God into our lives. through which we let God into our lives.– PrayerPrayer in which we reach out to God. in which we reach out to God.– ContemplationContemplation in which we talk to God without words. in which we talk to God without words.

St. Theresa of Avila

A Final ViewA Final View

ChristChrist is is Reason made flesh… This is a great mystery. Reason made flesh… This is a great mystery.

Rembrandt’sThree Crosses